Judges

Phil Anderson is the General Manager Policy, Advocacy and Standards at the Financial Advice Association of Australia (FAAA). Phil was formerly the CEO and General Manager Policy and Professionalism at the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) prior to the merger with the FPA to create the FAAA. Phil has spent 11 years in the professional association policy and advocacy world, having been involved in all the major reforms since FoFA. Phil has been in the financial services industry for 30 years, having also worked with AMP, MLC, CFS and Netwealth.

Phil has a Bachelor and Masters of Commerce along with the DFS and ADFP.

Angela Ashton, the Founder & CEO at Evergreen Consultants, stands as a beacon of expertise in the investment consulting landscape. Armed with two Bachelor’s degrees (Economics/Science), a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance, and a Master of Commerce (Finance), Angela’s academic background underpins her strategic expertise in finance.
With a career spanning 30 years in Investment Markets, Angela brings unparalleled expertise to Evergreen. Throughout her career, she has held Senior Investment roles at QIC, served as Head of Ratings at van Eyk Research and was General Manager of Managed Funds Research at IWL Ltd (now CommSec). She has further contributed to the investment industry through serving on a number of education committees with groups such as Kaplan and the Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA).
Under Angela’s leadership, Evergreen Consultants has established itself as a prominent boutique investment consulting firm based in Australia. Evergreen specialises in developing portfolios and collaborating closely with high-quality financial planning businesses nationwide. With them, Evergreen builds and manages investment solutions designed specifically to meet each individual clients needs and preferences.
The Evergreen Team is renowned for its innovative solutions and contributions in the industry through their significant in-house development of tools such as GreenVue, a portfolio analytics system and ERIG, a Responsible Investment Grading Index.

Natalia Clack is a multi-award-winning SMSF specialist, recognized as one of Australia’s leading experts in Self-Managed Superannuation Funds. As the founder and director of Easy Super, Natalia has built a trusted firm that is dedicated to helping clients grow their wealth and secure a comfortable retirement through expertly managed SMSFs. With a relentless pursuit of professional development, Natalia continuously invests hundreds of hours each year in up-skilling and attending industry conferences, webinars, and seminars.

Jessica embodies the Crest spirit of determination and perseverance. Her remarkable journey from paraplanner to director at Crest Financial Services serves as a beacon of inspiration, not only for aspiring professionals in the financial sector but also for women seeking to excel on a national stage.

Jessica's career began in 2015 when she joined the Crest team while studying Finance at The University of Newcastle. Starting as a paraplanner, Jessica quickly demonstrated her aptitude for the intricacies of financial planning. Her relentless pursuit of knowledge and excellence propelled her to manage the paraplanning team and eventually ascend to the role of financial adviser. Despite the demanding nature of her career, Jessica embraces each challenge, and despite being a Senior Adviser, Director and general manager of Crest Accounting, also makes time for the professional year candidates as their mentor.

Driven by an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional service, Jessica's dedication did not go unnoticed. At a young age, Jessica emerged as one of the brightest talents in the financial industry, and young leaders at Crest, breaking barriers and inspiring others with her achievements.

Jessica's journey serves as a powerful reminder that with determination and hard work, anything is possible.

After 25 years in the financial services industry leading product and service delivery innovation through bringing global best practice to Australia, in 2017 Michael established reimagined habitat with the aim to do the same in the built environment. By building three teams of experts - reimagined habitat as Passive House and Net Zero designers, Efficient Habitat as our research and energy advice hub, and Net Zero Plus as a supplier of prefab home systems and triple glazed window and door systems - our aim is to impact the way homes are built in Australia. The science behind Passive House underpins all of the product selection, research, advice and design thinking across the group.

With 30 years experience as an award-winning Global Brand Strategist, International Keynote and Leadership Expert and a background in Financial Services and Executive Management, Nicole has led teams, designed strategies and driven results for iconic and global brands like CommBank, CommSec, TikTok, Foxtel, Subaru, Electrolux, Yahoo, Mirvac and Telstra and shared the stage with Brené Brown, Seth Godin and Arianna Huffington.

As a leading authority in ‘branding humans’ she works with high-profile celebrities, sports and media stars and high-performance executives and teams to elevate their vision, value, and visibility.

CEO and Managing Director of Asena Family Office (incorporating Giles Wade from 1st March 2024) we provide HNW, UHNW families and Non-Profit Organisations with strategic wealth management, investment, tax advice and deal support they need to help them live well in the present and achieve their future goals.

Nick Mitchell joined Mason Stevens in 2019 and is responsible for managing Mason Stevens’ national sales team, overseeing the distribution of Mason Stevens’ platform, managed account and investment capabilities.

He brings over 20 years of financial services experience having previously held senior roles with Netwealth, Pendal, BNP Paribas and WHK Group.

Dr Rahat Munir is a Professor and Head of Department of Accounting and Corporate Governance, Macquarie University. He is FCA, FCPA and PhD. For over 30 years Professor Munir has been at the forefront of initiatives that have positioned organisations to support significant development and change. He is internationally renowned for curriculum development, pioneering innovative learning and teaching (L&T) practices, Micro Credentials and academic standards (including TEQSA and Australian Qualification Framework), Accreditation (AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS, Professional Accounting Bodies), student experience and research. He has played a pivotal role in creation of research and teaching collaborations with professional accounting bodies, Universities in China, Southeast Asia, South Asia and Europe. He has served on the panel for Faculty/Course Reviews of various Universities in Australia and New Zealand.

His research is across management accounting and controls and related subjects. He supervises Master of Research and Ph.D. students. His research interests include from management accounting systems, performance measurement systems, CSR, corporate governance, and management control systems. He has published in leading international journals as well as presented at international conferences in many parts of the world. He is affiliated with several professional bodies including the Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, Professional Risk Managers International Association, USA, American Accounting Association and European Accounting Association.

Professor Munir serves on various high-level Committees and Advisory Boards. Professor Munir has also served on the TAFE NSW Higher Education Academic Board. He has served as guest editor and referee/scientific program committee of various international journals, and organised conferences & workshops. He has been invited for Keynote lectures and Policy presentations in international conferences and public sector institutions. With his strong engagement with industry, he leads CFO Forum, Industry Academic Series, Thought Leadership and Business Leaders Roundtables.

Is the founder and Managing Director of Forte Asset Solutions, Forte Licensing Solutions and Forte Consulting Solutions. Forte’s Asset Solutions core activity is selling financial services businesses. Forte Licensing Solutions assist practices to find the right Dealer group or become self- licenced. Forte Consulting Solutions assists business to grow.

Steve has enjoyed a successful 30 plus year career in financial services.

Steve was a Partner in Deloitte and CEO of DFS Financial Services a HNW Advisory Group. After selling DFS Steve created Australia’s first specialist financial services M&A group.

Steve is a member of the International Association of Consultants, Valuators and Analysts.

Tracey Sofra, is Australia’s leading Financial Advisor specialising in Women’s Financial Confidence.

As a Business Leader, Mentor, Financial Advisor, Author, Speaker and Mum, for over three decades Tracey has shared her proven method for shifting mindsets and the limits to financial success for thousands of women.

Her passion around financial freedom is infectious leaving you inspired to challenge the status quo, build confidence and create change.

Tracey is dedicated to Investing in Women's Empowerment across the globe as part of a greater social impact across the UN Sustainability Goals.

Vicki is the Group Executive for Advocacy and Professional Standards at the Institute of Public Accountants, also known as the IPA Group.
 
Vicki heads the team responsible for policy development, advocacy, media, communications, publications, and government relations.

She is also responsible for disciplinary, compliance, and the IPA’s co-regulatory function as a professional accounting body in Australia.
 
Before joining the IPA Group, Vicki developed tax policy, financial literacy, prudential regulation for the banking sector in the Office of Best Practice Regulation at the Federal Treasury.

Vicki is an accomplished lawyer, and specialises in commercial litigation. She has practiced law in several different countries around the world, and holds an unrestricted practicing certificate for pro bono legal services.
 
Vicki is also a director for the International Council for Small Business, and has held various directorships in NFPs and for-profit entities. She holds qualifications for BJuris, LLB, BA, MBA, and DFP. 

Courtenay Walker is a motivated and driven financial advice professional, currently serving as Head of Advice and co-owner at Fox and Hare. Fox and Hare is a BCorp-certified business that specialises in providing financial advice to Aussies aged 20 – 45. In her role, Courtenay manages various aspects of the business, including leading the team, HR, operations, product and compliance.
With a background in process development, strategic decision-making, and small business expansion, she brings a comprehensive approach to ensuring the firm operates at its highest potential. Her passion lies in breaking down barriers within the Australian financial advice industry, making financial advice more accessible and available to those who need it most. This drive stems from her desire to foster a more equal Australia.
Outside of her professional life, Courtenay is an avid beachgoer and surfer, with a deep love for animal welfare. She enjoys spending time with her dog, Lucky, and her cat, Caro.

Craig West is a strategic accountant with over 25 years of experience advising business owners. His background as a CPA in public practice provided invaluable experience in the key issues of concern to business owners. Following six years of study to gain two master's degrees, Craig focused on Capital Gains Tax (CGT) for business sales, advising on strategic management of tax issues. This experience formed a strong view that business owners (and often their advisers) were unprepared and unaware of the steps required to prepare a business for exit.
Craig is now a strategic mentor for mid-market business owners and has written four critically acclaimed books on employee incentives, succession planning, asset protection and exit strategies. Craig has conducted numerous seminars and keynote presentations throughout Australia & internationally, including adviser education programs for the Institute of Chartered Accountants, IOOF and CPA Australia.
Craig’s practice Succession Plus is Australia's largest Business succession and exit planning firm, with offices in every state. It provides advice and strategy for clients preparing their business and finances for a successful exit. Succession Plus launched into the UK market in 2019, in New Zealand in 2020 and in the USA in 2023.
In March 2014, Craig was appointed Executive Chairman of the SME Association of Australia, Australia’s largest small business organisation representing over 300,000 business owners. In October 2014, he was awarded the Exit Planner of the Year at the Exit Planning Institute Annual Conference in Texas, USA, for his innovative development of an exit planning process to help business owners maximise business value and achieve a successful exit.
Craig’s proprietary structure—a Peak Performance Trust—has won the Australia-wide award for the Employee Share Ownership Plan of the Year twice in four years. In November 2018, Craig launched SME Experts in partnership with Mark Bouris’ Mentored on Podcast One and quickly grew the monthly podcast audience to over 26,500 downloads. In October 2019, he released a new podcast focused on medium-sized businesses – “Mid-Market Matters”.
In July 2022, Craig West received the Doctor of Business Administration award for his research thesis titled,
“Examination of the key factors driving business exit options in Australian Small and Medium Enterprises.” Craig is passionate about encouraging business owners to think strategically, maximise the value of their business and achieve a successful exit.

The Exit Planning Institute admitted Craig to the International Exit Planning Circle of Excellence in May 2024.

Initially starting his working career as a commercial and property lawyer in Queensland, Michael Williams eventually found his calling as a Financial Adviser.

He made this decision because he wanted to help clients before they got in trouble rather than sort out their issues afterwards as a lawyer.

Michael had a simple yet powerful vision – to help his clients establish financial well-being and achieve a financially independent future. This was his vision when he first started as a financial advisor, which is still his vision today as the Managing Director of The Hopkins Group (THG).

As the Group's Managing Director, Michael has led THG's strategic operations and is an integral member of the Group's executive board. Since his appointment in 2004, Michael has grown THG from a boutique firm to a multi-disciplinary, end-to-end, holistic financial advisory agency with over 55 staff and an extensive range of service offerings including financial planning, property (management, investments, sales and development), accounting and taxation, mortgage advice, estate planning and SMSFs.

Michael is also an accredited Senior Financial Adviser trusted by our most tenured and respected clients

Jeff Zulman the leading expert when it comes to helping Mortgage Brokers buy, grow and sell their businesses.

Jeff’s mission is to help smart business owners grow, manage and sell their businesses so they maximise profit and minimise the stress that comes with owning an SMB.

In Jeff’s role as the Managing Director of Trailblazer Finance, he’s helped thousands of Mortgage Brokers with expert advice, industry leading valuations and access to the finance they need for growth.

In Jeff’s role at Trailblazer Finance, he works closely with ambitious brokers who are committed to achieving business success.