• Conference

Empowering SME Professionals: Solutions and Support for Your Practice’s Success

Loading Events

Tax | Super | Financial Services

Institute of Financial Professionals Australia 2025 Conference

 

Empowering SME Professionals: Solutions and Support for Your Practice’s Success

 
Melbourne, Online and On demand
Institute of Financial Professionals Australia 2025 Conference

The Institute of Financial Professionals Australia warmly invites you to our 2025 Annual Conference, where you can elevate your expertise and enhance your professional toolkit to drive success in a rapidly evolving industry.

 
Earn 11 CPD Points Across Key Professional Areas

Unlock a comprehensive 11 CPD points by delving into legislated CPD areas including Professionalism and Ethics, Client Care and Practice, Regulatory Compliance and Consumer Protection, Tax Financial Advice, and Technical Competence.

 
Two Tailored Learning Streams

This year’s conference introduces two distinct learning streams to suit your professional focus. Whether you’re looking to deepen your knowledge in tax, superannuation, or financial planning, or seeking innovative solutions for business growth and marketing, you can customise your learning experience to meet your specific needs.

 
Flexibility and Added Value

Both in-person and virtual attendees will receive post-event access to recordings of all sessions. This ensures you can secure all 11 CPD points by exploring content from both streams, at your own pace.

 
More Than Insight: A Roadmap for Success

This conference is more than an educational opportunity; it’s your guide to thriving in the dynamic financial services landscape. Gain actionable strategies from leading industry voices, explore innovations shaping the future, and uncover new ways to adapt and excel in the ever-changing tax, superannuation, and financial planning sectors.

 
Unmissable Networking Opportunities

Connect with fellow professionals and industry leaders to build meaningful relationships that will support your career and practice growth.

Join us to navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead, equipping your practice with the solutions, knowledge, and connections needed for long-term success.

Early Bird Tickets

In-Person

Early Bird

Member $370+gst | Non Member $470+gst

Online

Early Bird

Member $270+gst | Non Member $370+gst

SPEAKERS

Joshua Goldsmith

 

Joshua is a registered tax agent with the Tax Practitioners Board and a qualified lawyer. He has previously worked at Big 4 firms as a Tax Advisor and Tax Lawyer, assisting taxpayers of all sizes with tax advice and revenue authority engagements at all stages. His experience spans dealing with revenue authorities globally.

Joshua holds a Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Commerce from Monash University, as well as a Master of Laws (Taxation) from both the University of Melbourne / Oxford University. Recognised for his achievements, Joshua was a finalist in Lawyers Weekly’s 30 Under 30 awards for Taxation in 2021 and 2022. He was also listed as one of Australia’s Best Lawyers Under 35 (Rising Stars) in 2022 and 2023 and received the Australasian Lawyer’s Excellence Award in 2023.
 
Joshua thrives on tackling complex tax matters, supporting accounting firms, law firms and financial professionals with tax and commercial issues, assisting clients with ATO interactions, improving taxpayers’ approach to tax governance and revenue authority engagement preparation, and helping achieve favourable outcomes with revenue authorities. Joshua is also an experienced tax trainer and has provided bespoke tax training to accounting firms, law firms and financial professionals.

Dr Michelle Cull

Dr Michelle Cull is an Associate Professor in Accounting & Financial Planning in the School of Business at Western Sydney University. She has taught accounting and financial planning for over 20 years and published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and textbooks in financial planning. Her work has featured in Money Management, Professional Planner, Money and Life, Sunrise, ABC News, Herald Sun, The Daily Telegraph and on radio. Michelle has also held various leadership roles including as Associate Dean and Director of Academic Program.


Michelle is co-editor of the FAAA’s Financial Planning Research Journal, President Elect for the Academy of Financial Services in the United States, Chair of the Financial Planning Education Council, and on the advisory boards of Ecstra Foundation and Adviser Ratings.


Michelle led the development of the WalletSmart App, co-founded the Western Sydney University Tax Clinic and developed the Personal Finance Basics Micro Credential. She is an FCPA and member of the FAAA. In 2021, Michelle received Western Sydney Women’s Western Sydney Educator of the Year Award.


Prior to becoming a full-time academic, Michelle worked for 15 years in accounting and finance roles at ASX-100 listed companies. Michelle has also worked as a consultant.


Michelle has previously served as Deputy President of CPA Australia’s NSW Divisional Council and currently volunteers as academic member of the UniSuper Consultative Committee, and on the Women’s Committee of Canterbury Bankstown Chamber of Commerce.

George Haramis

George Haramis has been successfully involved in the financial services industry for 30 years in various executive roles with some of Australia’s leading domestic and international financial institutions.
 
George’s roles have included: being a founder of a listed advice business, working with a number of Australia’s largest superannuation funds in presenting fund management solutions, establishing both retail and wholesale distribution channels, working closely with the accounting profession by assisting accounting firms establish successful wealth & advice businesses, creating unique employee benefits programmes for employers and being responsible for two of the country’s largest institutionally owned Dealer Groups: Securitor and RetireInvest – which at the time managed in excess of $10B for over 80,000 clients.
 
George is now the Co-Founder of Fiduciary Financial Services Pty Ltd.

Phil Broderick

Phil heads Sladen Legal’s superannuation and state taxes teams. He is a Chartered Tax Advisor (CTA), a SMSF Specialist Advisor (SSA) and a member (and past member) of multiple superannuation related committees. Phil is a regular author and presenter. He frequently liaises with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and Treasury in relation the implementation and administration of the superannuation laws.
 
Phil’s clients include private business owners, accountants, financial planners, self managed superannuation fund (SMSF) trustees and high and medium net worth individuals. He has also acted for industry and retail superannuation funds.
 
Phil prides himself in providing solutions and structuring for clients in a holistic manner taking into account each client’s situation and structure. He has, on numerous occasions, successfully objected against, and negotiated with, with the ATO in superannuation related matters and the Victorian State Revenue Office (SRO) in relation to state taxes matters (duty, payroll tax and land tax in particular).

Neil Brydges

Neil is a Principal in the business law area, with a particular focus on taxation advice and disputes.
Taxation law is a complex area. Neil’s aim is to provide technical expertise to clients, commercially applied and in a friendly and approachable manner.
 
Neil’s practice involves advice, audits, disputes, and transactions. The client mix includes both family groups and business enterprises. Neil also regularly assists professional advisors, including tax agents, accountants, and financial advisors, to understand complex legal issues and help them to better assist their own clients.
 
Neil is a Chartered Tax Advisor with The Tax Institute and accredited as a specialist in taxation law with the Law Institute of Victoria.
Since 2019 Neil has been named one of Australia’s “Best Lawyers of the Year” in the practice of tax law. Neil has also recognised in Doyles Guide as a recommended tax lawyer since 2021.

Dan Butler

Dan is recognised as one of Australia’s leading SMSF lawyers complemented by his taxation and commercial expertise. He has worked predominantly in the fields of tax and superannuation over the past 40 years, is a qualified Chartered Tax Adviser, Chartered Accountant and has an MBA from the University of Melbourne.
 
Dan presents on the subject of Taxation of Superannuation at the University of Melbourne’s Master of Laws/Tax program. Dan is also a regular seminar presenter on tax and SMSF topics and has published extensively in these areas. Dan regularly presents for numerous professional bodies including the SMSF Association, The Tax Institute and DBA Network.
 
Dan is a member of The Tax Institute’s National Superannuation Committee, the Law Institute of Victoria’s Tax Committee and is involved with a number of other tax and SMSF committees. Dan is also a Specialist SMSF Advisor™.

Stephen Lau

Stephen Lau is a Principal Lawyer and Team Leader in Coleman Greig’s Tax and Superannuation team.
 
Stephen specialises in tax advisory, tax planning and tax audit/dispute resolution covering all areas of tax including income tax, indirect tax, fringe benefit tax and stamp duty.
 
Stephen has a unique and extensive tax background which covers both in-house tax advisory, professional services at a big four chartered accounting firm and the Australian Taxation Office. Leveraging off his tax administration and commercial experience, Stephen takes pride in providing simple practical tax advice and commercial solutions to a broad range of clients including high net worth individuals, private groups, ASX listed entities and large multinationals.
 
He draws upon his unique and broad background and experience, described above, to provide creative, practical and timely solutions for his clients.

Natasha Panagis

Natasha Panagis is a highly experienced wealth management specialist with deep expertise across a broad spectrum of financial services area, including superannuation, self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs), retirement planning, taxation, estate planning, insurance, social security, and aged care. With over 20 years in the industry, Natasha has developed a reputation as a trusted adviser and thought leader, delivering strategic insights and practical guidance to financial professionals and their clients.

Her ability to distil and communicate complex financial concepts in a clear, concise, and accessible manner has made her a sought-after commentator in the media. She has been regularly quoted in leading financial publications and frequently presents at industry conferences, professional development programs, and training workshops, where she shares her knowledge with financial planners, accountants, and legal professionals.

Natasha plays an instrumental role in shaping Australia’s financial services industry through her work in policy development and advocacy. She actively engages with Government bodies, regulators, and key industry stakeholders to influence policy settings, legislative changes, and regulatory reforms. Her contributions help ensure that the evolving financial landscape remains conducive to professional practitioners while safeguarding consumer interests.

In addition to her policy and advocacy work, Natasha is a passionate educator, regularly contributing technical articles and thought leadership pieces aimed at enhancing the knowledge and capability of financial professionals. Her dedication to professional excellence and commitment to improving financial literacy make her a valued contributor to the industry.

Paul Mather

Paul Mather is a recognised authority in Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT), Salary Packaging, and Employment Taxes in Australia, with over 25 years of experience advising businesses, government agencies, and industry groups on these complex areas of taxation. His deep expertise and practical approach have made him a trusted advisor, helping organisations navigate compliance requirements, optimise tax outcomes, and implement effective salary packaging strategies.

As the Founder and Director of FBT Solutions, established in 2009, Paul has built a specialist firm dedicated to providing technical support, consulting, and training in FBT and employment taxes. Through his work, he has assisted a diverse range of businesses across multiple industries, from SMEs to large corporates and government entities, ensuring they meet their obligations while maximising efficiency in their tax structures.

Paul is actively involved in shaping tax policy and advocating for improvements in FBT administration and compliance. He was a member of the ATO’s former FBT Working Group until it’s end in 2024. Previously, he was a longstanding member of the ATO’s National Tax Liaison Group (NTLG) Fringe Benefits Tax Subcommittee from 2005 to 2013, contributing to high-level discussions on legislative changes and tax policy.

Prior to founding FBT Solutions, Paul spent a decade at EY, where he worked in the Employment Taxes and Indirect Taxes teams, providing high-level advisory services to some of Australia’s largest businesses. His extensive career also includes commercial roles in Australia and London, where he gained valuable experience in corporate taxation and finance. Additionally, Paul has worked at leading Chartered Accounting firms PKF and BDO in New Zealand, further broadening his expertise in tax advisory and compliance.

With a career spanning the Big Four, commercial finance, and boutique advisory, Paul brings a unique combination of technical proficiency, strategic insight, and real-world business experience. He is a sought-after speaker at industry events, regularly conducts training sessions on FBT and employment taxes, and contributes thought leadership on taxation issues affecting Australian businesses.

Paul remains committed to educating professionals and businesses on the complexities of FBT and salary packaging, ensuring that organisations stay compliant while optimising their tax strategies in an ever-changing regulatory environment.

Stuart Sheary

Stuart Sheary is a highly respected financial services professional with over 20 years of industry experience, specialising in superannuation, social security, and self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs). With a strong technical background and a deep understanding of Australia’s financial and regulatory landscape, Stuart has built a career dedicated to providing financial professionals with clear, actionable guidance in these complex areas.
 
Stuart is well known for his ability to simplify intricate legislative and technical matters, equipping advisers with the knowledge they need to navigate regulatory changes and strategic financial planning. His expertise is demonstrated through regular presentations at industry events, contributions to technical literature, and ongoing support for financial professionals seeking to enhance their understanding of superannuation and SMSFs. His technical acumen and practical approach make him a valued resource in the financial services sector.
 
Before joining the Institute of Financial Professionals Australia (IFPA), Stuart held a number of pivotal technical roles where he provided expert guidance and support to financial advisers on a range of complex financial planning matters. His ability to interpret and apply legislation in a real-world advisory context has been instrumental in helping advisers deliver better outcomes for their clients.
 
Stuart holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Arts. He is also a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and a Specialist SMSF Advisor (SSA®) accredited by the SMSF Association, reflecting his commitment to professional excellence.
 
With a passion for technical education and adviser support, Stuart continues to contribute meaningfully to the industry, ensuring financial professionals stay informed, confident, and well-equipped to navigate the evolving financial services landscape. 

Early Bird Tickets

In-Person

Early Bird

Member $370+gst | Non Member $470+gst

Online

Early Bird

Member $270+gst | Non Member $370+gst

SPONSORS & PARTNERS

Platinum

Silver

Program

Conference Bag

Exhibitor