- SMSF Association Media Release
The SMSF Association 18th Annual National Conference opened this evening with the SMSF Association Fellows Function, recognising the crucial role the 83 SMSF Association Fellows played through the pandemic and the importance of their support, as well as awarding members for their contribution to the industry.
This year, the event honoured SMSF Association members with industry awards; the Top Achiever Awards in the SMSF Association Specialist Advisor and the Specialist Auditor accreditations during 2021.
The 2022 SMSF Association CEO award went to Megan Kelly of businessDEPOT and the 2022 SMSF Association Chair award went to Shelley Banton of ASF Audits.
SMSF Association CEO John Maroney addressed attendees at the event, thanking Association members for their support and resilience through years of challenging conditions.
“Tomorrow this plenary hall will be full of SMSF professionals, due in no small part to the tremendous contribution that you, our greatest supporters, and Fellow Members, have made over the years,” he said.
“On behalf of myself, the Board and the SMSF Association team, this evening is to thank you for your ongoing support to the success of this fantastic Conference and also to the success of the Association and the wider SMSF sector.”
“As an Association, we believe that better outcomes arise when professional advisors and trustees are armed with the best and latest information. We believe that insisting on tight controls, accrediting and educating advisors, and providing accurate and appropriate information to trustees is the best way to ensure that SMSFs continue to provide their promised benefits,” he said.
The function also celebrated the achievement of the members who undertook the accreditation program in 2021 and obtained the highest exam results.
Bernadet Prihadi achieved the Highest Score in the SMSF Association Specialist Advisor Examination, and Kristin Go achieved the Highest Score in the SMSF Association Specialist Auditor Examination.
Mr Maroney highlighted the rapid growth in the number of SMSF Association Fellows and the wealth of experience between them as a sign the industry is strengthening.
“In February 2020, on the Gold Coast, we held our inaugural Fellow Member recognition ceremony, enabling us to formally recognise the long-serving members of the Association. Since that evening, there have been an additional 62 individuals recognised as SMSF Association Fellow Members and this evening we are pleased to congratulate them officially,” said Mr Maroney.
“This exclusive Fellow Member cohort is made up of 83 individuals, who between them all have 1,439 years of SMSF Association membership and almost as many National Conferences attendances.”
“Alongside this they have also demonstrated leadership in the SMSF sector as evidenced by their employment responsibilities as well as their ongoing and significant contribution to the sector. We have Fellow Members from almost every state and territory across the country,” he said.
The SMSF Association National Conference will continue through to Friday, 22 April, with dozens of panels and presentations from some of the most recognised individuals in the SMSF sector.