The below program is from William Buck’s 2022 CFO Summit, which took place at Adealide Oval on 6 April 2022.
Program
8:15am
Registration/arrival coffee
8:45am
Welcome
Jamie McKeough, Managing Director | William Buck
8:55am
Facilitator
Jess Adamson, Facilitator
9:00am
The State of South Australia – harness the opportunities ahead
Hon. Christopher Pyne
Former Australian Minister for Defence, Christopher Pyne was responsible for delivering the $200 billion build-up of Australia’s military capability, the largest in Australia’s peacetime history. He retired from Parliament in 2019.
Now in the private sector, in this keynote presentation Christopher will share his insights into South Australian business opportunities in particular in the defence industry and what the AUKUS agreement signed in September 2021 means for South Australia. He will give his observations on national security matters, global issues that impact South Australia and of course the State and Federal elections.
10:00am
The CFO’s role in mitigating cyber risk
Adam Hack, Head of Security Operations | Nuago
The role of the CFO is more important than ever in mitigating cyber risk. Cyber-attacks can have a devastating effect on business both financially and reputationally, and CFOs are facing opposing pressures to decrease IT budgetary spend, while concurrently improving the organisation’s cyber resilience.
Join Adam Hack, Head of Security Operations at Nuago, as he provides an update on the current cyber landscape, including an overview on strategies that leading CFOs are deploying to effectively manage their organisational approach to cyber – going beyond information security policies, processes and technology, to incorporate effective benchmarking, investment analysis, budget decisions, and risk quantification.
10:40am
Morning tea
11:10am
The talent landscape for 2022 – attraction and retention
Michelle Christie, Director – Adelaide | Robert Walters
Michelle Christie will delve into the emerging trends facing Australia’s talent market in 2022 and how we compare globally. Find out which jobs and skills are most in demand and how your organisation can source the best professionals to be a step ahead in your talent strategy.
Staff attraction and retention will continue to be a challenge as borders reopen. Michelle will discuss how your organisation can improve its employee value proposition and will provide insights on strategies for building and maintaining your team of finance and tech professionals.
11:40am
Effective remuneration strategies during a labour shortage
Andrew Nicola, Tax Director | William Buck
With employers facing intense competition for talent now and into the future, organisations across all industries are having to re-think their remuneration strategies. In this session, William Buck Tax Director Andrew Nicola outlines the common and not-so-common remuneration strategies being used to attract and retain staff in a tight labour market. Andrew will discuss how to construct effective remuneration offerings to put your organisation ahead of the recruitment pack and generate long term benefits for staff members and employers.
12:10pm
Compliance, commission and culture – the NFP experience
Karin Barry, Director, Business Services | Community Living Australia
Hannah Murphy, General Manager, Corporate Services | ECH Inc
Stephen Dawes, Chief Financial Officer | Uniting SA
The Royal Commissions into aged care and disability care have highlighted numerous examples of service providers failing to meet the expectations of regulators and general community standards when looking after some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Compliance with rules and regulations is one thing or does it just come down to culture?
Our panel of finance executives from leading South Australian aged care and disability service providers will highlight the governance impacts the Royal Commissions have had on their business and provide insight into how their learnings could benefit your organisation.
12:45pm
Lunch
1:30pm
The bottom line: how corporate wellbeing impacts business performance and how to do it right
Dr Tom Nehmy, Clinical Psychologist & Founder | Healthy Minds
Dr Tom Nehmy has a passion for prevention. As an award-winning clinical psychologist, corporate trainer, and researcher, he has learnt a lot about what makes people tick – and the implications for businesses.
Tom will introduce the audience to:
- New ways of thinking about mental health in the workplace
- The link between wellbeing and work performance
- Three ‘Golden Keys’ to doing workplace wellbeing well
- A pragmatic framework for understanding personal wellbeing
- An overview of what the ‘gold standard’ looks like; and
- How data-driven wellbeing strategies can provide new insights
2:15pm
The CFO’s role in strategy
Jim McDowell, Group Chief Executive Officer | Nova Systems
As a highly experienced business leader and CEO, Jim McDowell has worked closely with CFOs in Australia and overseas within defence, aerospace and the public sector. This has also given him valuable insight into what makes for a successful CEO/CFO relationship.
Jim will share his key thoughts and experiences on strategy in today’s business environment and how you as key finance leaders need to be involved in the setting and implementation of strategy in your own businesses.
3:00pm
Afternoon tea
3:30pm
Talking strategy and COVID
Howard Coombs, Executive Director Finance & Strategy | Seeley International
Anna Nolan, Chief Financial Officer | Radiology SA
Chris Johnson, Chief Financial Officer | REDARC
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on all businesses, from those experiencing hardship to those that continue to prosper. Organisations have had to adapt, move quickly, make fast decisions and re-assess short, medium and longer term strategy. Three leading finance executives from iconic South Australian-owned businesses will discuss the impacts, threats and opportunities they continue to face, how the pandemic shaped the current strategy and what their role has been in ensuring they continue to be financially successful.
4:15pm
Business risks and rewards – striking a balance
Andrew Nunn | South Australian Chief Entrepreneur
Taking a SA-centric view of the prevailing economic conditions, South Australian Chief Entrepreneur Andrew Nunn will discuss the key risks and rewards on offer for innovative business in these uncertain times.
Drawing on decades of experience as an environmental consultant, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Andrew will provide his unique insight into the opportunities and the stark choices CFOs and decision makers face in 2022 and beyond.
5:00pm
Wine Tasting / Networking Drinks (provided by Richard Hamilton Wines)
Speakers
Jessica Adamson
Jessica is a presenter, facilitator and one of South Australia’s most sought after MC’s.
Jess forged a reputation as one of the state’s finest journalists after 24 years in television news.
Jess is a passionate ambassador for CanTeen – the Australian organisation for young people living with cancer, and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
She’s also a board member of the Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation, Sids and Kids SA and the Adelaide Crows Foundation.
The Honourable Christopher Pyne
The Hon Christopher Pyne served for twenty six years in the Australian House of Representatives. He was a Minister across the Howard, Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison Governments serving as Minister for Ageing; Minister for Education and Training,Minister for Industry Innovation and Science and as Australian Minister for Defence was responsible for delivering a $200 billion build-up of Australia’s military capability, the largest in Australia’s peacetime history.
He is now an author, Visiting Professor in Leadership, strategic adviser, member of boards and a media commentator.
Adam Hack
Adam Hack is the Head of Security Operations at Nuago, responsible for both the development of cyber solutions for customers and securing the information that is core to Nuago’s business. His cyber background spans multiple technical disciplines, with a strong knowledge base across cloud, network, and Windows technologies in addition to broader cyber governance, compliance, and risk. He is passionate about helping customers protect their businesses through cyber maturity development and awareness training.
Adam has led Nuago through stages of development to service the Defence sector, and maintains membership with the Australian Information Security Association, a peak body for cyber security professional development. He has also guided Nuago through the achievement of ISO27001 accreditation, an industry benchmark demonstrating proficiency in cyber professionalism.
Michelle Christie
With over 18 years’ recruitment experience within the Executive space, Michelle Christie is Director of the South Australian business for Robert Walters.
Michelle’s capability stretches across a broad range of industries including private and public sector, financial services, human resources, procurement and supply chain. She specialises in recruiting executive level roles including CEOs, CFOs and General Managers – having spent her first 10 years in recruitment focusing on Accountants of all levels it has provided her with a diverse finance network across Adelaide.
Michelle brings a solid understanding of the end-to end-recruitment process to the South Australian market and has first-rate feedback from clients and candidates regarding her capacity to deliver positive outcomes as well as the ability to manage client accounts.
Andrew Nicola
Andrew Nicola is a Tax Director and heads up William Buck Adelaide’s Tax Services Division.
Andrew is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser with experience in the corporate tax division of a Big 4 firm and a large firm in the United States.
Andrew advises a range of clients across a number of different industries and works closely with CFO’s, boards and business owners when navigating through tax risks and taking advantage of opportunities.
Karin Barry
Karin Barry is Director of Business Services at Community Living Australia. Community Living Australia employs 600 South Australians across regional and metro areas and provides support to 500 individuals living with disability.
A chartered accountant with over 25 years experience, Karin started her career at KPMG in their audit division and has spent over 20 years in the NFP sector (healthcare and disability) in senior management roles.
She holds a Diploma in Positive Psychology to enhance her leadership skills and has an interest in strengths-based leadership methodologies.
Hannah Murphy
Hannah is the Acting Chief Executive at ECH. She has worked within aged care services for almost 20 years in South Australia. During her time at ECH she was involved in the process that divested ECH’s residential care business to focus entirely on helping people to stay at home. ECH is a complex business operating in a complex environment with a strong balance sheet investing in its people and in transforming its operating model.
In her role as the General Manager of Corporate Services, she is responsible for Marketing, Finance, ICT, People and Culture, Quality and Risk, and a Digital Transformation Office.
Hannah is a CPA with a Masters of Business Administration and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of South Australia.
Stephen Dawes
Stephen Dawes is Chief Financial Officer of Uniting SA. After starting his career with William Buck, Stephen has worked in a range of senior finance and management roles and organisations for nearly 30 years, including rail, sports, aged care and energy sectors, and the London Stock Exchange.
Stephen is a skilled people leader who has lead organisations and teams through transformational change, culture and improve corporate performance. He was Chief Operating Officer with Port Adelaide Football Club and was responsible for the business transition to Adelaide Oval, and drove a $10m uplift in business profitability. He has held numerous board roles, including most recently with Netball SA.
Dr Tom Nehmy
Dr Tom Nehmy is an award-winning clinical psychologist with a passion for preventing psychological problems while also enhancing resilience and wellbeing. His university research produced the world’s first prevention program to prevent the onset of symptoms of depression and anxiety while also reducing risk for eating disorders.
Tom currently works with companies, schools and professional organisations to help them build psychological skills for mental health, wellbeing and resilience. More than 45,000 people have attended his workshops, training programs, invited keynote addresses, and conference presentations across Australia and around the world. His work has been featured widely in the media, but most importantly it gets outstanding feedback from participants. Tom is the author of the book Apples for the Mind: Creating emotional balance, peak performance and lifelong wellbeing.
Jim McDowell
Jim has 30 years’ experience in both the private and public sectors. Before joining Nova Systems, Jim was South Australia’s top public servant in the role of Chief Executive for the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
Prior to that he was the CEO of BAE Systems Australia and oversaw the purchase of Tenix Defence. Under his leadership, the company expanded to become Australia’s largest defence prime, with more than 6,500 employees and annual sales of approximately AUD $1.7 billion. He then moved to Saudi Arabia where he took up the role of in-country CEO for the $6 billion business.
Jim also worked in legal, commercial and marketing roles with aerospace company Bombardier Shorts for 18 years after graduating from the University of Warwick (England).
Howard Coombs
Howard Coombs is a Chartered Management Accountant. He has extensive experience working in senior finance roles for large organisations such as Rolls-Royce, a Japanese textile manufacturing company, and National Grid in the UK. Howard joined the European business of Seeley International in 2008 overseeing its European operations, from the UK. He relocated with his family to Adelaide in 2011 to take up the role of General Manager Finance at Seeley International. He has been a member of their Board since 2016.
Anna Nolan
Anna Nolan is Chief Financial Officer with Radiology SA. She has over 30 years industry experience in Manufacturing, Property and Construction, Retail, Technology and Healthcare sectors, in Australia, UK, France and The Netherlands, and over 20 years’ experience working in large internationally focused organisations. Her roles in industry have ranged from CFO to Operations Director, Head of Fraud, Revenue Assurance and Technical Security. Anna is a previous Chair of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand SA/NT Council, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and an experienced Board member.
Chris Johnson
Chris Johnson is the Chief Financial Officer for the REDARC Group. Chris is responsible for REDARC’s overall financial and strategic management. This includes the company’s financial reporting, long-range business planning, program management. Chris also serves on REDARC’s Advisory Board.
Chris graduated from the University of Adelaide in 2003 with a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in accounting and corporate finance, before beginning his career in auditing at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Prior to joining REDARC Chris served as the Financial Controller for Viterra Incorporated’s Australian and New Zealand Agri-Products division.
Chris has experience across a range of industries including FMCG, Agriculture and most recently Advanced Manufacturing.
Andrew Nunn
Andrew is Co-Founder, Chairman and Executive Director of JBS&G Australia—one of Australia’s largest privately owned environmental consulting companies—and was awarded EY Entrepreneur of the Year for the Central Region in 2017.
Andrew acts as Director for several companies focussed on property development, private equity investments and entertainment opportunities.
In partnership with his wife Alexandra Dimos, he founded the Nunn Dimos Foundation, a philanthropic fund focussed on supporting key social and arts causes in South Australia.
Leader of the Entrepreneurship Advisory Board, the South Australian Chief Entrepreneur provides high level, independent advice to the South Australian Cabinet and the business community to enable entrepreneurialism across all forms of business, industry and the public sector.
Sitting within the Department for Innovation and Skills, the Office of the South Australian Chief Entrepreneur guides the implementation of actions set out within the FIXE strategy.
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