Speakers
Learn from some of the best minds in the SMSF and Superannuation space in Australia.
Adam Spencer
Adam Spencer
Laugh and learn with one of Australia’s most dynamic and engaging minds, Adam Spencer is the iconic star of radio and television and now a leading conference MC and keynote speaker on artificial intelligence (AI), cyber security, the future of work, and the Chat GPT revolution.
Adam has hosted award-winning breakfast radio shows in Australia’s toughest markets and live current affairs TV. He has won improvised theatre competitions and once interviewed John Travolta in front of 75,000 people. Whether it’s a technically demanding event with dozens of moving parts, or flying by the seat of your pants, Adam prides himself on the high level of energy, engagement and entertainment that he provides whenever on stage, set or screen.
With 25 years experience in television, radio and events, Adam loves curating challenging and thoughtprovoking conversations and keynote presentations. As a leading conference speaker on artificial intelligence (AI), cyber security, the future of work, and the Chat GPT revolution, he's informative, fun and guaranteed to impart take-aways you’ve never heard before.
As an MC and conference host, Adam loves doing the research and crafting the narrative that helps people tell their story - just watch what he can get out of them. He has interviewed prime ministers, Hollywood stars, Fortune 500 CEOs, Nobel Prize-winning scientists and Australians of the Year… and he was also the first person in the world to ever interview our legendary Thai cave rescuers. All done with an obsessive focus on keeping to time that only 15 years of working in breakfast radio can bring.
Andrew Inwood
CEO,
CoreData
Andrew Inwood
Andrew Inwood is the founder and principal of CoreData and has more than 30 years’ experience in the Australian financial services industry. He started his career at Rothschild Australia Asset Management where he headed the marketing team, before moving to AMP Investments where he spent more than a decade. During his time at AMP, he was seconded to Virgin Direct in the UK to help establish the finance and investment arm of the group.
Andrew returned to Australia to be marketing director of Wizard Home Loans. From Wizard he moved to Telstra where he spent three years as general manager of applications and hosted services, before leaving to start CoreData. In the past 20 years, CoreData has expanded out of Sydney to have offices in Perth, London, Boston and Manila.
Andrew is the author of more than 50 pieces of significant research into clients and their behaviour and has a particular focus on the value of the client experience in financial services. He is a highly regarded speaker and has delivered keynote speeches in every Australian capital city, London, Edinburgh, New York, Tokyo, Queenstown, Monaco and Berlin.
Andrew has served on a number of charity and sporting club boards and been a seed investor in and director of a number of start-up businesses, particularly in the online sector, a practice which he continues to this day.
He has a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney ASIA.
Anthony Cullen
Senior SMSF Educator,
Accurium
Anthony Cullen
Anthony is a new member of the Accurium education team and comes to us with nearly 25 years of experience in the accounting and SMSF industry.
He has previously held senior roles managing the SMSF division of a small accounting practice and providing SMSF technical support within a large SMSF administration business.
Over the years, Anthony’s roles have evolved from the accounting function of SMSFs to keeping on top of the ever changing technical and compliance nature of this specialised area.
He now finds his passion in training and educating on all things SMSF. He has experience in delivering training sessions to staff, trustees and professional’s alike. Anthony has contributed to articles and podcasts over the years and is regarded for his ability to keep the complex simple.
He is an SMSF specialist adviser with the SMSF Association and currently serves as a committee member for the association’s SA local chapter.
Anthony enjoys the quieter life of the seaside town he resides in. He believes holidays and camping are always better if a craft beer brewery is nearby.
Anna Hacker
Client Director, Estate Planning,
Pitcher Partners
Anna Hacker
After a career as a lawyer, leading two of Australia’s largest national estate planning teams, Anna is currently a client director within the Family Office team at Pitcher Partners. While studying her combined Bachelor of Arts (Hons)/Law (Hons), Anna studied in Berlin with a German government scholarship to research her thesis topic investigating the language of fear in a series of letters written by Jewish refugees escaping Vienna to Melbourne in 1937. After being admitted as a legal practitioner, she initially focussed on Elder Law, later becoming an accredited specialist in the area of Wills & Estates as well as a member of the Society of Estate and Trust Practitioners. During her time as a legal practitioner she has focussed on complex estate planning and assisting high net worth individuals to understand their estate planning objectives with a special interest in supporting elderly clients to protect their rights and in the prevention of elder abuse. Anna also became host of Australian Unity’s popular podcast “What Happens When I Die?” and served as legal consultant on seasons two and three of the ABC’s award winning television series “Fisk”. In her spare time, Anna is Vice President of the Macleod College school council and is the past president of Probus Women’s Housing Committee, providing low cost accommodation to elderly women in Melbourne.
Belinda Aisbett
Director,
Super Sphere
Belinda Aisbett
Belinda is a director of Super Sphere Pty. Ltd., a specialist self managed superannuation company, where she is responsible for providing audit, consulting and training services in relation to self managed super funds.
Belinda established Super Sphere in 2003 to specialise in SMSF auditing and audit related services. This is in addition to providing an SMSF Audit Toolkit to other auditing professionals and undertaking numerous training engagements each year.
Belinda is a member of the CAANZ, and holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting). Belinda is also a specialist Fellow member of the SMSF Association (SMSFA), co-chairperson of their audit discussion group, and is a member of the SMSF Association’s conference committee.
Belinda is also a member of ATO SMSF auditor stakeholder group.
Benjamin Marshan
Director,
Marshan Consulting
Benjamin Marshan
Ben Marshan is a seasoned professional in financial services, advocacy, and government relations, with over 19 years of experience in the field. Specialising in strategy, professional standards, risk and compliance, and member support. Ben has a proven track record of helping businesses navigate significant regulatory changes and deliver financial services efficiently. Ben is now supporting a number of financial services businesses as a thought leader and consultant through Marshan Consulting. Ben has also co-founded Impaktful, which is creating tools and services to support Australians find purpose in their retirement through philanthropy and volunteering.
Before founding Marshan Consulting, Ben served as Director of Policy at the Council of Australian Life Insurers and spent 8 years as Head of Policy, Standards, Strategy, and Innovation at the Financial Planning Association of Australia. He also worked as a Financial Planner and Senior Manager at State Super Financial Services (now Aware Super) and as KPMG’s financial advice subject matter expert.
Ben holds the Certified Financial Planner® and Life Risk Specialist® designations, an MBA, a Master of Commerce in Financial Planning, a Bachelor of Science with first-class honours and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Bryce Figot
Special Counsel,
DBA Lawyers
Bryce Figot
Bryce is also recognised as one of Australia’s leading SMSF lawyers. He has worked predominantly in the fields of tax and superannuation over the past 17 years and holds a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne.
Bryce is a regular seminar presenter on tax and SMSF topics and has published extensively in these areas. Bryce regularly presents for the major professional bodies including the SMSF Association, CPA Australia The Tax Institute, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and DBA Network.
Bryce is regularly quoted and published in the Australian Financial Review, the Herald Sun, CCH and LexisNexis publications, and elsewhere in the financial press. Bryce wrote the book Complete Guide to SMSFs: Planning for Loss of Capacity and Death, published by CCH Wolters Kluwer. Bryce is on the editorial panel of LexisNexis’ Australian Superannuation Law Bulletin. He is a Senior Fellow at the University of Melbourne’s Law School, where he is the subject coordinator of Taxation of Superannuation.
Bryce is a Specialist SMSF Advisor™ as well as being a Chartered Tax Adviser.
Cameron Gleeson
Senior Investment Strategist,
Betashares
Cameron Gleeson
Cameron’s responsibilities span investment strategy, assisting clients with portfolio construction across all asset classes and product development. He is a voting member of the firm’s Investment Committee.
Prior to joining Betashares, Cameron was a portfolio manager at Macquarie Asset Management, and was responsible for the structuring and management of Macquarie’s listed and unlisted structured product offering. Cameron’s other experience includes Head of Product at Bell Potter Capital and working on JP Morgan’s Equity Derivatives desk. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia and a Master of Commerce (Hons) from the University of New South Wales.
Craig Day
Head of Technical Services,
Colonial First State
Craig Day
Craig is the Head of Technical Services at Colonial First State and has over 20 years’ experience in the financial services industry.
Craig team is responsible for providing high quality technical support to financial advisers and to Colonial First State’s superannuation and platform businesses.
Craig is a sought after presenter at industry conferences and professional development events and is actively involved in providing ongoing specialist adviser education.
Craig holds a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Taxation (Financial Planning) and is a Fellow Member of the SMSF Association.
Daniel Butler
Director,
DBA Lawyers
Daniel Butler
Dan is recognised as one of Australia’s leading SMSF lawyers complemented by his taxation and commercial expertise.
Dan works predominantly in the fields of tax and superannuation, is a qualified Chartered Tax Adviser and a Specialist SMSF Advisor™.
Dan is a regular seminar presenter on tax and SMSF topics and has published extensively in these areas. Dan regularly presents for the major professional bodies. Dan presents on the subject of Taxation of Superannuation at the University of Melbourne’s Master of Laws/Tax program.
Emma Rosenzweig
Deputy Commissioner – Superannuation & Employer Obligations, ATO
Emma Rosenzweig
Emma Rosenzweig is the Deputy Commissioner for Superannuation and Employer Obligations.
Emma is responsible for ensuring a complex ecosystem of employers, workers and retirees, and super funds operates efficiently, supports willing participation, and safeguards entitlements. She is a proud third generation superannuant, and is passionate about ensuring there is a healthy super system for future generations.
Emma has worked for the ATO for 25 years in a range of roles across nearly all areas of the organisation, including client engagement roles focused on small business and employers, law roles including the design and drafting of legislation, and leadership of the ATO’s service strategy design and implementation.
Emma holds a Bachelor of Laws, a Bachelor of Commerce and a Masters of Tax.
Fabian Bussoletti
Technical Manager,
SMSF Association
Fabian Bussoletti
Fabian joined the SMSF Association in October 2022 as Technical Manager – a role in which he provides technical support and input to many of the Associations varied pursuits.
This extends to responding to member enquiries, writing technical papers, contributing to industry submissions, preparing blogs and media articles, delivering technical presentations, and ensuring that the gold-standard SMSF Specialist Accreditation program is continually enhanced.
Prior to joining the SMSF Association Fabian was employed as Manager, Product Technical and Regulatory Change at MLC Life Insurance, where he was also a member of several FSC working groups.
The cornerstone of his career has been a remarkable 20-year tenure at AMP as a senior member of the AMP TapIn technical services team – providing technical and strategic advice to financial advisers nationwide.
His status as an industry expert was solidified through his previous role as chairperson of the Financial Planning Association’s (FPA’s) Technical Working Group, where he championed the concerns of the financial advice industry during various interactions with Treasury and the ATO – including the ATO’s former NTLG Superannuation Sub-committee meetings.
Fabian has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree, a Diploma of Financial Planning, and is a Specialist SMSF Adviser™.
Genevieve Frost
Senior Distribution Manager,
Netwealth
Genevieve Frost
Genevieve is a Senior Distribution Manager at Netwealth and has a breadth of knowledge and experience across many aspects of the financial markets.
Gen has worked in various roles in Financial Advice practices in Melbourne before moving into Funds Management in the UK. Her distribution career has seen her work in both FinTech and Superannuation and Investment platforms. Gen has a true passion for Financial Literacy, running her own podcast, speaking engagements and working with community groups to improve their financial wellbeing.
Hayley Mitchell
Partner,
Cooper Grace Ward Lawyers
Hayley Mitchell
Hayley Mitchell is a Wills and estates specialist lawyer in Brisbane. Hayley has dual accreditation in succession law (Queensland) and self managed superannuation funds (through the SMSF Association).
Hayley’s expertise and specialist knowledge in Wills, estates and superannuation funds means that she can provide advice and assistance to clients in a range of matters:
- estate planning, Wills, enduring powers of attorney and superannuation binding death benefit nominations
- applications for probate and letters of administration
- advice to executors and beneficiaries of estates
- SMSF disputes and superannuation death benefit disputes
- trust succession disputes
- family provision applications, Will disputes and estate disputes
- enduring power of attorney disputes.
Jemma Sanderson
Director, Cooper Partners Financial Services Pty Ltd
Jemma Sanderson
Jemma Sanderson is a Director of Cooper Partners Financial Services, heading up their SMSF specialist services. Jemma provides strategic advice on SMSFs, estate planning and wealth management to clients, as well as technical support to accounting, legal and financial planning groups. Jemma has over 20 years’ experience in developing dynamic and tailored strategies for high net worth clients
Jemma is a regular presenter on superannuation and SMSFs for the various industry bodies across Australia, and is the author of the SMSF Guide published by the Taxation Institute, currently in its ninth edition, and is the author and convener of the Advanced Superannuation module of the Taxation Institute’s Graduate Diploma in Applied Tax Law. At the 2018 SMSF Association National Conference, Jemma was awarded the Chairman’s Award for her contribution to the SMSF Industry.
Jon Howie
CEO,
Stake
Jon Howie
Jon Howie, CEO of Stake, has over 20 years of experience in investing, technology, and financial services. He joined Stake in 2023 and previously held leadership roles at Blackrock APAC and Macquarie Bank. He is passionate about improving access to wealth-creation opportunities and empowering people to achieve their financial ambitions.
Julie Steed
Senior Technical Services Manager, MLC TechConnect
Julie Steed
Julie has more than 30 years of experience in the superannuation industry as a technical specialist, consultant and client services manager. Julie is responsible for the provision of superannuation technical information, specialising in small funds.
Julie is passionate about helping people with the technical aspects of super, keeping it simple and in helping practitioners provide quality services to their clients. She is a regular speaker at industry conferences and training events and is a regular contributor to industry publications.
Julie is a Fellow and accredited SMSF Specialist Advisor™ with the SMSF Association, a Senior Fellow of Finsia and a Fellow of ASFA. Julie was awarded the SMSF Association’s 2020 Chair Award for outstanding contribution to the SMSF industry.
Kath Bowler
General Manager,
Holley Nethercote
Kath Bowler
Kath is the General Manager of Holley Nethercote – a financial services regulatory firm that provides both legal and compliance services.
As a fellow of CPA Australia with extensive experience in financial services, Kath prides herself on working to advance Holley Nethercote’s established reputation for delivering practical support to its clients. Kath’s hands on approach reflects her diverse background as a regulator, financial adviser, accountant, policy adviser, licensee head, consultant and mother of three.
Katie Timms
Paratner,
RSM Australia
Katie Timms
Katie Timms is a director at RSM Australia, and is currently the National Director of SMSF Services. She has significant experience in all areas of SMSFs, including administration and compliance, asset acquisition and tax saving strategies, structural assistance and estate planning. Katie provides advice and assistance to Trustees, accountants and financial advisors. Katie regularly provides technical presentations and updates for the groups including SMSF Association, Institute of Public Accountants, the Tax Institute of Australia, Legalwise and TV Ed, and has also presented for the QLD Law Society and the Australian Shareholders Association. She has been published in the Australian Financial Review, the West Australian and Farm Weekly. Katie is a SMSF Specialist Advisor and a Certified Practicing Accountant with an Advanced Diploma of Superannuation.
Keddie Waller
Policy Manager,
SMSF Association
Keddie Waller
Keddie Waller is a Policy Manager at the SMSF Association. Keddie is highly respected in the financial planning and accounting industries, having spent many years with CPA Australia, including most recently as the Senior Manager for Public Practice, Financial Planning & Ethics Policy.
Waller, has a Master of Financial Planning from Deakin University and a Diploma in Financial Planning from the Financial Advice Association Australia, brings a wealth of experience as a seasoned policy manager and accomplished submission writer to the Association.
Kieran Hoare
Principal,
Merthyr Law
Kieran Hoare
Kieran Hoare is a SMSF Specialist Advisor and a Principal of Merthyr Law in Brisbane.
He specialises in estate planning and navigating investment structures and regulatory framework for SMSFs.
Accountants, financial planners and other lawyers leverage Kieran's expertise to help their clients through the complex landscape of SMSFs.
Kieran keeps his professional network up to date through posting on LinkedIn and other social media.
Lee-Ann Hayes
Head of Tax Education,
TaxBanter & Accurium
Lee-Ann Hayes
Lee-Ann is a respected tax professional with over 25 years’ experience in Australian taxation law. Her varied roles include training, content creation and advice, giving her extensive practical experience in the daily tax issues faced by practitioners.
Lee-Ann’s taxation journey began at the Australian Taxation Office where she held various technical and education positions. From there Lee-Ann has worked in both public practice and for several national training organisations. She has extensive experience in developing and delivering tax education to a wide and varied audience, including graduate accountants, big four accounting firms and professional associations.
Renowned for her enthusiastic, approachable and engaging presentation style, Lee-Ann has a strong practical focus, ensuring effective learning outcomes are always achieved.
When not at work Lee-Ann can be found on the netball court, on a run, or in the great outdoors with her family.
Leah Sciacca
Senior Executive Leader, Financial Advice & Investment Management, ASIC
Leah Sciacca
Leah leads ASIC’s Financial Advice and Investment Management team within the Regulation and Supervision group. The team oversees the regulatory work associated with financial advisers, advice licensees, managed investment schemes, wholesale funds, platforms and managed discretionary accounts. Prior to this role, Leah was ASIC’s Senior Executive Leader, Financial Advisers.
Leah has more than 13 years of regulatory experience and has worked on significant policy and enforcement initiatives. Leah is focused on improving access to good quality affordable advice and working to address conduct in the advice and investment management sectors that leads to poor consumer outcomes. Prior to joining ASIC, Leah was a practising financial adviser for over 10 years, representing several Australian financial services licensees and providing personal advice to retail clients. Leah holds a degree in Business from the Queensland University of Technology as well as a Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance.
Louise Biti
Co-Founder & Director,
Aged Care Steps
Louise Biti
Louise is a co-founder and Director of Aged Care Steps, the leading business supporting professionals to provide advice to clients on aged care.
Louise is a thought-leader and one of the pre-eminent experts in aged care. She has spent more than 25 years analysing legislation and helping to interpret technical strategies for advisers and clients – with the aim of making the complex seem simple.
Her broad experience, included roles as a director on two financial industry boards and a member of the Aged Care Financing Authority, a former government statutory body providing advice to the Minister on the funding and viability of aged care.
She is the author of Don’t Panic: age the way you want where you want.
Lyn Formica
Head of Education & Content,
Heffron
Lyn Formica
Lyn Formica is the Head of Education & Content with Heffron, a company committed to raising standards within the SMSF industry. Lyn’s passion is helping individuals and their advisers navigate their way through the complexity of Australia’s retirement income system through education.
She regularly speaks on superannuation and SMSFs for accounting and finance professionals and other industry bodies around Australia. With over 30 years’ experience in superannuation and the administration of self managed funds, Lyn is also an accredited SMSF Specialist Advisor of the SMSF Association.
Mark Ellem
Head of Education (SMSF),
Accurium
Mark Ellem
Mark generally needs no introduction in the SMSF space, he is a popular, experienced and highly sought after presenter who is passionate about educating accountants and SMSF practitioners about SMSFs and strategies to make SMSFs a successful part of their business.
He has extensive experience in Self-Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSFs), Pension Funds, Income Tax and Financial Advisory. He is a Fellow of the CPA, IPA and SMSF Association, and received the 2018 SMSF Association CEO award in February 2019 for his contribution to the association and was in the inaugural group of association members to advance to the status of Fellow in February 2020.
Along with Mark’s regular appearances presenting at national SMSF conferences, he also heads up Accurium’s online education and presents webinars and webclasses to provide an online interactive learning experience providing CPD hours. He regularly composes content, FAQs and CPD assessments for the Accurium TechHub. He provides in-house training to a number of organisations and can provide bespoke training to suit the needs of your organisation.
Mark frequently delivers editorial contributions and provides comment for the media, and has been featured in popular trade media including selfmanagedsuperannuation and SMSF Adviser.
He has spent over 30 years in accounting practices and SMSF administration companies, including running his own accountancy practice and SMSF administration and compliance advice company for ten years.
Mark is a member of the Austin Motor Vehicle Club of Queensland and enjoys driving his classic Austin cars, a 1968 Austin 1800 Mk1 and a 1955 Austin A50 Cambridge, when they’re running and working on them (when they’re not).
Meg Heffron
Managing Director,
Heffron
Meg Heffron
Meg Heffron was one of the founders of Heffron Consulting in 1998 – a business that spans virtually all areas of SMSF practice – actuarial certificates, administration, documents, technical support and education. She is a qualified actuary with a passion for turning deep technical knowledge about SMSFs into practical solutions that accountants and advisers can use to help their clients and grow their businesses. She is a sought-after speaker at events for industry professionals and their clients, a regular contributor to the Australian Financial Review and a variety of SMSF trade publications and a trusted source of knowledge for government and regulators in the development and implementation of superannuation policy.
Melanie Dunn
Principal,
Accurium
Melanie Dunn
Melanie is Principal and Senior Actuary at Accurium. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia (FIAA) specialising in Global Retirement Income Systems and is an SMSF Specialist Adviser (SSA) with over 15 years’ experience at Accurium in our superannuation team. She is passionate about assisting professionals efficiently and effectively deliver superior retirement outcomes to their clients and is a key driver of the design, development, and delivery of superannuation, SMSF, and actuarial services for Accurium.
Melanie’s knowledge and passion for SMSFs and retirement has seen her develop into a thought leader and coveted educator. Her extensive knowledge and experience with Australia’s retirement system, best practices and legislation makes Melanie a very versatile educator in the SMSF and retirement landscape. Her practical approaches and enthusiasm have made her a highly sought-after speaker and contributor to the media. In addition to supporting Accurium’s award winning training and education services, Melanie regularly features with Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand, SMSF Association, SMSF Adviser, and selfmanagedsuperannuation.
As well as working in SMSF training and compliance, Melanie provides actuarial advice to financial planners, accountants and lawyers to help them better advise their own clients, and consultancy services to superannuation funds and other institutions in respect to retirement income strategies, retirement modelling, calculators, and member engagement tools. Melanie was a key contributor in building Accurium’s retirement model which supports the Accurium Retirement HealthCheck, a tool which holistically assess a household’s ability to fund their retirement.
Melanie is a member of the SMSF Association Tasmanian Chapter and sits on the Actuaries Institute Retirement Income Working Group committee.
Melanie is a keen squash player and qualified squash coach. She enjoys watching sport and walking her dogs.
Naomi Kewley
Managing Director,
Peak Super Audits
Naomi Kewley
Naomi is the managing director at Peak Super Audits, an SMSF audit firm. A Chartered Accountant and Tax Masters graduate from the University of NSW, Naomi made an early career decision to specialise in SMSF compliance. She has loved it ever since and is a surprised recipient of several awards, including the Women in Finance Auditor of the Year and the Australian Accounting Awards Superannuation Auditor of the Year. Naomi enjoys assisting accountants & trustees in understanding their obligations within the evolving landscape of SMSF compliance. She continues to write and present on SMSF related matters.
Neal Dallas
Director,
businessDEPOT Legal
Neal Dallas
Neal Dallas is Director at BusinessDepot legal in the firm's Wealth Advisory Division. With particular expertise in superannuation, tax planning, estate planning, and asset protection, Neal provides valuable support to advisors and their clients. He is recognised in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers in Australia in the areas of Superannuation Law, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates, and Wealth Management/Succession Planning. In 2023, Neal became a Fellow Member of the SMSF Association.
Peter Bobbin
Consultant Lawyer,
Bobbin Lawyers
Peter Bobbin
Peter Bobbin is a leading legal veteran in superannuation, trusts, taxation and estate planning. In his 40 year-plus advising career he has not only seen and advised on all issues in superannuation, he was there when modern superannuation was born and also at every change; he is that old!
A big believer in giving back to the community, Peter is an often requested speaker for many professional associations.
In 2015, Peter was honoured by the Tax Institute as the Tax Advisor of the Year (SME) and is a past Australian Chair of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. As a former university lecturer and accountant, Peter claims that he can speak both accountant’ease and legal’ease.
Outside of work, Peter is an enthusiastic cyclist with three great loves; good food, good wine and one other.
Peter Burgess
CEO,
SMSF Association
Peter Burgess
Peter Burgess is the Chief Executive Officer of the SMSF Association. Prior to his appointment as CEO, Peter held the position of Deputy CEO / Director of Policy & Education with the Association and is a previous Association Board member.
With over 30 years of industry experience Peter is recognised as an authority in SMSF matters and Government policy design. He is a widely published author and media commentator on SMSFs and is regularly sought for comment on the latest policy and sector developments. Through his contribution to the development of SMSF education standards, his Government advocacy work and his commitment to professionalism and thought leadership, Peter has dedicated much of his career to improving SMSF advice competency standards and the vibrancy and credibility of the SMSF sector.
Peter holds an MBA from the University of Adelaide, an Economics degree and postgraduate qualifications in finance. In 2016, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the SMSF sector, Peter was awarded the SMSF Association’s Chairman’s Award. In June 2021, Peter achieved Fellow Member status with the SMSF Association, recognising his significant commitment, leadership and contribution to both the Association and the SMSF sector.
Phil Broderick
Principal,
Sladen Legal
Phil Broderick
Phil is a principal of Sladen Legal and heads its superannuation team. He is member of a number of superannuation related committees, including being a member and the former chair of The Tax Institute’s superannuation committee and director and chair of the Institute of Financial Professionals Australia superannuation technical and policy committee.
He is also a member of the ATO’s the Superannuation Industry Stewardship Group. Phil is also heavily involved in liaising with Treasury and ATO in relation to the implementation of new super laws and administrative practices.
Phil’s areas of practice include superannuation, duties and state taxes, estate planning and succession, trusts, federal tax and business structuring.
Phil was listed in the 2020 to 2025 Best Lawyers Australia for superannuation law, was recommended in Doyles leading Victorian tax lawyers for 2021 and 2023 and was the winner of the SMSF Association’s SMSF Specialist Advisor (SSA) Top Achiever Award in 2019.
Peter Crump
Senior Consultant,
BDO
Peter Crump
There are few practitioners still standing who can claim to have been present and practicing at the dawn of time when superannuation was recast in its current form; Peter Crump is one of those.
Peter is a Senior Consultant in Private Wealth at BDO Adelaide and provides financial advice and support to personal and SMSF clients. As an actuary he also provides expert advice and evidence on superannuation in Family Law matters.
An “influencer” before it became trendy, Peter has been influencing or advising SMSFs in some form or other for 30 years throughout the whole existence of the SIS legislation, some might regard him as a living super fossil.
He is a Fellow Member of the SMSF Association, as an SMSF Specialist Adviser. Other qualifications include:
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional,
- Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors,
- Chartered Tax Adviser, and
- Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia
Peter received the SMSFA Chair Award for 2020 in recognition of his contribution to the SMSF Sector.
Peter served as a non-executive director of the SMSF Association from to 2010 to 2018, including as Chairman from 2012 to 2014.
Numerous presentations have been given to professional conferences over the years on SMSF related issues and Peter is keen on guiding and mentoring new speakers and presenters.
Rebecca Edwards
Special Counsel,
HopgoodGanim Lawyers
Rebecca Edwards
Rebecca has a keen interest in superannuation including self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) and succession matters and significant experience assisting clients in matters involving superannuation, particularly self-managed superannuation (SMSFs) and estate litigation, estate planning and estate administration.
She is also able to assist clients in matters involving Enduring Powers of Attorney, capacity, Guardianship and Administration and elder abuse. In addition, Rebecca spent over almost a decade working in aged care and retirement villages before entering the legal profession. That experience combined with her legal practice experience is invaluable in assisting clients and their family with issues involving succession.
Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Masters of Law (majoring in Wills and Estates). She is also a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and recognised by STEP as a Trusts and Estates Practitioner (TEP) as well as an SMSF Association Specialist Advisor.
Rebecca is also a member of the SMSF Association’s Professional Standards Committee.
Scott Hay-Bartlem
Partner,
Cooper Grace Ward Lawyers
Scott Hay-Bartlem
Scott is a partner in Brisbane law firm Cooper Grace Ward and the Chair of the SMSF Association.
He and his team specialise in assisting clients and their other advisers including accountants and financial planners with tax and superannuation (particularly SMSFs) advice; estate planning, administration and disputes; family businesses, business structuring; business succession arrangements; asset protection and restructuring. Scott has a particular interest in how these areas intersect with self-managed superannuation funds and the impact of and on these structures.
He is the Chair of the SMSF Association, having joined its board in July 2019. Scott is a SMSF Specialist Advisor™ with the SMSF Association, a Chartered Tax Adviser, a member of the Society of Trust and Estate practitioners. Scott chairs the Cooper Grace Ward Diversity and Inclusion Group and its ARCUS sub-group, and is the leader of the firm’s Private Client Commercial group.
Scott been selected by his peers for inclusion in the 16th Edition of Best Lawyers in Australia in the practice areas of: Superannuation Law, Trusts and Estates, Wealth Management / Succession Planning Practice and Commercial Law. He was named the 2016 Brisbane Wealth Management/Succession Planning practice ‘Lawyer of the Year’ and the Superannuation ‘Lawyer of the Year’ for 2019, 2022 and 2024.
Scott has been listed in Doyle’s Guide for Queensland Estate Planning lawyers as a pre-eminent practitioner.
He has a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and a Bachelor of Business (Accy) from the Queensland University of Technology. Scott also has also completed the Certificate of Superannuation Management and the Diploma of Superannuation Management run through ASFA and Macquarie University, and the Foundation Diploma of Financial Planning.
Sarah Abood
Chief Executive Officer,
Financial Advice Association of Australia
Sarah Abood
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).
Shelley Banton
Head of Technical,
ASF Audits
Shelley Banton
Shelley is an accredited SMSF specialist auditor and advisor with over 15 years of experience in the superannuation industry. She is recognised Australia-wide as an expert on SMSF compliance, providing clients with high-level strategic and technical advice.
She is a committee member of the ATO SMSF Auditor's professional stakeholders' group, a member of the SMSF Association National Conference Committee and Chair of the SMSF Association Audit Discussion Group.
Shelley specialises in delivering quality SMSF training and education to the private and public sectors; she is a regular presenter at peak industry SMSF conferences and is a well-known author and sought-after industry commentator.
In 2022, Shelley was awarded the SMSF Association's Chairman's Award, recognising her outstanding contribution to the SMSF sector.
Shirley Schaefer
Director,
BDO
Shirley Scahefer
Shirley is an auditor by training and a SMSF expert by choice. She established a separate Superannuation division at BDO in 1996, recognising the need to provide high quality technical services to clients with self-managed superannuation funds.
Shirley is a regular speaker at SMSF & Audit conferences. She provides SMSF competency training for accountants and auditors. She is the co-author of the Thomson Reuters SMSF Audit Guide and winner of multiple SMSF and Audit Awards.
She is an Fellow Specialist Adviser and Fellow Specialist Auditor of the SMSF Association (SMSFA); a Fellow of the Association of Superannuation Funds Australia (ASFA); a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ); a Registered SMSF Auditor; and a Registered Company Auditor.
Tim Hewson
Director,
Betterment Consulting Pty Ltd
Tim Hewson
After spending 27 years working for financial institutions such as Commonwealth Bank, Rabobank and ING Bank (Australia), Tim decided to combine his experience in corporate environments with his passion for improving the mental health of Australians by starting and running a mental health charity that’s equipping local community groups to look after men’s mental health.
Since launching Mongrels Men in 2021, Tim has won several awards for his work in the mental health space, including Community Recognition from NSW Parliamentarian, James Griffin, MP in 2023.
Tim is the proud father of three spirited teenagers as well as a semi-proficient, nonprofessional, middle-aged footballer.
Tim Miller
SMSF Technical & Education Manager, Smarter SMSF
Tim Miller
Tim is the SMSF Technical & Education Manager at Smarter SMSF, he is a well-known figure within the SMSF industry, having worked in numerous technical and education roles over his 20+ year industry journey. He has aided in the accreditation of over a thousand financial planners and accountants, and has delivered more CPD training over 20 years than he’d care to remember!
Tim is a Fellow SMSF Specialist Adviser with the SMSF Association, and in 2023 received the CEO’s Award at the SMSF Association National Conference for his contribution to the SMSF industry.
Tim Steele
Chief Executive Officer,
Class
Tim Steele
Tim joined Class as CEO in August 2022 and leads the business with a focus on delivering great client outcomes while continually enhancing market-leading solutions across Class and NowInfinity product sets.
Early in his career Tim built a business in Australia, NZ, North America and the UK, helping accountants grow and develop their practices, through which he developed a deep understanding and passion for the accounting profession.
Prior to Class, Tim held the position of Group Executive, Retirement and Investment Solutions (CEO, MLC Super) at MLC. He has previously held roles as General Manager of NAB Financial Planning and Managing Director of ipac and Genesys Wealth Advisers.
Tracey Scotchbrook
Head of Policy & Advocacy,
SMSF Association
Tracey Scotchbrook
Tracey Scotchbrook is the Head of Policy & Advocacy of the SMSF Association. Previously she was a member of the SMSF Association Board and over the years has held positions in various committees.
Tracey’s background is in public practice. She has worked in both mid-tier and boutique accounting firms, and established a specialist SMSF advisory and consulting business.
Her accreditations include Fellow SMSF Specialist Advisor (FSSA) with the SMSF Association, Chartered Accountant, CPA, and is a Chartered Tax Advisor with the Tax Institute. She also holds a Masters in Taxation, Graduate Diploma Financial Planning and is a Graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Tony Stephens
Partner,
Business Health
Tony Stephens
One of three principals of Business Health, an independent organization that helps successful businesses be more efficient, more profitable, and more valuable.
Business Health work extensively with leading organizations in the financial services industry including product manufacturers, platforms, distribution groups and advice businesses (planners, advisers, brokers, accountants).
Tony has worked in the financial services industry for over 30 years. His experience includes working closely with a wide range of advice businesses, smaller and larger, specialist and comprehensive, in Australia and overseas.
Victoria Mercer
Solicitor,
businessDEPOT Legal
Victoris Mercer
Victoria Mercer is an Associate Lawyer in the Wealth Advisory Division at BusinessDEPOT (Legal), specialising in complex estate planning, self-managed superannuation, and strategic tax planning. Her practice focuses on serving high net worth individuals, business owners and blended families. Victoria distinguished herself academically by earning the title of Dux in her Advanced Superannuation during her Graduate Diploma of Applied Tax at the Tax Institute in 2023. In 2022, Victoria was nominated as a ‘Rising Star’ in the Queensland Wills and Estates Law category for the leading industry publication Doyle’s Guide and regularly presents at industry conference including the SMSF Association, Legalwise and The Tax Institute. As a trusted advisor, Victoria relishes the opportunity to tackle complex family dynamics and structures, helping families transition their wealth to the next generation.
William Fettes
Principal,
DBA Lawyers
William Fettes
William is a Principal at DBA Lawyers where his work focuses on superannuation law compliance, family law superannuation splitting, death benefit disputes, succession planning and taxation in an SMSF context.
William is frequently published and quoted as an authority on SMSF matters in top publications, and he presents regularly on SMSF issues for major professional bodies, including the SMSF Association, CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and the Leo Cussen Centre for Law.
William holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts from Monash University and a Master of Laws (First Class Honours) at the University of Melbourne. William is also a Specialist SMSF Advisor™.
