Sarah Abood is Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Advice Association of Australia (FAAA). The FAAA was formed in April 2023 from the merger of the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) and the Financial Planning Association (FPA), and is Australia’s leading professional association for financial planners and advisers.
Sarah has over 25 years’ experience working in the financial services sector and she is a passionate advocate for financial planning. She has a deep understanding of the profession, and the demands of running an advice practice, gained from her nine years as CEO of a privately-owned and self-licensed financial planning firm.
Prior to commencing as FAAA CEO, Ms Abood held the position of chief operating officer at the for-purpose fund manager HOPE Housing. She has also worked in senior leadership, change and transformation, and marketing roles for some of Australia’s leading financial institutions including Fidelity International, CFS, BT, Westpac, Rothschild and AMP. Sarah holds a BA from the University of Sydney, an MBA from Macquarie University (MGSM) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Julia Banks is an author, leadership consultant, keynote speaker, opinion writer, and lawyer-who runs her own consultancy business.
An established thought leader–Julia Banks’ broad experience spans across the public and private sectors, her term in federal politics and her consulting business. Julia’s expertise and advocacy focusses on leadership, safe, respectful and positive workplace cultures, governance and risk and issues management.
Julia Banks has served in the Australian Federal Parliament as both a government and independent MP, and has held General Counsel, Executive Director, Company Secretary and Board member roles in global blue-chip companies, as well as several non-executive director and advisory roles in Australian organisations.
Julia has led large and small teams and worked in boardrooms and courtrooms predominantly in the corporate, commercial, governance, risk and issues management, and diversity and inclusion space.
During her federal parliamentary term Julia served as a government MP and then as an independent MP during which time her primary areas of advocacy at a national level were in relation to gender and cultural equality, climate change action and humanitarian issues.
Julia’s consulting and speaking work across workplace sectors has harnessed her deep understanding and ability to tailor her consulting work, keynote speeches and panel discussions across workplace sectors-ranging from the law, manufacturing, professional and finance services, construction, consumer marketing and retail, sport, academia, mining, public sector organisations and local, state and federal levels of government.
An experienced keynote speaker, panel member and moderator, Julia also regularly authors opinion pieces which have been published in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, The Saturday Paper & The New Daily and appears in radio and television, and mainstream media interviews regarding current affairs.
Julia's bestselling book ‘Power Play, Breaking through bias barriers and boys’ clubs’- part memoir’ meets resource guide for those aspiring to leadership positions received excellent reviews and was nominated in the 2022 Australian Book Industry Awards.
Julia Banks graduated in Arts & Law from Monash University in Melbourne Australia, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Australian Governance Institute
Miranda Brownlee is the editor of Accountants Daily and Accounting Times, the leading sources of news, insight and educational content for professionals in the accounting sector.
She has previously written for a range of other financial services publications at Momentum Media including SMSF Adviser, ifa and Investor Daily.
An exemplary master of ceremonies, Shelly comes well prepared and researched, attentive to her client’s needs and committed to driving a successful event. More than a safe pair of hands, Shelly is the magic dust to making events soar due to her unique ability to blend client messaging with a great sense of humour, an authentic and engaging style, the ability to think on her feet, (a skill she’s honed as a seasoned journalist and television presenter) and the confidence that comes with decades of hosting events.
Her illustrious 25-year career encompasses significant roles, including 11 years as a reporter for ABC, 8 years as a presenter for Channel Seven, 6 years in journalism with Fairfax, and a 5 year stint as the South Pacific correspondent for Entertainment Tonight USA. In her eight-year tenure at Channel 9, Shelly has been a weekly feature on shows such as TODAY, TODAY EXTRA, and Weekend TODAY, where she contributes opinion pieces. Additionally, she holds the position of lifestyle presenter for 9Honey and hosts programs like Talking
Honey, He Said/She Said, and the spin-off to Married at First Sight, Talking Married. Shelly is also the founder of ShellShocked Media, a company specialising in media and speaker training where she trains others on everything they need to know about delivering the perfect interview or keynote. She’s also a seasoned speaker herself and her keynote addresses, delivered both locally and internationally, are renowned for being motivational, practical, and inspirational.
SPEAK WITH IMPACT
Next to spiders and heights public speaking is one of the most common fears. In an electrifying keynote Shelly will teach you to control that fear, polish the way you present and learn how to get your messages across convincingly. She will reveal the tips and tricks of the trade and the transformative power of simple physical exercises.
Need to conduct effective sales meetings; pitch a new idea to your boss, conquer team meetings, navigate difficult conversations with ease, and own networking events, then it’s all in the way you communicate and in this presentation, Shelly shows you how.
THE ART OF SMALL TALK
Fear small talk no more and walk into a room of strangers with ease. Whether it’s compulsory work functions or business savvy networking nights, learn from one of the best in the business about the art of introductions, tips on how to remember names, techniques to use to extract yourself from dull conversations, ideas on how to fill awkward silences and most importantly how to leave a positive impression at any event.
MENOPAUSE IN THE WORKPLACE
Shelly turned her debilitating menopause experience into a mission. She co-created "Don't Sweat It," with Dr Ginni Mansberg, a company that stands at the forefront of advocating for menopausefriendly workplaces. Shelly’s unique combination of lived experience advocacy, legislative action, and science-based education positions her as more than just a speaker; she's a catalyst for transformative change. By embracing menopause friendly workplaces, you boost productivity, slash recruitment costs, and foster a culture of inclusivity and equality. It's time to ditch the stigma, cut down sick days, and sidestep legal headaches. A menopause-friendly workplace isn't just smart business – it's the future!
Joanna James - is known as a revolutionary difference maker in the Design, Construction and Banking sectors and is featured in publications such as Entrepreneur, USA Today, The Advisor, MPA, Australian Broker, Flaunt, CIO and Insights Success.
As Australia’s youngest registered female architect & builder she is known as creator of the world's first ‘Bio’ home, featured on TV series ‘I Own Australia’s best home’.
Joanna created the Shambhala@byron retreat which welcomed celebrity singer Sting as her first guest. Her book Mind Body Spaces raises awareness around our health and the spaces that we live in.
A pioneering entrepreneur for the Mortgage Ezy Group of companies, her contribution shines through the 32 Industry awards including 3 times BRW fastest company.
A passionate advocate for women in business, Joanna has also been recognised as Principal of Year (WIFA), Top 100 Female Entrepreneurs and Top 100 Female Mentors.
Contributing to the FBAA Artemis Forum, she works to raise opportunities for Education, Advocacy and Awareness for women within the Australian Finance Industry.
Annie Kane is the managing editor of Momentum's mortgages titles: The Adviser and Mortgage Business.
As well as writing about the Australian broking industry, the mortgage market, financial regulation, fintechs and the wider lending landscape – Annie is also the host of the Elite Broker and In Focus podcasts and The Adviser Live webcasts.
Adele is a graduate of the Speakers Institute and an experienced speaker who has spoken both nationally and internationally (including training for 200,000 Japanese Financial Advisers).
Unlike other “experts’” you hear speak she currently runs a fee for service financial advice business and has been in the industry since 2001.
Here are some examples of how Adele has used technology and social media to scale and grow her financial advice business
Matina Moffitt is a Partner in BDO’s Financial Services Audit team in Sydney. Prior to joining BDO, Matina was part of a leading global professional services firm’s financial services wealth management practice.
For the last 35 years, Matina has specialised in audit and accounting services for wealth asset managers and superannuation clients from retail and industry funds to SMSF.
Matina’s working style is professional and disciplined and she demonstrates a high level of client service.
Matina is an Approved Self-Managed Superannuation Fund (SMSF) Auditor and a Fellow, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ).
In addition, Matina is a member of the SMSF Auditor Professional Association Stakeholder Group (members comprise representatives from professional bodies, the Australian Taxation Office, and Australian
Securities and Investments Commission).
Group Executive, Advocacy & Professional Standards, Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) Group
At the IPA, Vicki heads the team responsible for advocacy, policy, government relations, media, strategic communications, and professional conduct.
Vicki came to the IPA from Federal Treasury, where she worked in tax policy, financial literacy, prudential regulation of the banking sector and in the Office of Best Practice Regulation. Prior to this, Vicki was a practicing lawyer specialising in commercial litigation, working in Australia and overseas. She currently volunteers in the community legal sector.
Vicki holds a BJuris, LLB, BA, MBA (international business), DFP.
