The appointments of Eima Alkheder and Ben Donald, bring extensive experience from across the financial services and advice industries.

Ms Alkheder previously served as an Executive Director and Head of Operations, overseeing operations across highly regulated environments including superannuation, insurance and pensions. Mr Donald is a Life Insurance Specialist at Life Advice Partners, with active industry involvement through insurer advisory boards, and the FAAA Life Insurance Committee.

Their appointments support PFAN’s continued focus on strengthening partnerships, expanding adviser participation and delivering high‑quality pro bono advice to Australians in need.

According to PFAN’s Chair Nicola Beswick, since its inception in 2014, participation from advisers, practices and partners has become more coordinated.

“Firms are embedding pro bono advice into their culture as part of professional advice, not as an exception to it. This has changed what’s possible for PFAN in terms of our outlook for growth and the people we support. Eima and Ben both bring hands-on experience across operations, insurance and advice, which will help us keep building momentum and reach more people.”

Today, PFAN works with more than 170 financial advisers, delivering over 850 hours of pro bono financial advice. Since it was established, PFAN has connected Australians living with serious illness or disability to qualified financial advisers willing to provide pro bono advice.

Working closely with referral partners such as the Multiple Sclerosis and MND networks across Australia, PFAN matches individuals in financial hardship with locally based advisers who can support them through complex financial decisions. These initiatives have been supported by PFAN’s corporate partners over several years, reflecting the collective focus on delivering financial advice to more Australians.

Parachute Cover Founder and PFAN Adviser, Natalie Lackner said her involvement with the network allows her to support people she wouldn’t typically encounter in her day-to-day work.

“It creates a pathway for advisers to use their expertise where it can have the greatest impact, helping people navigate complex financial decisions at an incredibly difficult time.”

The new appointments join existing Board members Nicola Beswick, Natalie Kleibert, Stephen Knight, Anne McDonnell, Niall McConville, Paul Harding‑Davis and Aleks Vickovich.

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Matt Brown

Austbrokers Life has announced a partnership with Australian Unity Personal Financial Services (AUPFS) that will offer their clients access to a broader set of capabilities focused on enhancing financial wellbeing.

Austbrokers Life is one of Australia’s leading life insurance specialists, providing financial advice to individuals and key persons and buy/sell advice to businesses across the country. With close to 9,000 clients, Austbrokers Life helped manage 180 claims providing over $37m in claim payments in the last financial year alone. They form part of the Austbrokers group, one of Australia’s largest networks of professional general insurance brokers.

Under the partnership, AUPFS has authorised Austbrokers Life to deliver financial advice under Australian Unity’s Australian Financial Services License (AFSL).

It will also see AUPFS deliver strategic and other support to Austbrokers Life that will enhance the quality of advice its clients receive, and give access to broader solutions to their clients in financial advice, trustee services, along with banking and health insurance

Matt Brown, Executive General Manager Australian Unity Advice said the two organisations’ shared values will ensure a successful partnership.

“Australian Unity is delighted to partner with Austbrokers Life, an organisation that is likeminded in its deep commitment to delivering quality advice and financial solutions that support the wellbeing of Australian households,” he said.

Ben Donald, Managing Director of Austbrokers Life said that its life insurance clients will greatly benefit from the partnership.

“Financial guidance is a core component of what we do, enabling our expert team to advise Australians through life. Receiving this support from Australian Unity is a strong validation for the quality of advice we provide. It will enable our business to benefit Australians in new ways with a more comprehensive advice offering.”

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