The financial planning profession converged on Adelaide in November for the FPA’s annual Professionals Congress. Presented under the banner of ‘Inspiring Greatness’, the two day event commenced with an motivating panel session, hosted by Ray Martin.
Featured on the panel were:
- Jihad Dhib, Principal of Punchbowl High School, who shared how he turned around the lives of students at one of the country’s most infamous educational institutions
- Tara Moss, author and former model, who talked about overcoming the prejudice associated with her old profession
- Media personality and journalist, Ita Buttrose, whose journey to the top of the male-dominated publishing world has been the inspiration for thousands
Congress delegates were almost universal in their praise for this session, which featured messages of courage, determination, humour in the face of adversity, and most of all, making a difference to the lives of others.
The agenda was then split into session streams, covering a range of topics across four broad themes: technical, leadership, personal development and best practice.
On Thursday evening, guests donned their ‘black and white’ best for the Future2 Gala Dinner, hosted again by Ray Martin. In the course of the event, the Future2 Fund raised $237,000 for its grants program, which provides financial support to not-for-profits working with the youth of Australia.
Friday’s session streams were topped and tailed with keynotes by Michael McQueen, author and social researcher, with a message to attendees to face into change, and media identity, Andrew Denton, who concluded the Congress with an invitation to planners to view their life as their career.
The FPA also announced the winners of its annual Awards program. Congratulations to:
- CFP® of the Year Award Winner, Randall Stout, from HPH Solutions
- Stephen Godfrey from Visis Private Wealth, AFP® of the Year Award Winner
- Future2 Community Service Award Winner, Kathy Havers from Catalyst Financial Group