David Sharpe

The Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) and the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) have achieved legal completion of their merger to form the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA), and have confirmed the board directors of the new association.  

From 3 April 2023, FPA and AFA staff come together as a single team in one office, and activity will begin to be undertaken under the FAAA name.  

The FAAA has also unveiled its new logo, created following extensive member consultation. The logo and new branding will be rolled out during April. Central to the new logo design are the three “a”s of the name represented as three speech bubbles, to symbolise its voice in dialogue with key stakeholders.

While FPA members will start to see a transition to the new FAAA branding over coming weeks, the AFA will continue to operate under its own brand until 30 June, when those members who renew will move to the FAAA.  

David Sharpe will be the chair of the FAAA and Michelle Veitch has been appointed as deputy chair.  

The FPA directors who will serve on the FAAA board are:  

• David Sharpe – chair 
• Diana D’Ambra
• Kearsten James
• William Johns
• Jade Khao
•  Julie Matheson 
• Angela Martyn
•  Julian Place  

The nominated AFA directors who will serve on the FAAA board are:  

• Michelle Veitch – deputy chair 
• Katherine Hayes
• Patricia Garcia
• Shaun McDonagh  

AFA national president Sam Perera, who will not be joining the new board, said he is proud to have played a part in bringing together the two associations.

“I have decided to refocus my time toward my family, staff and practice who have been patient with my absence whilst I served on the AFA board. I will remain an active member of the FAAA and continue to contribute in the areas of policy and advocacy,” Mr Perera said. 

Mr Perera will remain the president of the AFA and an AFA Board member until the AFA is wound up.  

FAAA chair David Sharpe paid tribute to Mr Perera’s three and a half years on the AFA board and his tireless dedication to the profession over many more years.  

“I would like to thank Sam for his work as the AFA national president, and his deep commitment to bringing our two associations together.  I also thank the other AFA directors who have worked so hard to make this merger a reality,” Mr Sharpe said.

“I would also like to acknowledge and thank Marisa Broome who, as immediate past chair of the FPA, was deeply involved in the early stages of talks and integral to the ultimate success of our merger.  

“On behalf of the board of the FAAA, I would also like to extend our gratitude to all staff who have worked so hard to get us to this point.”  

Mr Sharpe added that the new board represents a unified voice for the financial advice profession.  

“We had already taken steps to bring the board members together to start discussions following the merger, and the AFA nominated directors participated as guests at the last FPA board meeting and strategy day.  

“We are now in a strong position to start our work as a merged association, advocating on behalf of members,” he said.  

FAAA deputy chair, Michelle Veitch, said the formation of the FAAA represents a new chapter in the financial advice profession.

“I urge all members to renew with the new association. The FAAA will speak with one strong voice for the vast majority of financial advisers in the Australian market, as we work towards ensuring better outcomes for advice practices and their clients,” she said.  

FPA and AFA membership renewals will kick off in May, with all branding, website and membership activity due to be fully transitioned to the FAAA branding by 30 June. 

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This appointment follows the stepping down of additional director Paul Ruiz after serving nearly two years on the FPA Board.

FPA Chair Marisa Broome CFP^® said: “I would like to thank Paul Ruiz for his commitment to the FPA Board over the past couple of years, in particular the expertise he has brought to the Audit and Risk Committee in his role as the previous Chair. On behalf of FPA Board, I’m delighted to welcome Diana D’Ambra to the Board.”

Joining on 1 December 2020, Ms D’Ambra will bring over 30 years of deep strategic and financial experience. She has spent more than 13 years as a non-executive director and more than 25 years as an investment, mergers, acquisitions and capital market and financial management adviser and chartered accountant.

In addition to her non-executive board and committee roles, Diana also provides financial and strategic assistance to established businesses in relation to acquisitions, divestments, and to start-ups in relation to strengthening and transforming their businesses.

Recipients of FPA Honorary Awards

At the FPA AGM, the FPA also announced its recent recipients of FPA Honorary Awards to acknowledge the dedication of exemplary members.

After finishing her three-year term on the FPA Board, Michelle Tate-Lovery CFP^® was honoured for her service with a Distinguished Service Award and appointment as a Fellow of the FPA.

Delma Newton CFP^® also finished her second term on the FPA Board and was recognised with a Life Membership of the FPA.

Life Membership was also awarded to Gary Jones AFP^® to acknowledge his long-standing commitment as an FPA Chapter Chair and member of the FPA Regional Chapter Committee.

FPA Chair Marisa Broome CFP^® said: “It’s important that we take this time to recognise our members who have gone above and beyond. These awards are not only representations of time and hard work, but also the dedication to servicing and advancing the financial planning profession. On behalf of the board, we thank you all for your commitment over the years.”

The members of the FPA Board are:

• Marisa Broome CFP^® (Chair)
• Jane Bowd
• Diana D’Ambra
• Alison Henderson CFP^®
• Kearsten James CFP^®
• William Johns CFP^®
• Julie Matheson CFP^®
• Julian Place CFP^®
• David Sharpe CFP^®

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Ms James and Mr Place will serve on the FPA Board for the first time, while Ms Matheson has been re-elected to the Board after previously serving until 2016.

All three positions are for a term of three years and will be commence at the Annual General Meeting on 25 November 2020.

FPA Chair Marisa Broome CFP® said: “On behalf of the FPA Board, I am looking forward to working with Kearsten, Julie and Julian. Each bring important skills and experience which will add to the depth of knowledge on the FPA Board.”

The three appointments follow the expiry of terms for Board members Marisa Broome CFP®, Delma Newton CFP® and Michelle Tate-Lovery CFP® in November 2020.

Ms Broome has been appointed by the Board as an additional director and continues as FPA Chair for an additional term.

Ms Newton has served two terms on the FPA Board and is ineligible to stand again. Ms Tate-Lovery was eligible for re-election but made the decision not to stand again.

“I would like to sincerely thank both Delma and Michelle for their exceptional contributions to the FPA Board. Their commitment and service has been exemplary,” said Ms Broome.

More on the newly elected Board members

Kearsten James CFP® is the Gold Coast FPA Chapter Chair, a multiple FPA Award finalist and winner and has presented at the FPA Professionals Congress. Kearsten’s goal as a director is to ensure financial planning businesses remain profitable and sustainable, in order to provide affordable advice for all Australians.

Julie Matheson CFP® is a long standing member of the FPA, an FPA Distinguished Service Award recipient and has previously served on the FPA Board and many FPA committees. Julie is passionate about the profession of financial planning and ensuring advice is accessible and cost effective through a balanced approach to the regulatory burden.

Julian Place CFP® has been the FPA Chapter Chair for Melbourne for the last 10 years and is a member of the Financial Planning Education Council (FPEC). He is a past recipient of the FPA Distinguished Service Award and he is heavily involved with Future2. Julian is passionate about the value of financial advice and the noble work that financial planners do every day.

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