Message from the National CEO

FY2023 was a busy and productive year – a few highlights include:

Hosting Margaret Franklin, CFA, President and CEO of CFA Institute in Australia in March – visiting Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane to engage with stakeholders including members, regulators, c-suite leaders, universities, and new charterholders. Marg also spoke at our International Women’s Day events in Melbourne and Sydney.
Featuring Leigh Sales on stage as part of our International Women’s Day series of events. Across Australia, 430 delegates attended these events – with 150 in Melbourne. This event is an important platform to showcase our diversity efforts and continue the conversation with industry, as we seek to move the dial on female participation at all levels of investment management.
The appointment of Michael Clancy, CFA as the inaugural Chair of the Australian Governance Council in May 2023.
Raising our voice on advocacy issues of importance, including working with peak bodies on submissions to Treasury on Climate Related Financial Disclosures, and with the joint associations working group on the Quality of Advice Review.
The Australian Investment Conference (AIC) was attended by 250 delegates in Melbourne in October 2022, and attracted local and international speakers for a full day of stimulating discussions, insights, and networking.
With the FPA (now FAAA) and funding from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet – Office for Women we provided 20 scholarships to women across the CFA Program, Certificate in ESG Investing, and to attend the Australian Investment Conference.

In September 2022 we held in-person strategy workshops for the first time since before COVID. Representatives of our three Societies attended two days of discussion and planning. CFA Institute joined virtually and shared with us details of the long-awaited Society Operating Model (SOM). The opportunity to discuss and debate with all Societies present was invaluable. We were pleased to be joined at points by Mark Lazberger and Maria Wilton.

This strategy workshop kicked off a series of further strategic discussions across Societies and within each Society Board, leading ultimately to the proposed resolution that is now in front of Melbourne and Sydney members – that the Societies merge and form CFA Society Australia. If approved by members, this merger will enable us to engage with industry and stakeholders with one clear voice, position us as one of ten global financial centre Societies of CFA Institute, and create efficiencies that lead to improved services for members and candidates.

Alongside these discussions, throughout FY23 and into FY24 we continue to work to deliver on our four strategic goals of brand, engagement, value, and growth. My thanks to all the members and volunteers who support this work in so many ways.