This is a past event. Registration is closed. View other A Country Practice Accountants Group events.
David Charge
Managing Partner – Central NSW at Sprout AgribusinessDavid’s extensive leadership experience across the financial services industry has seen him involved in a wide cross section of Australian farming operations including some of Australia’s largest farming family’s and Corporate Agribusiness clients. David’s experience spans a broad range of agribusiness industries across Australia, representing all parts of the supply chain. He is an agribusiness operator in his own right and is dedicated to assisting the industry prosper and evolve.
Matt Connors
Senior Account Manager at XeroI'm a qualified accountant passionate about the industry and technology. I really enjoy helping the Xero Partners I work with become the most efficient they can be.
Outside of work I'm a keen basketballer and being from Melbourne love the AFL (in particular the Tigers).
Jon Dee
NSW Australian of the Year 2010, Planet Ark co-founder, change agent.Jon Dee is the founder and managing director of the Australian advocacy organisation ‘Do Something’. In 1991 he also co-founded Planet Ark with his good friend Pat Cash to show people and businesses how to reduce their impact on the environment.
His award as NSW Australian of the Year 2010 recognised John as one of Australia’s most influential figures on environmental issues. He has been instrumental in creating positive change in the daily habits of millions of Australians which will help to change our planet for the better.
Jon Dee is an award-winning social entrepreneur, broadcaster and campaigner. In total, Jon has written and presented over 700 different business sustainability news stories and interviews. Within Australia and overseas, Jon has given hundreds of keynote speeches. He also MC’s events and consults to companies on efficiency, sustainability and change management.
Adam Fairless
GM –Telecommunications at Strategic GroupAdam has over 20 years of experience dealing with on-premises and cloud phone systems and developing complex solutions to meet all customer needs.
Scott Henderson
Director & CEO of BSI Learning InstituteScott Henderson is a registered psychologist, with a solid background as an educator.
He has worked as a lecturer in psychology, behavioural science and research at the Universities of Sydney and Western Sydney. Lecturing for six years at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, his expertise includes such areas as leadership, teams and group dynamics, communication and body language, persuasion techniques, stress, and workplace satisfaction.
Since 1999, his work in the corporate sector has spanned the spectrum from industrial psychologist to coach and corporate trainer. In 2004 he became a certified Master Coach in Behavioural Coaching and he continues to coach both individuals and teams at all levels within the companies with which he works. Scott is also an accredited DiSC and LSI trainer.
His unique perspective of inter- and intra-personal understanding compliments the delivery of his training programs and ensures a rigorous and scientific approach to each participant’s growth and development. He has delivered training throughout Australia and New Zealand including courses in Customer Service, Communication, Leadership and Management, Performance Management, Coaching, Team Building, Conflict Resolution, Assertiveness, Business Development and Sales, Time Management, Life Balance, Managing Change and Professional Presentation Skills. Scott has a reputation of being a lively and entertaining speaker and he continues to work hard to dispel the stereotype that psychologists actually get people to lie down on couches!
Lisa Hennessey
Business Manager at Teach it ForwardLisa Hennessey joined Teach it Forward as the Business Manager in 2010. She has over 20 years experience in various administration areas including office and team management, customer service, event management, bookkeeping and personal assistance. Lisa’s key focus is to ensure that all logistical and administrative support is provided to the Teach it Forward team, ensuring the consistency of key delivery, marketing, finance and sales functions, the smooth day to day operation of the business and an open and consistent flow of communication within the team.
As well as her Business Manager role, Lisa is now a certified SYSTEMologis. Helping accounting firms to systemise their business in an easy and simple way through the ‘Done For You’ Program, which as the title suggests, all the hard work is taken out in documenting your firms systems as Lisa will do it all FOR you.
Mark Holton
Director of Smithink and Smithink AdvisoryMark Holton, FCPA, has more than 35 years’ experience as an Accountant and Tax Agent in practice. Mark is a Director of Smithink and Smithink Advisory.
Mark has developed specialised skills in corporate presentations and training with extensive experience in both private and public sector industries in Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and North America.
He is also a respected consultant in taxation and business management, in particular value-added services implementation and administration using key business advisory systems and software.
Mark is a lively and entertaining speaker, whether as a keynote addressing large audiences, the facilitator of a Partner Retreat or Conference, or the leader of Professional Development course. His engaging speaking style means that his audiences are always alert and entertained at his events.
Mark holds a Master of Commerce Degree as well as several post graduate qualifications in accounting and management. He also has a Degree in Adult Education and an Advanced Diploma of Financial Planning.
Mark is a Board Member and is Honorary Treasurer of Ronald McDonald House Greater Western Sydney a role he has held for 25 years. He is also the 15-year Founding Chairman and Director of Audit and Finance of the NSW Central Coast Academy of Sport.
Tim Hunt
Manager - RaboResearch at RabobankTim Hunt is the General Manager of the RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness division across Australia and New Zealand. In addition to managing the RaboResearch team, Tim advises corporate and rural clients across a multitude of sectors on a range of issues, including: the rise of substitute foods, why supply chains must change, and winning consumer trust. He is a regular facilitator at Rabobank’s Executive Development Program and hosts Rabobank’s Australia/New Zealand podcast channel.
Prior to his current role, Tim Hunt was based in New York as the Global Sector Strategist and team leader of Rabobank’s dairy research team. Tim’s responsibilities included analyzing developments in the regional and global dairy markets, coordinating Rabobank’s medium-term dairy forecasts, advising Rabobank on its engagement with the dairy industry, advising clients on the implications of market developments for their businesses, and assisting with mergers & acquisitions advisory. Tim is a regular and highly sought after speaker at local and international conferences. In his time with the bank, Tim has regularly visited and engaged with clients in North America, Latin America, China, Southeast Asia, and western Europe.
Tim is a professional economist with 25 years’ of experience working with leading financial institutions and strategic consultancies in Australia, England, and the United States. Tim holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree, Bachelor of Arts degree, and an Honors degree in Economics from the University of Melbourne.
Peter Johnson
Founder of Advisers Digest- Technical Update - The latest in superannuation strategies
- Breakout Session 1: Choose a topic of interest
Industry leader is an apt title for Peter Johnson. A chartered accountant with significant tenure as both practitioner and practice owner; a highly respected instructor for CPA Australia; an SMSF specialist and sought-after SMSF keynote presenter…Peter is dually gifted as technician and network facilitator.
Petris Lapis
Director of Petris Lapis Pty LtdB Com LLB LLM FIPA FFA
Petris has worked as a tax professional, law lecturer, chief financial officer, senior trainer, consultant, external author and director. She has qualifications in business, law, coaching, performance consulting and hypnosis and has been trained as a senior mindfulness trainer for the world’s leading corporate mindfulness group.
Petris has contributed to committees and boards for a number of professional and sporting bodies. She has consulted to industry, government and the non-profit sector. Petris has also published several books and hundreds of papers. She lives life with humour and leaves audiences feeling empowered to make easy practical changes to improve their working and personal lives. Audiences love her light hearted, warm and engaging approach to even difficult subjects.
Programs by Petris have featured in magazines, professional journals and online publications for a wide variety of industries.
Petris has received numerous presenter of the conference awards at both National and State conferences.
George Last
Partner at Sprout AgribusinessGeorge has 13 years experience in Domestic and International banking. His key focus is looking to assist clients with establishing the right plan to grow their farming business through longer term strategic planning and reviewing this on a regular basis. Into the future, the sourcing of capital will become far more rigorous and it is imperative that our clients have clear plans in place to help facilitate this process.
Karen McDonald
Associate Director – Professional Risk of Accountancy Insurance- Professional Indemnity Insurance for Accountants in a Changing Market
- Breakout Session 2: Choose a topic of interest
Karen commenced her insurance career in 1985. Since this time she has worked in both underwriting and insurance broking for local and international companies in Australia and New Zealand.
Karen has been specialising in professional indemnity insurance for 19 years, and in more recent years focusing on cyber insurance and how the cover benefits accounting professionals.
As the Associate Director of Professional Risks, Karen achieves favourable outcomes for her clients by thoroughly understanding the profession and seeking cover beyond client expectations.
Karen can be contacted on karen@accountancyinsurance.com.au
or by calling 1300 552 867.
Andrew Morrison
Director of Paisley RobertsonAndrew commenced his accounting career in 1998 with a local firm whilst completing his degree at Charles Sturt University (Wagga Wagga). Over this time he has developed extensive experience in servicing client’s accounting and taxation affairs across a vast range of various industries including rural, professionals, trades and retail. He spent a number of years living and working for public practices in Melbourne developing his skills and knowledge. He is a member of CPA Australia, a registered tax agent and a JP. For a large amount of his career he has provided clients with SMSF administration and advice. He has obtained a Diploma of Financial Planning enabling him to provide superannuation and SMSF advice. Andrew is a limited authorised representative (number 1239966) of Merit Wealth Pty Ltd (AFSL 409361).
Out of the office Andrew is an active member of South Wagga Apex Club and is the treasurer of Wagga Wagga’s Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch which helps raise fund for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. He is also the current Chair of CPA Wagga Wagga Branch.
Scott Reardon
Scott Reardon is one of the greatest T63 athletes in the world.
Before he was a sprinter, though, he was a 12-year-old digging holes at his family farm in the NSW country town of Temora. Standing on the frame of a post hole digger, Scott’s shoelace was untied and it caught in the power take-off shaft of a tractor, severing his right leg.
Incredibly – and perhaps in a sign of his success to come – Scott relearned how to walk in just a week-and-a-half.
His meteoric rise to fame on the track dates back to 2009, when he relocated to the ACT to train under esteemed coach Iryna Dvoskina at the Australian Institute of Sport. After first representing Australia at the 2011 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand, Scott won a Paralympic silver medal in the men’s 100m T42 at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
He achieved his first international gold medal in 2013 at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon, France, and as the reigning world champion in the men’s 100m T42, Scott was the man to beat at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. He held off a late charge by Richard Whitehead (GBR) to win his first Paralympic gold medal – in record time, too – to be nominated for Paralympics Australia’s 2016 Male Paralympian of the Year award.
The three-time world champion is married to German-born Paralympian Vanessa Low. They are now on track to represent Australia together at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, before retiring from sport to start a family.
Donella Roberts
Conference Coordinator at A Country Practice Accountants Inc
Aron Robertson
Director - Business Development of Strategic GroupAron has over 19 years’ experience taking complex technical products & services to market. The primary purpose of his role at Strategic Group is to identify his client’s business objectives, assess the capabilities of their current IT environment, then align the delivery of IT solutions and services to maximize the value they derive from those investments.
Rod Spicer
Associate Director - Claims and Underwriting of Accountancy Insurance- Tax Audit Insurance Claim Trends Affecting Accountants
- Breakout Session 2: Choose a topic of interest
Rod is a qualified Chartered Accountant with more than 30 years’ experience in the accounting profession. He has held various roles within Australia and abroad including senior management and Associate Director positions at an international accounting network.
Rod has worked at Accountancy Insurance since 2013, and is the Associate Director of Claims and Underwriting. In this role Rod is responsible for the operations of the Claims Department, policy wording development and the management of large and complex claims.
Rod can be contacted on rod@accountancyinsurance.com.au or by calling 1300 797 231.
Trent Taylor
CEO & Founder of Teach it Forward- Breakout Session 1: Choose a topic of interest
- How to have conversations with clients around Additional Services
Trent Taylor – CEO & Founder is a global award winning business growth and leadership trainer/coach whose 2 simple rules are; 1) Be curious, and 2) be congruent (practice what you preach).
He is a believer that the accounting industry has a REAL place and CRITICAL role to support business owners in the community grow themselves and their business.
Trent strongly believes it is not how big your top line or bottom line is in your firm, it is whether or not the business is providing for you and your family in the way you want it, that matters. What is the point of making huge dollars yet have no time with the people you love the most?
This is why the CONSISTENT approach he takes to working with clients is;
- Simplify the business structure and make it transparent (you cannot fix what you cannot see)
- Make the business sustainable, scalable and sellable (in that order) by upskilling your team into using the systems and processes needed to keep the standard of service you deliver clients at the highest level (so you don’t have to do everything
- Having the business owners learn to communicate and lead in a way that has your clients WANT TO WORK WITH YOU in more ways that just the tax side of your skill set
While different to a lot of coaches, the continual feedback Trent receives from his clients is 1) It makes sense 2) It actually works and 3) Why did I not do this earlier in my career. You will hear Trent say and think about this – “It is impossible to grow a business, you can only grow the leaders of a business to generate fiscal and cultural changes that make a difference!”
At Teach it Forward we teach and empower Accounting Business Owners in a very personal and individualised way, so you feel heard AND learn what YOU need, to make the changes to the business, so your family gets what it needs!"