AFA appoints counsel to develop adviser code

Linda Vogel has been named general counsel, professionalism. Her primary role will be to develop the AFA’s ‘Professional Standards and Ethics Code’.

As part of the new adviser education laws, the AFA will become a monitoring body of an ASIC-approved code and prepare members for the Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority requirements, the AFA said in a statement.

Ms Vogel was previously former head of professional conduct at Chartered Accountants Australia and in New Zealand.

Most recently, she was senior legal counsel at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, where she conducted an independent legal and regulatory review of Deloitte’s businesses in Australia and assisted in the drafting of Deloitte’s Principles of Business Conduct, the statement said.

AFA chief executive Philip Kewin said: “We are delighted to welcome Ms Vogel to the AFA team.”

“She is a highly-qualified lawyer with over 30 years’ legal experience including as general counsel and company secretary for listed and unlisted organisations.

Commenting on her appointment, Ms Vogel said: “I am delighted to join the AFA as general counsel, professionalism, and use my expertise in developing the AFA Code and practice guides.”

“I look forward to meeting and working with the AFA community.”