Long-time Port Macquarie financial planner Julie Berry will become the new chairman of the FPA next month, succeeding Corinna Dieters.
BT Financial Group’s Mark Spiers was made deputy chairman.
Berry has served as deputy chairman since 2005.
She is the managing director of Berry Financial Services and an authorised representative of Executive Wealth Management Financial Services.
Spiers is the chief executive of the Westpac-backed Magnitude Group.
He has been chair of the FPA legislation and regulation committee for the last four years.
Berry congratulated Dieters on her tenure and said she was looking forward to “taking over the ropes”.
Berry said she plans to advance the professionalism of the industry and will work with government to make financial advice more widely available.
“I’m very big on the value of advice,” she said.
“It’s amazing to see the work of financial planners in the community and that’s not widely understood.”
Berry said she also plans to listen to the needs of smaller planners and advance the Certified Financial Planner designation.
FPA members have also elected the following directors: Andrew Waddell – representing large Principal members, Paul Gerrard – representing small principal members, Matthew Rowe – representing practitioner members and Rob Pedersen – representing practitioner members.
Rob Gerrand and Bruce Foy will continue as independent board members.
Elected directors Bruce Beakey and Matt Lawler will conclude their term along with Dieters at the association’s annual general meeting on November 30.
