CFO Day | Melbourne
The Next Move: Finance Leadership in an Unforgiving Market
1 Hotel Melbourne, Australia, Docklands
Hosted by Factor
- 20 attendees
- 11 hours
Overview
Finance leaders today face a challenging environment marked by sustained higher interest rates, increased capital costs, and heightened expectations from investors and stakeholders. This market leaves little margin for error, requiring a disciplined approach to capital allocation, cost management, forecasting, and risk oversight.
This session examines the strategies and priorities that define effective finance leadership in this context. It will consider how organisations are adapting to these pressures while balancing the demands of short-term performance with longer-term strategic objectives. The discussion will also highlight trends within the Australian financial landscape and how local institutions are responding to evolving global conditions.
What we will cover
- Cost Management Exploring methods CFOs can use to strategically manage costs, driving resilience and growth in an uncertain economic environment.
- Economic Volatility Examining strategies to navigate economic fluctuations, from inflation to supply chain disruptions, ensuring business continuity.
- ESG Reporting Addressing the rising importance of transparent environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting, and its integration into financial decision-making.
- Supply Chain Risk Discussing how CFOs are mitigating risks associated with supply chain instability, focusing on reshoring and improving supplier relationships.
- Revenue Strategy Exploring ways CFOs can drive top-line growth by leveraging financial data and aligning strategies with broader business goals.
- Finance Transformation Focusing on how CFOs can modernise the finance function with digital tools, improving efficiency, decision-making, and risk management.
- Cybersecurity Governance Examining the increasing responsibility CFOs hold in protecting financial data from cyber threats, emphasising governance frameworks.
- Talent Retention Exploring strategies for attracting and retaining top finance talent, especially in areas related to digital transformation.
- Operational Efficiency Investigating how automation and process optimisation can streamline operations, freeing up resources for strategic initiatives.
- CFO Strategy Discussing the growing mandate for CFOs to act as strategic business partners, influencing decisions beyond financial reporting.
- Finance Automation Focusing on how CFOs are adopting AI to improve financial processes, enhance forecasting, and automate routine tasks.
- Data Analytics Exploring the use of advanced data analytics platforms to provide actionable insights, supporting better decision-making.
Agenda
- Registration and Welcome Coffee(CFO Day)
- Welcome Address & Introduction(CFO Day)
- How Finance Leaders Can Utilise ESG to Create Economic Growth(CFO Day) In this keynote, Brad Archer, CEO of the Climate Change Authority, will explore how finance leaders can harness ESG principles to drive sustainable economic growth. With a focus on the vital role of the financial sector in the transition to a low-carbon economy, Kean will discuss how integrating ESG into investment strategies is not just a moral imperative but a financial one. ESG investing can unlock new opportunities, strengthen economic resilience, and help build a more sustainable future. Discussion Points: Leveraging ESG for Innovation: How ESG-driven investments can spur innovation, create new markets, and unlock growth in sustainable industries. Building Economic Resilience: The role of ESG in enhancing financial stability and resilience to climate risks, from infrastructure to supply chains. Policy and Investment Synergies: How finance leaders can align their strategies with government policies to accelerate the green transition and foster long-term economic prosperity.
- Connection: The Key to Unlocking Your Business’ Full Potential in an Era of Fragmentation(CFO Day) In 2025, businesses are navigating a rapidly changing environment shaped by heightened regulations, technological advancements, and accelerated operational pace. Companies must focus on agility, informed decision-making, and operational excellence to remain competitive. Key challenges include the surge in regulatory audits and tariff changes, overwhelming tax compliance demands, and the need for improved supply chain visibility. Leveraging technology, particularly Generative AI, and trade programs like FTZs and FTAs can help companies protect their bottom line and enhance competitiveness. While optimism about AI is growing among Australian professionals, a significant portion still lacks AI plans, highlighting opportunities for further adoption. Discussion Points: Regulatory Challenges and Compliance: How can businesses better prepare for and adapt to the increasing complexity and frequency of regulatory changes, such as audits and tariff updates? Technology's Role in Operational Excellence: What strategies can companies employ to enhance supply chain visibility and data analysis using advanced technologies like AI? Adoption of Generative AI: With the growing optimism and usage of AI, what steps can organisations take to integrate AI into their operations effectively, and what barriers might they need to overcome?
- The New Power Triangle: A C-Suite Powerplay on Finance, Strategy & Governance(CFO Day) As global markets face renewed uncertainty from supply chain shocks and tariff disputes to rising cyber threats enterprise resilience depends on seamless collaboration at the highest levels. Join a dynamic C-suite panel featuring leaders in finance, strategy, technology, and governance as they share how integrated decision-making drives agility, optimises capital, and navigates complexity through inflation spikes, regulatory upheaval, supply chain volatility, and rapid digital change. Discussion Points: Fostering cross-functional alignment to drive innovation and gain a competitive edge. Addressing global trends and disruptions such as supply chain volatility, tariffs, and geopolitical risks without compromising operational efficiency. Balancing rigorous compliance and financial risk management with the imperative to drive innovation and maintain enterprise resilience.
- Driving Finance Forward: CFOs in an AI-Empowered future(CFO Day) Join Sage Intacct for an exclusive discussion unveiling our latest CFO research report. Dive into key findings revealing high AI adoption rates among top CFOs, yet an evident opportunity within finance. Discussion points: Adoption of AI is notably high among the most successful CFOs, yet there's a significant opportunity for its implementation within finance. A staggering 79% of CFOs believe AI has the potential to revolutionise their organisation. Despite the high adoption rate of AI among CFOs (86%), only 49% have integrated it into finance tools. Don't miss this insightful exploration of AI's critical role in shaping the future of finance.
- Networking Break & Morning Tea
- Doing More With Less: Proven Strategies for Cost Discipline and Operational Efficiency(CFO Day - Plenary) Facing escalating costs and tight budgets, CFOs must find ways to scale operations while controlling expenses. Drawing on over 20 years of experience in healthcare finance, Sam Nagra, CFO at Sonic Healthcare, shares practical insights on driving ruthless cost discipline without sacrificing quality or innovation. Learn how to embed operational efficiency into your finance function, navigate complex stakeholder priorities, and deliver sustainable value in today’s challenging economic landscape. Discussion Points: Ruthless Cost Discipline: Strategies to identify, prioritise, and eliminate inefficiencies without compromising core business value or quality. Scaling Operations While Managing Costs: Practical approaches to grow service delivery and operational capacity under tight financial constraints, including leveraging technology and process optimisation. Aligning Financial Efficiency with Stakeholder Priorities: Navigating diverse demands to maintain financial health while supporting organisational purpose and innovation.
- Lessons Learned from Finance Digital Transformations: An Independent Perspective(CFO Day - Plenary) Today’s CFOs are navigating a perfect storm of rising expectations - driving AI adoption, protecting profit, modernising finance systems, and ensuring compliance - often while juggling month-end reporting from 30,000 feet in the air (literally or figuratively).This keynote blends humour, hard truths, and real-world examples to share ten powerful lessons from nearly two decades of finance and Enterprise Software transformations. Whether it’s preventing budget blowouts, driving adoption, or avoiding “airplane spreadsheet mode,” these lessons are built from scars and successes - not theory. With CFOs now acting as enterprise-wide change agents, the talk highlights where AI is delivering impact - and where it’s failing - due to poor data foundations. Through live polls, war stories, and a sharp myth-busting style, the session provides pragmatic takeaways to ensure your next transformation isn’t another expensive heartbreak, but the most strategic decision you make as CFO. Key Takeaways: Avoid “Airplane Spreadsheet Mode” - Free your finance team from manual chaos through future-ready systems. Get the Foundations Right Before AI - Poor data quality leads to AI misfires, not miracles. It’s a Business Project, Not Just Tech - Rethinking processes like P2P and FP&A is more critical than software. Leadership, Governance & Change Drive Success - Executive visibility, strong QA, and investment in change management matter.
- Driving Growth Through Balancing Profit, Compliance, and Customer-Centric Transformation(CFO Day - Plenary) In an era of increasing complexity and transformation, CFOs are uniquely positioned to lead organisations through the convergence of financial performance, regulatory challenges, and evolving customer expectations. CFOs play a critical role in ensuring that financial strategies drive not only growth but also operational efficiencies. According to a report, 72% of CFOs agree that their role has shifted from being primarily focused on financial stewardship to actively driving strategy and value creation across the entire business. Discussion Points: Navigating Regulatory Compliance Enhancing Shareholder and Customer Value Balancing Profit with Purpose
- AI in FP&A: From Hype to Measurable Business Outcomes(CFO Day - Plenary) CFOs today are being asked to do more with less , driving speed, accuracy, and insight while managing risk and compliance. AI promises transformation, but the question remains: how do you turn potential into performance? In this session, we’ll cut through the hype and share real-world customer use cases where AI in FP&A is already delivering measurable ROI from improving forecasting accuracy and accelerating month-end close, to automating manual processes and uncovering new business insights. We’ll also explore the foundations required for success : A trusted data strategy and governance framework to ensure security, compliance, and transparency. A focus on business outcomes over technology-first adoption , to deliver impact the board can measure. Building the right finance team skills and culture to thrive in an AI-enabled future. Join us for a practical and forward-looking discussion on how finance leaders can embrace AI to enable smarter decisions, build trust with the board, and prepare their organisations for the future of autonomous finance.
- Mastering Practical Business Planning: Turning Big Goals into Actionable Results in 1–3 Years(CFO Day - Plenary) [Fireside Chat] Join Nick Verrecchia, CFO of DHL Australia, for an insightful session on practical business planning that helps leaders translate ambitious goals into clear, actionable steps. Focused on the critical 1- to 3-year horizon, Nick shares how to balance day-to-day demands with future growth, enabling smarter decision-making and stronger outcomes. Discussion Points: Working Backwards: Setting long-term goals and defining the immediate actions needed today to achieve them Balancing Daily Operations and Strategic Growth: Managing current business demands without losing sight of future opportunities Challenging the Status Quo: Encouraging innovation and practical change to improve business resilience and performance
- Executive Round Table Redefining Finance: Intelligent Governance, Real-Time Decisions, and Scalable Compliance. As finance leaders navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape, the mandate has never been clearer: build a future-ready finance function that is transparent, resilient, and intelligent by design. This roundtable will explore how CFOs can integrate ethical governance, real-time data, and strategic automation to strengthen trust with stakeholders and regulators, while simultaneously enhancing agility, accuracy, and strategic value. Join your peers to unpack how integrated systems, automated processes, and embedded intelligence across tax, accounting, and reporting are transforming the finance function from a compliance centre to a strategic powerhouse. Key Discussion Points: From Compliance to Confidence: How can ethical, transparent reporting practices enhance stakeholder trust and meet growing regulatory expectations? Real-Time Intelligence, Real-World Impact: What does a connected, data-led finance ecosystem look like — and how does it enable faster, smarter decision-making? Automate to Accelerate: Where should CFOs prioritise automation across tax, accounting, and reporting to unlock capacity and reduce risk? Governance as Growth Strategy: How can intelligent, integrated governance frameworks drive both compliance and competitive advantage?
- Lunch Break - Peer Connect
- Ensuring Financial Integrity(Compliance Management) Best practices to stay ahead in regulatory compliance and risk management.
- Unveiling Business Potential(Enterprise Insights) Using financial insights to uncover hidden opportunities and drive enterprise value.
- Tracking Financial Health(Performance Metrics) Defining and using key metrics to benchmark and achieve financial goals.
- Enhancing Bottom Lines(Profitability Analysis) Key metrics and tools to assess and boost profitability in competitive markets.
- Innovating with Technology to Strengthen Risk and Oversight(Digital Transformation) Integrating digital tools to reimagine financial operations and drive change.
- Mastering Fund Allocation(Treasury Optimisation) Approaches to optimise liquidity and improve overall financial flexibility.
- Cutting Costs Strategically(Cost Reduction) Proven methods for sustainable cost reduction without compromising quality.
- Mapping Financial Futures(Strategic Planning) Integrating strategy with financial goals for long-term organisational success.
- From Data to Defence: How CFOs Can Lead Finance Transformation and Cybersecurity Strategy(CFO Day - Plenary) In an era where data drives decisions and cyber threats loom large, CFOs are uniquely positioned to lead their organisations through finance transformation and security challenges. Drawing on his experience building real-time financial dashboards and navigating early-stage cybersecurity strategy development, Gavin Norman will share practical insights on leveraging data analytics for smarter decision-making, aligning finance with evolving security priorities, and managing strategic investments, including asset refinancing and infrastructure upgrades, to future-proof the business. This session will equip senior finance leaders with actionable strategies to balance innovation, risk, and financial stewardship in a rapidly changing landscape. Discussion Points: Unlocking Finance Value through Data Analytics: How to build and use financial dashboards that provide timely insights, empower better decisions, and drive operational performance. The CFO’s Role in Cybersecurity Strategy: Approaching cybersecurity as a critical finance function priority: early-stage strategy development, investment decisions, and collaborating with service providers to protect financial assets. Strategic Financial Management: Balancing capital allocation between refinancing, asset sales, and upgrading key facilities while ensuring financial agility and cost-effectiveness.
- Purpose with Precision: Driving Organisational Change Through ESG and Sustainability(CFO Day - Plenary) CFOs are uniquely positioned to embed sustainability and ESG initiatives into their organisations while balancing cost pressures, operational challenges, and strategic priorities. Nitsa Niarchos, CFO of SBS, shares practical insights from leading ESG implementation in a complex hybrid organisation, showing how finance leaders can turn ambition into measurable outcomes, drive cross-functional change, and align purpose with performance. Discussion Points: Embedding ESG into Finance Operations: Translating sustainability goals into budgets, reporting, and risk frameworks that support measurable organisational outcomes. Leading Organisational Change from the Finance Seat: Using the CFO role to influence culture, cross-functional collaboration, and operational decisions to achieve ESG objectives. Balancing Purpose, Performance, and Financial Discipline: Practical strategies for aligning ESG ambition with commercial pressures, cost efficiency, and long-term organisational resilience.
- Future-Proofing Finance Teams That Outperform Amid Disruption and Innovation(CFO Day - Plenary) In today’s fast-evolving business landscape, finance teams must not only retain top talent but continuously uplift their capabilities to stay competitive. This panel brings together CFOs and senior finance leaders to discuss innovative strategies for attracting and retaining high-performing finance professionals in the face of talent shortages and skills gaps. Explore how to build future-ready teams equipped to leverage emerging technologies like AI, automation, and cloud finance systems, while adapting to new ways of working. Gain practical insights on creating cultures that foster growth, agility, and sustained success. Discussion Points: Teams Retention & Capability Uplift: Proven approaches to nurture skills, develop career pathways, and maintain engagement in a competitive talent market challenged by evolving skill demands. Embracing Technological Transformation: How AI, automation, cloud finance systems, and data analytics are reshaping finance roles, and what teams need in terms of skills, tools, and processes to thrive in this new era. Building a Future-Ready Finance Culture: Creating an adaptive, innovative mindset within finance teams that embraces change, continuous learning, and collaboration to successfully navigate ongoing digital and business evolution.
- Factor Closing Remarks(CFO Day - Plenary)
- End of Day & Networking Drinks(CFO Day - Plenary)
Speakers
Brad Archer · Chief : Executive Officer, Climate Change Authority Brad has extensive experience working on climate change, renewable energy and energy market issues. He joined the Climate Change Authority in November 2018, an independent statutory agency responsible for advising the Australian Government on climate change policy and emissions reduction targets. Brad has overseen the preparation of numerous reports, including the Authority’s First Annual Progress Report (2022), Paris Plus: From Cost to Competitive Advantage (2021) and Prospering in a Low Emissions World (2020). Prior to joining the Authority, Brad was head of the International Climate Change and Energy Innovation Division in the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy, where his responsibilities included advising on clean energy innovation, Australia’s greenhouse gas inventory and international climate change policy. Brad led negotiations on behalf of the Government leading to the granting of the first offshore wind farm exploration licence in Australia. Brad has been working on climate change policies for the Australian Government since early 2011. Brad joined the Australia Treasury as a graduate in 1991, where he worked on a range of issues including including international taxation, economic forecasting, Commonwealth-State financial relations and competition and infrastructure policy. Brad has a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) and a Master of Information Management.
Sam Nagra · CFO, Sonic Healthcare Sam Nagra is the Chief Financial Officer at Sonic Healthcare Australia Pathology, a leading provider of medical diagnostic services. With over 30 years of finance leadership experience across the UK and Australia, Sam has played a pivotal role in driving financial performance, operational efficiency, and strategic growth within Sonic Healthcare’s pathology businesses, including Douglass Hanly Moir, Southern IML, and San Pathology. Sam’s career began after studying Law at the University of Birmingham and qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse. He later advanced his expertise through further studies at AGSM @ UNSW Business School. Known for his strong financial acumen, Sam specialises in budgeting, forecasting, cost control, and leveraging business intelligence tools to support decision-making and sustainable value creation.
Nick Verrecchia · Chief Financial Officer, DHL Nick Verrecchia is the Chief Financial Officer for DHL Global Forwarding in the South Pacific region, overseeing finance operations across Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. With over 18 years of experience in corporate finance and strategic planning, Nick has a proven track record of driving significant profitability improvements and leading large-scale transformation initiatives. Under his leadership, the South Pacific division has more than doubled its profitability since 2019, demonstrating his ability to deliver strong financial results in complex markets. Nick is recognised for his expertise in turning around loss-making operations, enhancing compliance frameworks, and building high-performing finance teams. He is passionate about mentoring and developing talent, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and enabling smarter business decision-making.
Francoise Merit · CFO, Endeavour Energy (NSW) A driven and outcome-oriented finance professional with strong leadership skills and a proven ability to deliver superior financial insight to assist in key business decisions. Francoise has excellent communication, interpersonal & mentoring skills, and has a strong interest in Diversity and Inclusion. She also possesses strong financial control and reporting skills, superior business acumen and commercial analytical skills to provide guidance for strategic and operational decisions.
Kieran Rivett · Chief Financial Officer, MECCA Brands Kieran Rivett is the Chief Financial Officer at MECCA Brands, Australia’s leading beauty retailer. Since joining MECCA in 2024, Kieran has been instrumental in steering the company’s financial strategy, driving operational excellence, and leveraging data-driven insights to support sustainable growth. With a strong background in both finance and operations, he is known for transforming finance teams into strategic partners that enable business agility and customer-focused innovation. Prior to MECCA, Kieran held senior leadership roles across diverse industries, including Chief Operating Officer at Nine Buildings and Chief of Staff at frntlne. He is also a co-founder of Side Stage Ventures, where he supports innovative startups at the intersection of creativity and technology. Kieran’s broad experience and strategic mindset make him a respected voice on topics such as financial leadership, growth strategies, and the evolving role of finance in digital transformation.
Nitsa Niarchos · Chief : Financial Officer, Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Australia Nitsa Niarchos is the Chief Financial Officer of SBS, where she leads the organisation’s finance, strategy, audience insights, and media sales functions. With more than 25 years of experience in financial management across Australia and the UK, Nitsa has built a career at the intersection of media, strategy, and sustainability. Since joining SBS over two decades ago, Nitsa has played a central role in shaping the organisation’s financial and commercial direction, guiding major government reviews, and embedding robust governance practices. She was appointed CFO in 2019 and today oversees strategic and budgetary planning, financial reporting, risk management, and commercial operations. A strong advocate for sustainable business practices, Nitsa has spearheaded SBS’s landmark renewable energy commitments and championed the integration of ESG principles into its core strategy. Prior to SBS, she held roles at the UK National Audit Office and Ernst & Young.
John Stevenson · CFO, ASPEN MEDICAL John Stevenson is the Chief Financial Officer at Aspen Medical, a global leader in innovative healthcare solutions. Based in Canberra, John oversees the company’s financial strategy and operations across its Australian and international businesses. He works closely with the executive team to drive sustainable growth, safeguard assets, and support strategic initiatives that advance Aspen Medical’s mission and market position. Prior to joining Aspen Medical, John held senior leadership roles including CEO and CFO at Namoi Cotton Limited, where he led significant debt restructuring and growth initiatives resulting in a strong business turnaround. He has a proven track record in financial leadership across complex organisations and has also contributed as a Non-Executive Director at the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia in Queensland, bringing a broad perspective on governance and strategy in the healthcare and agribusiness sectors.
Belinda Johnson · Chief : Financial Officer, University of Technology Sydney Belinda Johnson is the Chief Financial Officer at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), where she leads the university’s financial strategy, planning, and operations. With over two decades of experience across higher education, healthcare, and global consumer goods, Belinda brings a wealth of expertise in driving transformation, strengthening financial sustainability, and enabling long-term growth. She began her career at PwC before taking on senior finance leadership roles at Diageo, including Finance Director for Diageo Vietnam, and later served as Group General Manager of Finance at St Vincent’s Health Australia. A Chartered Accountant and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Belinda holds a Bachelor of Business in Finance and Accounting from UTS. She is passionate about aligning financial outcomes with organisational purpose, building high-performing teams, and supporting innovation within complex environments.
Gavin Norman · Chief Financial Officer, Bluestar Global Logistics Gavin Norman is the Chief Financial Officer at Bluestar Global Logistics, a leading Australian-owned provider of integrated logistics solutions. With extensive experience in finance and operations across the logistics and supply chain sectors, Gavin oversees the company’s financial strategy and drives initiatives that enhance operational excellence and sustainable growth. His leadership is instrumental in delivering innovative, reliable logistics services that create real business value for clients both nationally and internationally. Prior to joining Bluestar, Gavin held senior financial roles including CFO positions at BR International Logistics and In2food Australia, as well as leadership roles at Toll Group and Silk Contract Logistics. His deep expertise in financial management and supply chain innovation enables him to effectively guide Bluestar’s strategic direction, ensuring agility and resilience in a rapidly evolving industry.
Suzie Cardwell · Chief : Data Product & Technology Officer, Nine Suzie Cardwell has a proven track record in leading digital transformation strategies and new data-led digital products that achieve commercial growth. With deep experience of digital and data platform development, Suzie leads cross-functional teams in commercially-driven technology change.
Will Irving · Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, nbn® Australia Will has been NBN Co’s Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer since 2019. He is accountable for strategy and transformation leadership: corporate strategy and strategic transactions, its key infrastructure relationships and nbn’s growth engine: New Developments. Will has also led NBN Co’s Chief Technology Office, Security, Data & Analytics, Legal and Regulatory and customer contracting teams at various times. Will is also the Executive Sponsor of NBN Co’s Accessibility Network. In addition to his role at NBN Co, in October 2022, Will became a non-executive Director of Chorus Ltd (ASX: CNU), New Zealand’s leading fixed-line telecommunications infrastructure company. Prior to NBN Co, Will was interim CEO of Telstra InfraCo and the Group Executive of Telstra Wholesale from 2016 to 2018. Between 2011 and 2016, he headed Telstra Business, responsible for more than one million small and medium business Telstra customers. Will was Telstra’s Group General Counsel from 2005 to 2011, through the T3 privatisation and Telstra’s $11b deal with NBN Co in 2011. Prior to this, Will held a variety of legal roles at Telstra and KWM. He holds a Bachelor of Law (Honours) and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne.
Ali Mehfooz · Group Financial Controller, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Visionary, commercial, innovative, determined, personable, customer-focused, and performance-driven — these words define Ali's mindset, leadership skills and competence. Ali is an experienced financial services executive with a consistent track record of success, transformation, optimisation and achievement across finance, product management and operations. Ali's focus within finance includes: - Fund and Product operations, - Financial control, statutory reporting and business partnering - Remediation, rectification and oversight - Change management - Project management - Business and processes transformation - Robotic process automation - Assurance and advisory
Yien Hong · Chief Legal and Commercial Officer, Judo Bank Yien Hong is the Chief Legal and Commercial Officer at Judo Bank, Australia’s challenger bank dedicated to serving small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Since joining Judo in 2019, Yien has played a pivotal role in preparing the bank for its IPO and expanding her responsibilities to include first-line risk management and commercial procurement, driving the bank’s strategic growth and operational excellence. With over 20 years of experience in legal, corporate governance, and financial services, Yien has held senior roles at Deutsche Bank, National Australia Bank, and Linklaters in London. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Bachelor of Commerce, and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Adelaide, and has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ Company Directors Course, bringing a strong blend of legal expertise and commercial insight to her leadership.
Andrew Hay · Head : Software Segment (Corporate, Legal & Tax), Asia & Emerging Markets, Thomson Reuters Andrew is the Segments Leader for Corporate across Asia and Emerging Markets at Thomson Reuters. With over 20 years of experience in tax, finance, and digital transformation, he brings a deep understanding of customer markets, segments, and domain expertise. He has led global product lines and business units in Australia, the broader APAC region, and worldwide, spanning financial reporting, legal professionals, and shared services. Before joining Thomson Reuters in 2010, Andrew worked at PwC, where he led initiatives in financial reporting software transformation and outsourcing.
Madeline Palmer · Head - Content, Research & Editorial, Factor Madeline Palmer is a seasoned media and communications professional with extensive experience across journalism, broadcasting, and content creation. Before joining Factor, Madeline worked as a broadcast journalist in a number of major newsrooms across the country. During this time, Madeline covered breaking national and international news, including the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Medibank and Optus data breaches, several State and Federal Elections, the historical AUKUS Agreement, and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, among other stories.
Craig Baty · Vice President - Research & Advisory, Factor With over 30 years of C-level experience in ICT, HR, marketing, sales, operations, research, leadership, and international business, Craig is a notable tech industry leader.
David Anderson · Head : Solutioning for Sage Intacct APAC, Sage David Anderson is Head of Solutioning for Sage Intacct APAC, with over a decade of experience helping finance leaders modernise their operations. He specialises in designing industry-specific solutions that give CFOs greater visibility, accuracy, and control over financial performance. Drawing on deep expertise across professional services, SaaS, financial services, and construction, David works with organisations to enhance decision-making, strengthen compliance, and unlock efficiencies that drive sustainable growth.
Roderick Ongpaov · Director : Regional A/NZ, Jedox Roderick Ongpaov is the Regional Director for Australia & New Zealand at Jedox, where he oversees both Growth and Customer Success. In this role, Roderick partners with CFOs and executive teams to drive finance transformation across the region helping organisations unlock value from Enterprise Performance Management (EPM), AI, and connected planning. With deep experience in FP&A, finance transformation, and SaaS leadership, Roderick a Chartered Accountant (CA) has led large-scale initiatives across industries including retail, financial services, Government, natural resources, NFP and legal. He blends strategic business thinking with a customer-centric approach to ensure technology investments deliver real outcomes accelerating growth, deepening customer engagement, and enabling smarter, faster decision-making across the organisation. At CFO Factor, Roderick will share practical insights and real customer use cases on how AI is reshaping FP&A, the importance of strong data foundations and security, and how finance leaders can separate hype from reality to deliver genuine business impact.
Rob Stummer · Director : Growth, SMC - Solution Minds Consulting Rob is a growth-focused executive and transformation leader with over 25 years of experience scaling enterprise software, ERP, and fintech businesses across APAC. As Director of Growth at SMC, he leads strategic growth initiatives, market expansion, and commercial partnerships across Australia and New Zealand, working closely with the leadership team to drive sustainable, scalable performance. Rob brings a proven track record of leading high-growth businesses through go-to-market execution, operational transformation, and strategic M&A. At global fintech company Pagero (now part of Thomson Reuters), he launched and scaled the ANZ business from inception to profitability. As CEO Asia Pacific at global ERP vendor SYSPRO, he expanded the company’s footprint across Southeast Asia and built a regional team of 100+ staff. Earlier, he spent over a decade as Managing Director ANZ at IFS, turning the business from a loss-making division into a top-performing global region. In addition to his executive leadership, Rob acts as a strategic advisor on high-impact client engagements, helping SMC’s clients navigate complex transformation and ERP programs. He is also an active angel investor and mentor, supporting early-stage technology ventures. Rob holds a Master’s degree in Information & Communications Technology from the University of Melbourne and is a graduate of the AICD– Australian Institute of Company Directors’ program.
Michael Jabour · Director : Regional, SMC - Solution Minds Consulting Mike is the Regional Director for Victoria and serves as part of the National SMC Leadership Team since 2020 and the foundation of our Victorian office. Prior to Mike’s tenure at SMC, he has had an esteemed career spanning nearly 25 years in senior business and consulting positions presiding across complex project, program and operational delivery. In particular, Mike served as a Director within Deloitte’s Strategy & Operations and Major Capital Projects divisions with a focus on technology driven digital transformation, typically from concept through to operational completion and handover. Mike has also served in senior positions with boutique specialist technology consulting organisations and served as a founding executive of a financial services technology business. Mike brings a sensible and pragmatic approach to assisting clients in solving their digital transformation requirements and how to make sound technology decisions to achieve them. Mike always finds ways to bring both client and technology partner together to constructively solve complex business, commercial, technical and team challenges. He has experience across multiple industries including Supply Chain, Distribution, Manufacturing, Financial Services, Public Services, Telecommunications and Education. Mike holds a double degree in Telecommunications Engineering and Computer Science from RMIT University as well a Master of Business Administration from Melbourne Business School.
Marli Lozoya · Executive Producer, Factor
Partners
Thomson Reuters · Diamond Thomson Reuters is the world’s leading provider of news and information-based tools to professionals. Our worldwide network of journalists and specialist editors keep customers up to speed on global developments, with a particular focus on legal, regulatory and tax changes. Our customers operate in complex arenas that move society forward — tax, law, compliance, government, media. In a disruptive digital age, we help professionals reinvent themselves.- Diligent · Silver About Diligent Leading GRC SaaS company with over 1 million users, and more than 700,000 board members from 25,000+ customers worldwide Diligent One Platform that delivers a unified and connected GRC experience. Consolidate all your solutions on the broadest platform for GRC applications designed to deliver comprehensive insights into a single view of risk and associated controls. Helping free you from the unnecessary costs and frustrations of point solutions. How We Help Organizations Diligent provides a full suite of software and services across a number of business functions to help organizations lead with purpose: Audit and Analytics – Deliver strategic advantages through better insights and visibility. Boards and Governance – Connected solutions for better governance in a complex business landscape. ESG and Diversity – Turn ESG initiatives into measurable outcomes. Ethics and Compliance – Enable a purpose driven culture of compliance that protects and drives businesses forward. Risk and Strategy – A single source of truth that helps leaders make risk-informed decisions. Headquartered in New York, Diligent also has offices in Washington D.C., London, Galway, Budapest, Vancouver, Bengaluru, Munich, Singapore and Sydney. Learn more at diligent.com . Follow Diligent on LinkedIn , X (Twitter) and Facebook .
Enable · Bronze Enable is a cloud-based rebate management platform that simplifies and automates the rebate process. Rebate management is rapidly becoming a driving force of many of today’s top supply chains, however, the majority of organisations using rebates are managing this function using spreadsheets or inadequate ERP systems. This approach is not only a burden on accounting staff, but can also lead to missed deal earnings, poor cash flow, strained partner relationships, and financial compliance violations. Often overlooked, B2B rebates on their own could separate a profitable quarter from an unprofitable one. Enable helps you create value from rebates and transform potential risks into opportunities. With Enable, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, service providers and buying groups can collaborate seamlessly, streamlining the rebate process and enhancing transparency, while building long-term trusted trading relationships.- Sage · Gold From scale-ups to global enterprises: Sage Intacct is a best-of-breed, cloud finance software that grows with you. It is the #1 modern cloud financial management solution that delivers the automation and controls around billing, accounting, and reporting that finance need - to reduce errors, stay audit-ready, and scale their business.
Jedox · Gold Jedox is a leading global Enterprise Performance Management solution provider. Over 2,500 organizations in 140 countries use Jedox for real-time planning on the web, the cloud, and on any device. Jedox’s unified planning, analysis and reporting empowers decision-makers across your organisation. Jedox helps business users work smarter, streamline business collaboration, and make insight-based decisions with confidence.
SMC - Solution Minds Consulting · Gold- Factor Leading market research in APAC.
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