The Hon. Julie Bishop and Dr Richard Harris.

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) has released its program of speakers for the 2019 AFA Conference in Adelaide in August.

Joining the former foreign minister, the Hon. Julie Bishop and Thai Caves rescuer, Dr Richard Harris, who were announced as keynote speakers last month, are ethics and trust commentator, Clare Payne; financial standards best practice expert Michelle Hoskin; wine industry entrepreneur, Warren Randall and mental health presenter, Chelsea Pottenger.

AFA CEO, Philip Kewin said, “The AFA is pleased to be able to host such a diverse range of high calibre speakers at this year’s conference. Each of our keynote presenters has something unique to offer and will provide delegates with insights and/or equip them with skills they can apply when they return to their practices.”

Clare Payne writes on ethics and trust for a range of business publications, including a regular monthly column, Ethical Lens published in The Australian Financial Review. Clare draws from her experience as an employment lawyer and her time managing the Integrity office of a global investment bank. In 2010 Clare led the establishment of The Banking and Finance Oath (The BFO), a Hippocratic oath for those working in banking and finance.

Michelle Hoskin has more than 20 years’ experience working alongside some of the world’s most successful financial services organisations, designing and implementing international framework-based best practice standards. Michelle is pioneering a drive towards increased professionalism and operational excellence through her continued work at Standards International – the UK’s premier certification body for British and international financial services standards – which she founded. Most recently, Michelle led a sector committee whose objective was to develop and launch a new international standard for professional paraplanners.

Michelle will talk about customer service excellence for financial advisers and making every client interaction count.

Warren Randall has worked in the Australian Wine Industry for 42 years and will be sharing how he beat the critics to become the largest private company owner of vineyards in both the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale. Warren resurrected and preserved the home of Seppeltsfield Wines in the Barossa Valley, making it an iconic Australian tourism destination. His many achievements include signing unprecedented bulk supply agreements with China in 2017.

Warren was the 2002 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the South Australian category and in 2015 received the Len Evans Award for exemplary leadership in the Australian wine industry. He will be speaking about flexibility, adaptation and embracing change to stay on top.

Chelsea Pottenger is an international speaker and ambassador for mental health charities including R u Ok? and The Gidget Foundation and an authority on Mindfulness and productivity for the corporate world. Chelsea will be speaking on taking control of your mental and physical wellbeing so you can be more productive and become a happier, calmer version of yourself.

“With more than 12 CPD hours available to those attending Conference, delegates will be able to take away best practice thinking and actionable insights that can make a tangible difference in their businesses,” Mr Kewin said. “Conference also offers delegates the opportunity to network with their peers from all over Australia and experience the unique community aspect of the AFA.”

View the conference program and registration details.

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The Hon. Julie Bishop and Dr Richard Harris.

The Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) is pleased to announce that Australia’s former Foreign Minister, the Hon. Julie Bishop, is the opening speaker for the 2019 AFA Conference in Adelaide in August and Thai caves rescuer and joint 2019 Australian of the Year, Dr Richard ‘Harry’ Harris, SC OAM, is the closing speaker.

AFA CEO, Philip Kewin said the AFA, along with partner AIA, is honoured to offer the Australian financial advice profession the opportunity to hear from Ms Bishop, who was Foreign Minister for almost five years, following four years as Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.

“Ms Bishop has had a long and distinguished career in Australian politics,” Mr Kewin said. “As Foreign Minister she led the development of the 2017 Australian Foreign Policy White Paper, which set out a comprehensive policy framework for Australia’s engagement with the world over the next decade. She also oversaw the single largest expansion of Australia’s overseas diplomatic presence in 40 years and established the innovationXchange within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to develop creative solutions to long standing development challenges.”

Ms Bishop was awarded the Commander of the Order of Merit of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2014, after playing a lead role in the international response to the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine.

Mr Kewin said the AFA, in conjunction with long-standing partner, TAL is also honoured to welcome Dr Harris to the AFA Conference. Dr Harris was an integral part of an international rescue mission that ultimately saved a Thai soccer team of 12 boys and their coach from a flooded cave in Thailand.

“Dr Harris will be speaking to delegates about the power of collaboration in helping to break through seemingly insurmountable barriers to achieve goals against the odds,” Mr Kewin said. “We can’t think of a better person to speak to our members about strength, resilience, staying the course and pushing through adversity than Harry.”

Dr Harris works in anaesthesia and aeromedical retrieval medicine in Adelaide, South Australia and has expertise in wilderness and remote area health. He also has a long held passion for diving which has taken him all around the world. He has dived the Pearse Resurgence in New Zealand to a depth of 229m, Daxing Spring in China to 213m and Song Hong Cave in Thailand to 196m.

He has a professional and voluntary interest in search and rescue operations, establishing the first sump rescue (deep, scary caves) training course in Australasia.

More information about the conference and registration details are available at www.afaconference.com.au.

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