Category: Events

Guest Speaker:   Rael Ross

Topic:   At the click of a Butn: Growing and listing a fintech business 

Rael is a co-founder and co-CEO of the Butn Group, which was successfully listed on the ASX in July 2021. Understanding the need for technology to enable financing and digital distribution as companies seek access to finance, Rael co-founded Butn with Walter Rapoport. With over 15 years experience in financial services, technology, and business, Rael has driven the establishment of the Butn FinTech Solution. Rael has created, developed, and executed technology and digital projects through several businesses. Rael co-founded what is today known as Tsikot.com, one of the leading online automotive platforms and the largest online automotive forum in the Philippines. As a … Read More

Guest Speaker:  Robert Pradolin

Topic:  Housing all Australians, rich or poor

For the past 35 years, Robert has lived and breathed residential property development with 18 of these years at Frasers Property Australia (formally Australand). Since leaving Frasers, Robert founded Housing All Australians to represent the voice of the private sector, which believes it is in Australia’s long-term economic interest to house all Australians, rich or poor. Robert also sits on the Board of Summer Housing, Salvation Army Housing, and Melbourne University’s Hallmark Initiative which focuses on affordable housing.  Robert spent close to a decade on the PCA’s Victorian Divisional Council and the HIA Executive Council (Victoria). He is a past member of the PCA Residential Development Council and sat … Read More

Guest Speaker:  Dr Adir Shiffman, Executive Chairman, Catapult Sports

Topic:  What’s the Deal? Adir Shifman talks about his new AFR column, and how to find bargain deals hidden inside the bubble

Dr Adir Shiffman is an Australian serial startup founder, investor, and Executive Chairman of global athlete analytics leader Catapult Sports (ASX: CAT). He has been rated the World’s 10th Most Innovative Person in Sports Business.

After qualifying in medicine and practising as an MD, Adir made the switch across to startup founder and over the last decade launched, built and sold more than a dozen high-growth tech companies. In the process, Adir became one of the foremost technology experts in Australia.

Adir is currently Executive Chairman of Catapult Sports … Read More

Guest Speaker:  Alex Joiner, IFM Investors

Topic:  Global and Australian Economic outlook in a post-covid world

Dr Alex Joiner is the Chief Economist at IFM Investors and also sits on its Investment Committee and Global Management Team.

He is responsible for the firm’s economic, financial market, policy, and geopolitical analysis and forecasting and also represents IFM with domestic and global clients as well as with governments, central banks, financial institutions, and corporates.

Alex has two decades of professional experience, and prior to joining IFM Investors, Alex was the Chief Economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch (Australian & New Zealand) after being a senior economist at ANZ Bank.  He holds a First Class honours degree in Economics and a Ph.D. … Read More

Guest Speaker:  Craig Nossel, Carenomics

Topic:  COVID-19, is it all in our head? How our irrational decision-making is bad for our health?

Craig is CEO and co-founder of Carenomics, a behavioural economics-based consultancy, that was established to develop behaviour change and engagement strategies for businesses across multiple sectors including insurance, healthcare, financial, retail, property, education, and hospitality industries. In addition, Carenomics develops go-to-market programs for large corporates.

Prior to his move to Melbourne at the end of 2019, Craig was Head of Vitality Wellness at Discovery. During his 21-year career at Discovery, he helped develop one of the leading incentive-based wellness programs. The Vitality model has been adopted by some of the leading global insurance companies, and now spans  26 … Read More

Guest Speaker:  Alex Joiner, IFM Investors

Topic:  Global and Australian Economic outlook in a post-monetary-policy world

Dr. Alex Joiner is the Chief Economist at IFM Investors and also sits on its Investment Committee and Global Management Team.  He is responsible for the firm’s economic, financial market, policy, and geopolitical analysis and forecasting, and also represents IFM with domestic and global clients as well as with governments, central banks, financial institutions, and corporates.  He has two decades of professional experience and prior to joining IFM Investors, Alex was the Chief Economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch (Australia & New Zealand) after being a senior economist at ANZ Bank. He holds a First Class honours degree in Economics and a Ph.D. … Read More

Guest Speaker:  JD de Lange| Chief Operating Officer, Allan Gray

Topic: The Many Facets Of Value

Johan (JD) de Lange joined Allan Gray in Australia in 2010 as Head of Retail. Prior to joining Allan Gray in Australia, JD spent nine years with Allan Gray in South Africa (AGL), the largest privately owned South African investment company, where he was a Director of Investor Services and a Director of the Allan Gray Unit Trust Management Company.

As the face of Allan Gray Australia, JD is a strong proponent of the fact that there are only two ways to add value to your portfolios and that’s firstly getting the right financial advice and secondly making the right investments.

JD will … Read More

Guest Speaker:   Senator Jane Hume| Assistant Minister for Superannuation, Financial Service and Financial Technology | Liberal Party of Australia

Topic: With Great Influence Comes Great Responsibility

Senator Hume is the Assistant Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and Financial Technology.  Appointed in 2019, Senator Hume is the first to hold an explicit Financial Technology portfolio in Australia.

Born and raised in Melbourne, Senator Hume has broad experience within the financial services and superannuation industries, having worked for the National Australia Bank, Rothschild Australia, Deutsche Bank and, immediately prior to her election, as a Senior Policy Advisor at Australian Super.  Senator Hume has also served on a number of boards including the Royal Children’s Hospital, Federation Square, and Perinatal Anxiety & … Read More

Guest Speaker:   Rod Butterss| Co-Founder | Amadeus Group

Topic:   A Turbulent Journey

Rod was born in Melbourne and was one of ten children. A serial entrepreneur by DNA. Rod started his business career at age seven, selling newspapers in Bayside Melbourne and he hasn’t stopped selling since.

With a marketing background and time spent at the helm of St Kilda football club; Rod will share the highs and lows of his professional and personal journey in his own unique way.

He talks candidly about his journey, warts and all, along with his re-building process, and what he has learned about addiction, identity, and purpose.

As Rod explains: “I have been an entrepreneur for as long as I can remember. … Read More

Guest Speaker:    Annalise Jennings  | Founder Dynamic Exchange

Topic:  The Transformation Journey of the Aboriginal Community of Napranum

Annalise Jennings is a business and community strategist with a background in risk management and 25 years’ experience in Corporate Banking. She has specialized in projects that focus on transformation and maximizing human potential.

Dynamic Exchange is an organization committed to supporting communities and organizations to reach their full potential. She has worked extensively with Australian Indigenous communities and is the creator of Whole of Community Change – a blueprint designed to bring about community ownership and self-determination. In 2014 she was invited to share her work with the Aboriginal community of Napranum in a TEDx Talk entitled, “The SHIFT from Paternalism, … Read More