Ms Petra Churcher is stepping down as Future2 Chair following many years’ service: she was previously Future2 Ambassador and was appointed to the Future2 Board in 2016 and served as Chair since 2018.

Future2 is the foundation of the financial planning profession in Australia. Through its annual Future2 Make the Difference! Grants program, Future2 supports young Australians experiencing social, financial or physical hardship. Since 2007, Future2 has contributed over $1.1 million to benefit disadvantaged young people across Australia.

Ms Berry said: ‘It’s an honour to take on the role of Chair for Future2, an organisation I am extremely passionate about.  I would like to acknowledge the outstanding service and dedication of outgoing Chair, Petra Churcher. Petra has been part of every single grant provided by Future2 since 2016 and has contributed to the lasting difference that Future2 makes in our local communities”.

Ms Berry continued: “2020 has been an extraordinary year, commencing with the devastating impact of the bushfires and the development of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Our local communities and charity partners are experiencing unprecedented challenges and Future2 is committed to engaging financial planning professionals around Australia to support t initiatives that improve the lives of young Australians in need”.

Ms Berry has been a strong supporter of the work of Future2 having previously served as a Future2 Deputy Chair since 2019. Julie Berry is a registered tax (financial) adviser and a Certified Financial Planner professional who has practised as a financial planner for more than 30 years. Julie is an Independent Director of Xplore Wealth Limited (ASX:XPL). As Technical Specialist for Drs Financial Services AFSL # 487758 Julie works closely with Financial Planners. Julie has previously served as both Chair and a board member of the FPA and Chair and board member of the Institute of Financial Advisers in NZ.  She is a life member of the FPA and recipient of the Money Management Lifetime Achievement Award.

Ms Maragna takes up her new appointment as Future2 Deputy Chair having served as Future2 Director since 2019.  She is Chief Executive of Aspire Retire, and has featured on the Barron’s 2020 Top 100 and 2019 Top 50 Financial Advisers honour roll. Ms Maragna is a well-recognised finance commentator and advocate for the financial planning profession. She is a CFP and recipient of a number of industry and business accolades.

Commenting on the new appointments, FPA CEO Dante De Gori CFP^® said: “The work of Future2 touches the lives of young people facing really challenging times. We are thrilled to welcome Julie as Chair and Olivia as Deputy Chair of the Future2 Foundation. I would also like to personally thank Petra for her remarkable leadership and growth of the Future2 Foundation,” he said.

Mr Peter Bobbin, FPA CEO Mr Dante De Gori CFP^®, Mr Giles Gunesekera, Ms Alison Henderson CFP^®, Mr Hugh Humphrey and Ms Pene Lovett continue to serve on the Future2 Board.

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Giles Gunesekera

The Future2 Foundation is pleased to welcome Mr Giles Gunesekera to its Board of Directors.

Mr Giles Gunesekera is Founder and CEO of Global Impact Initiative and is a member of the global advisory board of the United Nations (Climate & Health and Sustainable Finance) as well as a wide range of not-for-profit boards across human rights, arts, sports and disabilities.

Future2 is the Foundation of the Financial Planning Association in Australia. Through its annual Future2 Make the Difference! grants program, Future2 supports young Australians who are going through social, financial or physical hardship.

Since 2007, Future2 has contributed $1,195,066 to benefit young people across Australia. In 2019, Future2 met an ambitious target to increase its grant distribution when it awarded $191,066 to 20 not-for-profit organisations – an increase of more than 5% over the previous year.

Future2 Chair, Ms Petra Churcher, says: “Our vision at Future2 is to become the chosen foundation for all financial planners and their respective communities. We are committed to increasing our fundraising so that we can double our annual grant amount from nearly $200,000 to $400,000 per annum to provide more support to young Australians across the country.

“The appointment of Mr Gunesekera will support our vision to continue to raise the profile of the Future2 Foundation within the financial planning community and beyond”.

Several Directors recently concluded their terms on the Board. Future2 gratefully acknowledges the contributions of Mr Patrick Canion CFP^®, Ms Anne Graham CFP^®, Mr Joseph Hoe and Mr Michael Neary CSC with thanks for their commitment and service to the Foundation.

Mr Peter Bobbin, FPA CEO Mr Dante De Gori CFP^®, Ms Alison Henderson CFP^®, Mr Hugh Humphrey and Ms Olivia Maragna CFP^® continue to serve on the Future2 Board under the leadership of Ms Petra Churcher as Chair and Ms Julie Berry CFP^® as Deputy Chair.

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Future2 is the foundation of the financial planning profession in Australia. Through its annual Future2 Make the Difference! Grants program, Future2 supports young Australians experiencing social, financial or physical hardship.

More than $1 million has been contributed by Future2 to benefit disadvantaged young people across Australia since its inception 11 years ago. The milestone was achieved by awarding $181,000 in new Future2 grants to 19 not-for-profit organisations in 2018, including special drought relief grants for struggling farming communities.

Future2 Chair, Petra Churcher AFP® says, “We have an ambitious target to increase our distribution in grants to $200,000 in 2019. We would like to see this annual amount double to $400,000 per annum. It is an ambitious target, and the extensive experience that Ms Berry, Mr Humphrey and Ms Maragna bring across a wide range of areas will be an absolute asset to the Future2 Board of Directors and our collective drive to make a positive impact to families and young people facing difficult circumstances.”

Each of the new directors brings a wealth of experience:

• Ms Julie Berry CFP® has been practicing as a financial planner for almost 30 years. She is a director of the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) and Chair of Firm for 360 Financial Advantage. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She has served as both the Chair and board member of the FPA and as Chair and Board member of the Institute of Financial Advisers in New Zealand. She is also a life member of the FPA and a recipient of the Money Management Lifetime Achievement Award.
• Mr Hugh Humphrey is a senior executive in the financial services industry, with an interesting and diverse background in management consulting and telecommunications. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Sydney, an MBA from Henley Business School at the University of Reading in the UK, and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Mr Humphrey has been on the Board of The Infants’ Home for almost five years.
• Ms Olivia Maragna CFP® is Chief Executive of Aspire Retire. She features on the 2019 Barron’s Top 50 Financial Advisers honour roll and presented a Hall of Fame Award for Business Achievement. She is a well-recognised finance commentator and advocate for the financial planning profession. She is the finance columnist for several national newspapers and has a regular finance segment on ABC radio.

Mr Peter Bobbin, Mr Patrick Canion CFP® , FPA CEO Mr Dante De Gori CFP® , Ms Anne Graham CFP® , Ms Alison Henderson CFP® , Mr Joseph Hoe CFP® and Dr Michael Neary CSC continue to serve on the Future2 Board under the ongoing leadership of Ms Petra Churcher AFP® as Chair.

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