Sam Perera

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) today announced Sam Perera has been appointed the AFA’s National President.

Mr Perera’s appointment follows a decision by National President Michael Nowak to resign after many years of contribution to the AFA Board as a board member and President.

AFA Treasurer, Matthew Hawkins, also announced his resignation after seven years on the Board.

“I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to Mike and Matt who have been long-serving members of the AFA Board,” Mr Perera said. “Mike has served for nine years, three of those as President, and Matt for seven years, a year as Treasurer.”

Mr Perera said the past few years have seen enormous pressures placed on advisers and the AFA, which represents them and advocates on their behalf.

“Mike has been an outstanding President of the AFA, tireless in his advocacy on behalf of the AFA as the Royal Commission reforms have continued unabated and the COVID-19 pandemic created major operational challenges for the AFA and our members,” he said.

“As Vice President, I had a unique insight into how the passion and absolute commitment Mike has for the AFA translated into a huge workload as President on top of his family and business commitments.

“The AFA Board fully supports Mike’s decision to share the load and allow somebody else to take on the presidential responsibilities.”

Mr Perera also acknowledged the contribution made by Matthew Hawkins.

“Matt also has significant work and family commitments and it’s time for somebody else to take on this significant role to allow him to focus on his other commitments,” he said.

Mr Perera said that at a Board meeting following the AGM, the other appointments made were:

• Michelle Veitch, Vice President
• Samantha Robinson, Treasurer

The AFA’s new president has been a member of the AFA Board for two years, one as Treasurer and one as Vice President.

All appointments are effective immediately.

The appointment of Sam Perera as President, Michelle Veitch as Vice President and Samantha Robinson as Treasurer are decisions of the Board to fill casual vacancies until the next AGM in 2022.

The AFA Board is now:

• President – Sam Perera
• Vice President – Michelle Veitch
• Treasurer – Samantha Robinson
• NSW/ACT – Katherine Hayes
• VIC – Vacant
• QLD – Patricia Garcia
• SA/NT – Jawad Ahmad
• WA – Stephen Knight
• TAS – Vacant
• Shaun McDonagh (Independent Director)

AFA CEO Helen Morgan-Banda thanked Mike and Matt on behalf of the AFA’s HQ team.

“Mike has been an inspirational leader for the AFA, and I want to thank him and Matt for supporting me and my team during a period of challenge and change,” she said.

The post AFA announces Board changes appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Jane Hume

In what will be his first address to the financial advice community since his appointment in June 2021, ASIC Chair, Joseph Longo, will appear on the opening day of the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA)’s upcoming EVOLVE Conference (the AFA Conference).

Mr Longo joins a distinguished line-up of expert speakers, including Senator Jane Hume, Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and the Digital Economy, who will deliver the opening keynote, and Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation, Stephen Jones, MP. Former Lego executive, Conny Kalcher, from Zurich’s UK headquarters, will discuss her customer journey from Lego to Insurance, and Australia’s former Deputy Chief Medical Officer and COVID-19 expert, Dr Nick Coatsworth is the closing keynote speaker.

AFA’s new CEO, Helen Morgan-Banda, said, “I am looking forward to welcoming AFA members to our EVOLVE conference, as we celebrate 75 years as an association. I want to join with financial advisers and use this conference to start charting a way forward after a period of unprecedented change.”

Hosted by Master of Ceremonies, Nigel Collins, the AFA Conference will run from 21-22 September 2021. Delegates will have virtual access to 35 industry expert presentations which will be broadcast live across the nation and subsequently made available to delegates on demand for up to four months. The complete AFA Conference program offers up to 30 hours of CPD and delegates will be able to immediately download their CPD certificates after viewing an on-demand session via a new CPD Hub. Those joining the conference will also be able to take part in interactive sessions and visit virtual exhibitor showrooms.

Olivia Sarah-Le Lacheur, AFA Conference Chair, said, “Once again, the AFA Conference program has been expertly designed to help delegates increase their technical knowledge, while also giving them insights into how to grow their businesses. It provides an outstanding opportunity for advisers to access information that will help them to take their practices to the next level.”

The AFA Conference will also host a special 75th birthday celebration.

Other sessions include a comprehensive regulatory update from AFA General Manager, Policy and Professionalism, Phil Anderson; sessions on investment, pricing, and industry trends; updates from the AFA Foundation and Pro Bono Financial Advice Network; insights from industry heads of business, and seven panel discussions covering key issues across the profession.

The post AFA announces speaker program for EVOLVE Conference 21-22 September 2021 appeared first on AdviserVoice.

Helen Morgan-Banda

After a thorough and rigorous recruitment process, the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) has announced the appointment of Helen Morgan-Banda as AFA CEO, effective 2 August 2021.

Ms Morgan-Banda brings to the role almost a decade of experience as CEO of two major professional membership bodies. Most recently she was CEO of the 15,000 member-strong Law Society of New Zealand and prior to that was CEO of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners.

AFA National President, Michael Nowak, said Ms Morgan-Banda’s background and experience is a strong strategic fit with the highly experienced financial services professionals in the AFA’s senior leadership team, AFA Board, and AFA Communities of Practice.

“Over the course of her career, Helen has managed significant disruption, akin to that currently being experienced by financial advisers,” Mr Nowak said. “She has demonstrated a deep understanding of the issues being faced by our members and the broader industry and we believe she is the right person to lead us into the future.”

Ms Morgan-Banda has previously held Corporate Affairs positions with ANZ (New Zealand) and AMP (New Zealand). She will relocate from Wellington, New Zealand to Sydney as soon as practicable.

Mr Nowak also took the opportunity to thank Phil Anderson, the AFA’s General Manager Policy and Professionalism, for leading the AFA over the past six months.

“Phil has essentially performed two demanding roles while we were engaged in the search for a new CEO,” he said. “Phil remains an integral part of the AFA’s senior leadership team and will continue to play a vital role consulting with regulators, Government and other industry bodies on behalf of our members.”

The AFA is Australia’s longest-standing financial advice association and celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.

The post AFA appoints Helen Morgan-Banda as CEO appeared first on AdviserVoice.