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Virtual Program

Not able to join us in Melbourne?

Earn up to 22 CPD hours with the virtual program.

The virtual event offers a curated program, with select technical sessions available to view live and on-demand, so everyone can experience National Conference!

National Conference 2027 Virtual Program

DAY 1
DAY 2

PROGRAM STREAMS

LEGS AND REGS

Meticulously crafted sessions to provide insight into superannuation compliance, income tax and legal issues for both newcomers and experienced professionals.

STRATEGY

Your one-stop shop for issues relating to strategic superannuation planning including contribution strategies, retirement planning, and estate planning.

ADVICE, PRACTICE & REGULATORY

Targeted sessions aimed at promoting critical thinking, encouraging professionals to examine and enhance their current practices.

 

Please note the National Conference 2027 virtual program is subject to change before the conference in February.

Please check the latest schedule times closer to the conference dates.

Day 1 - Wednesday 17 February

10:30am - 10:50am
Welcome and chair address

Scott Hay-Bartlem, Chair, SMSF Association

10:50am - 11:50am
The Forces Shaping Our Future

Peter Burgess, CEO, SMSF Association

Session details

The Forces Shaping Our Future

Plenary 1
10:50am – 11:50am

Peter Burgess, CEO, SMSF Association

Policy, regulation and political priorities continue to shape the environment in which SMSF professionals operate. From major consumer protection reforms to emerging regulatory expectations and broader retirement policy debates, the decisions being made today will influence the advice, services and outcomes delivered to clients for years to come.
 
In this fast-paced and high-energy address, Peter examines the forces driving change across the superannuation landscape. Drawing on the Association’s advocacy, engagement with government and regulators, and insights from across the profession, Peter will unpack the policy developments, reform priorities and emerging issues likely to shape the future of SMSFs. Delegates will leave with a clearer understanding of the opportunities, risks and challenges ahead, and the insights needed to help their clients and practices thrive in an evolving environment.
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Div 296: It’s All in the Detail

John Perri, Technical Manager, SMSF Association

Session details

Div 296: It’s All in the Detail

Concurrent 1A
12:00pm – 1:00pm

John Perri, Technical Manager, SMSF Association

Division 296 may now be part of the superannuation landscape, but the real complexity lies beneath the headline rules.

In this session, John Perri will unpack the architecture of Div 296 and the key concepts SMSF professionals need to understand to navigate the regime with confidence. From the critical role of total superannuation balance to the mechanics that determine when and how the new tax applies, John will explore the interactions, nuances and the issues that can materially affect outcomes.

With Div 296 running through many of the technical and strategic conversations across National Conference, this session sets the framework for what follows. Whether you think you know Div 296 or are still getting across the detail, this is a session that has something for everyone.

The Next Chapter for LRBAs

David Busoli, Principal, SMSF Alliance

Session details

The Next Chapter for LRBAs

Concurrent 1B
12:00pm – 1:00pm

David Busoli, Principal, SMSF Alliance

For nearly two decades, limited recourse borrowing arrangements have been a cornerstone of SMSF strategy. But the reforms which took effect from 10 August 2026 have fundamentally changed the borrowing landscape and raised important questions about what comes next.

In this practical and forward-looking session, David Busoli explores the future of SMSF borrowing and the implications of the new rules for trustees, advisers and administrators. From the ongoing role of grandfathered arrangements and the availability of finance for both Business Real Property and non-Business Real Property assets, to refinancing considerations and ownership structures, delegates will examine the practical realities of borrowing in a post-reform environment.

The session will also explore alternative acquisition and structuring strategies where traditional LRBAs are no longer available, including the potential role of related structures.

As the borrowing landscape evolves, delegates will be challenged to rethink the role of borrowing in the modern SMSF strategy and consider whether the traditional LRBA playbook still applies.

Regulator Insights - ATO & ASIC

Ben Kelly, Deputy Commissioner, Superannuation and Employer Obligations , Australian Taxation Office

Leah Sciacca, Senior Executive Leader, ASIC

Session details

Regulator Insights - ATO & ASIC

Concurrent 1C
12:00pm – 1:00pm

This Q&A session with key representatives from the ATO and ASIC offers a unique opportunity to hear directly from the regulators at the heart of the SMSF sector. Facilitated by the SMSF Association team, the discussion will explore the latest regulatory updates, compliance priorities, and emerging challenges shaping the industry in 2027.

Attendees will gain practical insights into how these developments may affect their day-to-day practice and what the regulators expect in the year ahead, helping you understand the regulatory developments that could be a catalyst for change across the SMSF sector.

1:00pm - 1:50pm
Lunch
1:50pm - 2:50pm
SMSFs: The Rise of Private Credit

Shelley Banton, Director, Super Clarity

Session details

SMSFs: The Rise of Private Credit

Concurrent 2A
1:50pm – 2:50pm

Shelley Banton, Director, Super Clarity

Private credit continues to attract growing interest from SMSF trustees seeking attractive returns, diversification and alternatives to traditional fixed income investments. But as structures become more complex, so too do the technical, compliance and governance risks.

In this practical session, Shelley examines how private credit and alternative lending arrangements operate within SMSFs and the risks advisers, trustees and auditors may be overlooking. From syndicated loans and pooled lending arrangements to trust structures, mortgage investments and hybrid products, delegates will explore the challenges of identifying the true underlying exposure, assessing recoverability and understanding the compliance obligations that sit beneath the surface.

Through practical examples and emerging industry trends, Shelley will highlight where issues can arise, what questions professionals should be asking and how to identify risks before they become problems.

More Than Just a Contribution

Jemma Sanderson, Director, Cooper Partners Financial Services Pty Ltd 

Session details

More Than Just a Contribution

Concurrent 2B
1:50pm – 2:50pm

Jemma Sanderson, Director, Cooper Partners Financial Services Pty Ltd 

In-specie contributions remain a popular way to move assets into SMSFs, but when value moves, so do the risks. Valuation differences, value shifting, CGT consequences, contribution cap issues and NALI considerations can combine to create significant and sometimes unintended outcomes for trustees and their advisers.

In this practical session, Jemma Sanderson explores the real-world issues emerging from in-specie contribution strategies and related-party asset transfers. Drawing on industry experience and current ATO focus areas, she examines where transactions commonly go wrong, how value can unintentionally shift between parties and entities, and why seemingly minor implementation issues can have far-reaching tax and compliance consequences.

The session will also explore the professional responsibilities that arise when establishing, reviewing or inheriting these arrangements, including valuation expectations, NALI considerations and emerging TPB requirements. Delegates will leave with a clearer understanding of the warning signs, technical risks and practical questions that should be asked before value moves from one structure to another.

Facing the ATO: First-Hand Lessons

Bruce Collins, Principal Solicitor, Tax Controversy Partners

Session details

Facing the ATO: First-Hand Lessons

Concurrent 2C
1:50pm – 2:50pm

Bruce Collins, Principal Solicitor, Tax Controversy Partners

When an SMSF trustee finds themselves on the wrong side of the ATO, what happens next often matters just as much, if not more, than what went wrong.

Bruce Collins has seen how the ATO operates from the inside and now represents clients in tax and super matters. In this candid session, he shares first-hand what works, and what doesn’t, when trustees run into trouble. Using real-world examples, he will cover illegal early access, trustee disqualification, whether voluntary disclosures help, the impact of false or misleading statements, and how to deal with non-compliance, including clients inherited with long-overdue returns and unresolved issues.

Bruce will also look ahead at how the ATO is likely to approach and administer reforms such as the CGT changes and the broader tax reforms. Delegates will leave with practical strategies for helping their clients and a clearer sense of how the ATO is likely to respond.

2:50pm - 3:30pm
AFTERNOON TEA
3:30pm - 4:30pm
The Audit-Ready SMSF Auditor

Belinda Aisbett, Director, Super Sphere

Session details

The Audit-Ready SMSF Auditor

Concurrent 3A
3:30pm – 4:30pm

Belinda Aisbett, Director, Super Sphere

Regulatory reviews rarely fail because of a single mistake. More often, they expose weaknesses in systems, processes, documentation and quality management that have developed over time.

In this practical session, Belinda Aisbett explores the steps SMSF auditors can take now to strengthen their practices before they come under regulatory scrutiny. Drawing on lessons from peer reviews as well as recent ATO and ASIC activity, delegates will examine the common deficiencies identified in audit reviews, the importance of robust quality management systems, and the role of peer reviews and continuous improvement in maintaining professional standards.

From implementing and embedding ASQM requirements to strengthening file quality and audit processes, this session focuses on building practices that are prepared for scrutiny, giving auditors confidence in their approach while supporting high-quality audit outcomes.

Aged Care Advice: Has the Dust Settled?

Louise Biti, Director, Aged Care Steps

Session details

Aged Care Advice: Has the Dust Settled?

Concurrent 3B
3:30pm – 4:30pm

Louise Biti, Director, Aged Care Steps

Twelve months on from the introduction of the new Aged Care Act, what’s clear, what’s still messy and what really matters? Or are we only just beginning to uncover the complexities, unintended consequences and advice opportunities emerging from effective strategies under the new rules?
 
For SMSF clients, aged care decisions can be particularly complex, with strategy more important than technical rules. Significant wealth, superannuation pensions, property structures and competing estate planning objectives create challenges that extend well beyond simply calculating aged care fees.
 
Louise Biti will cut through the noise and use real case studies to explore the practical advice strategies that make a difference to client outcomes and where advisers can genuinely add value. And importantly, she will discuss how the commercial opportunity can justify the complexity and make aged care advice worth the effort?
 
The dust may be settling, but strategic advice can have lasting consequences for clients and their families.
Right To Spend? A Question of Best Interests

Colin Jowell, Founder, BillWill

Session details

Right To Spend? A Question of Best Interests

Concurrent 3C
3:30pm – 4:30pm

Colin Jowell, Founder, BillWill

Today’s SMSF members are retiring into a situation no generation has faced before. They hold more wealth than their parents did, they control it themselves, and they will need it to last longer. At the same time, their children face a harder road than they did. And they know it.
 
Decades of saving have created substantial retirement wealth. Yet accumulating wealth and feeling entitled to spend it are two very different things.
 
In this thought-provoking session, Colin Jowell explores the behavioural science behind how members make decisions about spending, saving and preserving wealth throughout retirement. At its heart is a three-way tension unique to this cohort: meeting today’s cost of living, protecting against longevity risk, and preserving wealth for the next generation.
 
Through a best-interests lens, Colin will explore the behaviours, biases and ethical considerations that shape these decisions. Using the ONS4, the standard measure of personal wellbeing in behavioural science and public policy, he reframes the tension as a question of experience, satisfaction and purpose, giving professionals a defensible definition of a client’s best interests that goes beyond the balance sheet, and a clearer sense of their responsibility when a client’s reluctance to spend is working against their own wellbeing.
 
Ultimately, the session asks a deceptively simple question: what does it mean to use retirement wealth to live your best life?
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Day 2 - Thursday 18 February

10:25am - 11:25am
Running an SMSF in a Digital World

Aaron Dunn, CEO, Smarter SMSF

Session details

Running an SMSF in a Digital World

Concurrent 4A
10:25am – 11:25am

Aaron Dunn, CEO, Smarter SMSF

Today, almost everything about running an SMSF happens online. Funds are established digitally, documents are signed electronically, meetings are held virtually, records are stored in the cloud and trustees expect transactions and decisions to happen in real time. Technology has made SMSFs more efficient than ever, but can you prove it was all done properly? It has also created new legal, governance and compliance challenges.

In this practical session, Aaron Dunn explores what it means to establish, run and wind up an SMSF when the entire process is online. From electronic execution and digital record keeping to Director IDs, online identity verification, AI and much more, delegates will examine the practical issues that arise at each stage. When is an electronic signature valid, and when does witnessing make it risky? What evidence should be on file, and what will an auditor expect to see? Where does AI help, and where does it create new trustee, privacy and advice risk?

As more of the SMSF lifecycle moves online, understanding the rules, evidence requirements and governance expectations behind these digital processes has never been more important. Delegates will leave with a practical checklist of what to keep at each stage, so they can confidently support clients in an SMSF world that now runs online.

When ECPI Meets Div 296

Melanie Dunn, Principal, Head of Actuarial,
Accurium

Session details

When ECPI Meets Div 296

Concurrent 4B
10:25am – 11:25am

Melanie Dunn, Principal, Head of Actuarial, Accurium

For years, SMSF professionals have implemented strategies to maximise exempt current pension income (ECPI). Division 296 brings a new consideration through a new actuarial certificate requirement. For funds with members subject to Division 296, maximising ECPI now needs to be considered alongside the desire to minimise earnings attributed to relevant Division 296 members, and understanding how the two interact will become an important part of advising these funds.

In this strategic session, Melanie Dunn will explore the trade-offs that emerge where ECPI and Division 296 intersect. Using case studies, she will show how ECPI decisions can affect Division 296 attribution and how to weigh one outcome against the other. The session will also cover the actuarial certificate requirements for Division 296, strategies to minimise attribution of earnings for relevant members, and the added complications for funds paying defined benefit pensions.

By attending this session, you will leave with an understanding of the questions to ask, the trade-offs to weigh, and the considerations to raise with SMSF trustees who have Division 296 members.

Session to be announced

Further details coming soon.

Session details

Session to be announced

Concurrent 4C
10:25am – 11:25am

Further details coming soon. 

11:35am - 12:35pm
Auditing Related Parties: Beyond the Basics

Naomi Kewley, Managing Director, Peak Super Audits

Session details

Auditing Related Parties: Beyond the Basics

Concurrent 5A
11:35am – 12:35pm

Naomi Kewley, Managing Director, Peak Super Audits

Related-party dealings can look straightforward, until you follow the transaction through.

NALI, related-party borrowings, contributions, value shifting and valuations can all come into play, sometimes within the same arrangement. So, what will the auditor challenge when these transactions land on their desk, and what should you be thinking about before they get there?

In this session, Naomi brings an auditor’s lens to related-party dealings, exploring the warning signs, pressure points and intersections that can turn an otherwise familiar strategy into a compliance problem. She’ll examine where closer scrutiny may be warranted, how valuations and transaction terms can change the picture, and the compliance issues all SMSF professionals need to be alert to when parties get a little too close.

The Great CGT Shake-Up

Craig Day, Head of Technical Services, Colonial First State

Session details

The Great CGT Shake-Up

Concurrent 5B
11:35am – 12:35pm

Craig Day, Head of Technical Services, Colonial First State

Australia’s capital gains tax (CGT) landscape is changing with significant implications and opportunities for SMSF professionals. From the introduction of cost base indexation to the 30% minimum tax rate on capital gains, these changes may require a major rethink of clients’ investment, retirement, and intergenerational wealth transfer strategies.
 
In this session, Craig will examine the practical realities of the new CGT regime, to help you understand not only how the rules work, but how they may change client behaviour, reshape planning opportunities and influence advice going forward.
 
Topics discussed will include:
  • Back to the future – how the new cost base indexation rules will work
  • Grandfathering and how the transition will apply to existing investments
  • The 30% minimum tax and its impact on common retirement strategies
  • Key tips, traps, and uncertainties to watch out for
The Changing Face of Professional Practice

Keddie Waller, Head of Professional Standards, SMSF Association

Session details

The Changing Face of Professional Practice

Concurrent 5C
11:35am – 12:35pm

Keddie Waller, Head of Professional Standards, SMSF Association

The regulatory environment for SMSF professionals continues to evolve, bringing new obligations, increased scrutiny and changing expectations for those working in public practice.

In this practical and forward-looking session, Keddie Waller will unpack the developments that matter most to SMSF professionals, from TPB obligations and breach reporting to AML/CTF reforms, AUSTRAC requirements and broader professional standards. She will explore what is changing, where the pressure points are emerging and what practitioners should be thinking about now.

With the compliance landscape becoming increasingly interconnected, this session will help delegates cut through the noise, understand the implications for their practice and stay ahead of the professional obligations shaping the year ahead.

12:35pm - 1:25pm
Lunch
1:25pm - 2:25pm
BRP: New World, Old Rules

Tim Miller, SMSF Technical & Education Manager, Smarter SMSF

Session details

BRP: New World, Old Rules

Concurrent 6A
1:25pm – 2:25pm

Tim Miller, SMSF Technical & Education Manager, Smarter SMSF

Business real property (BRP) has long been one of the defining strategic opportunities available to SMSFs but as commercial arrangements evolve, questions are emerging about whether the existing rules and ATO guidance remain fit for purpose.

In this practical session, Tim Miller revisits BRP through a contemporary lens, examining the renewed interest in BRP and the broad range of arrangements practitioners are encountering. From changing property use and commercial arrangements to primary production, Tim will explore where the boundaries are being tested and uncertainty remains.

Drawing on practical examples and industry experience, delegates will consider what qualifies as BRP, where the technical and compliance risks lie, and whether the traditional BRP playbook still works in today’s commercial environment.

SMSFs: Restructure or Stay Put?

Lee-Ann Hayes, Head of Education, TaxBanter

Session details

SMSFs: Restructure or Stay Put?

Concurrent 6B
1:25pm – 2:25pm

Lee-Ann Hayes, Head of Education, TaxBanter

The 2026 tax reforms have changed where wealth can be accumulated most effectively and, for many, superannuation has come out ahead. The challenge is determining whether existing structures should be left alone, restructured, or simply bypassed when accumulating future wealth.

In this practical session, Lee-Ann explores the difficult decisions facing advisers and family groups as they reassess how wealth is held across SMSFs, trusts, companies and personal ownership structures. Through case studies and technical analysis, delegates will consider when restructuring makes sense, when it doesn’t, and how tax concessions, grandfathering provisions and transaction costs influence the decision.

The biggest question may not be whether wealth should move. It may be whether the next dollar should be accumulated somewhere different.

Productivity and Trust in AI-Powered SMSF Practices

Dr Evan Morris, Head of Innovation Lab, Class

Session details

Productivity and Trust in AI-Powered SMSF Practices

Concurrent 6C
1:25pm – 2:25pm

AI is moving from experimentation into everyday practice, creating opportunities for SMSF professionals to streamline workflows, create capacity and improve client service.

This session explores practical applications across administration, knowledge retrieval, compliance and client service, and examines how connected data and automation can support better outcomes. It will also address evolving privacy and transparency expectations, including the governance and professional oversight needed to use AI responsibly.

Drawing on real-world examples and broader productivity research, Dr Evan Morrison will identify where AI is delivering value, why isolated tools do not always translate into productivity gains, and how firms can embed AI safely while maintaining trusted information, human judgement and client confidence.

2:35pm - 3:35pm
Getting ECPI Right

Leigh Mansell, Director SMSF Technical & Education Services, Heffron Consulting Pty Ltd

Session details

Getting ECPI Right

Concurrent 7A
2:35pm – 3:35pm

Leigh Mansell, Director SMSF Technical & Education Services, Heffron Consulting Pty Ltd

Exempt Current Pension Income (ECPI) remains one of the most valuable tax concessions available to SMSFs, yet it continues to be an area where advisers, administrators and trustees make costly mistakes.

In this practical session, you’ll revisit the fundamentals of ECPI and explore the technical requirements that underpin its correct application. From segregated and proportionate methods to Disregarded Small Fund Asset (DSFA) rules, actuarial certificate requirements and weighted average calculations, the session will focus on where common misconceptions continue to arise and how to avoid them.

With increasing complexity, evolving pension structures and a growing focus on compliance, understanding when the rules apply is just as important as understanding how they apply.

When Div 296 Meets Death

Bryce Figot, Special Counsel, DBA Lawyers

Session details

When Div 296 Meets Death

Concurrent 7B
2:35pm – 3:35pm

Bryce Figot, Special Counsel, DBA Lawyers

There are a handful of simple but highly effective strategies that can be implemented right now for wealthy SMSF clients regarding Division 296 tax, particularly upon death. Some of those strategies are variants what you have probably already been doing for years. However, others are significant departures.

Using worked examples and real scenarios, Bryce will examine the strategies advisers are considering today, where long-standing approaches may no longer deliver the intended outcome, and how the interaction between death, tax and superannuation is creating new planning opportunities.

When SMSFs Go Wholesale

Craig Stone, General Manager – Education & Technical Services, SuperConcepts

Session details

When SMSFs Go Wholesale

Concurrent 7C
2:35pm – 3:35pm

Craig Stone, General Manager – Education & Technical Services, SuperConcepts

As more SMSF trustees gain access to wholesale investment opportunities, advisers are increasingly navigating a world of private markets, alternative assets and sophisticated investment structures. But qualifying as a wholesale investor is only the beginning.

In this practical session, Craig Stone explores what sits beyond the wholesale investor certificate. From eligibility requirements and common investment structures to private market opportunities and due diligence expectations, delegates will examine the additional considerations that arise when SMSFs venture beyond the retail market.

Drawing on practical lessons from the field, Craig will highlight the governance, liquidity, valuation, and investment risks that can emerge, and the questions advisers and trustees should be asking before committing to a wholesale investment.

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