Building an integrated approach to financial wellbeing
Join leaders from government, business, community, education and academia at the National Financial Wellbeing Summit – a one day event dedicated to shaping a shared approach to financial wellbeing in Australia.
With Australians facing economic challenges including cost of living, digital disruption, inequality, and global uncertainty, now is the time to work together across sectors to prioritise financial wellbeing.
Together we will explore:
- Strategies and approaches to help support people at every life stage
- Policy and systems level actions to reduce exclusion and increase economic security
- How financial wellbeing intersects with broader wellbeing domains including mental, physical, digital, community and environmental health
- How to improve access to financial education, tools and trusted support
- Insights from programs and innovative approaches delivering outcomes in communities, schools and other learning environments
With keynote speakers and expert panels, the Summit will highlight practical solutions and pathways to build a better financial future for all Australians.
| 8.30 – 9.00am | Registration | Tea and coffee available |
| 9.00 – 9.15am | Acknowledgement of Country and opening address Caroline Stewart, CEO Ecstra Foundation |
| 9.15 – 9.30am | Minister’s address The Hon. Dr Daniel Mulino MP, Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services (pre-recorded address) |
| 9.30 – 10.25am | Financial wellbeing can’t wait Australia is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, however many people continue to experience financial stress and exclusion, income inequality and barriers to accessing fair financial services. In this session, leading experts unpack the systems that shape financial outcomes, and explore how better policy, partnerships and pathways could improve financial wellbeing for people at every life stage. Panel of speakers: Leah Bennett, Managing Director First Nations Foundation Dr Cassandra Goldie AO, CEO ACOSS and Adjunct Professor with UNSW Sydney Xavier O’Halloran, CEO Super Consumers Australia Moderator: Effie Zahos, 9News Money Editor and Director Ecstra Foundation |
| 9.30 – 10.25am | Regulator addressASIC Commissioner Alan Kirkland |
| 10.45 – 11.15am | Morning tea |
| 11.15 – 11.25am | The Student voiceWe asked students across Australia three big questions about money. Discover their thoughtful, creative, and sometimes surprising responses. |
| 11.25am – 12.15pm | Future ready financial educationHow do we equip young Australians with the financial skills they need now, and in the future? This session will examine how to deliver inclusive, equitable, and future focused financial education in a rapidly changing, digital-first world. Panel of speakers: Phil Gardner, CEO Australian Business and Community Network (ABCN) Roset Khair, VP Economics and Business Educators NSW Michelle Wright, Deputy Head of Communications and Education, RBA Moderator: Dr Tracey West, Financial Education Manager Ecstra Foundation |
| 12.15 – 12.30pm | Table chat and connect |
| 12.30 – 1.15pm | Keynote | Financial wellbeing in a changing world: What is working and what is missing? Hon. Professor Roslyn Russell, Financial Wellbeing Research RMIT University |
| 1.15 – 2.00pm | Lunch |
| 2.00 – 2.15pm | OECD address | International developments in financial capability Miles Larbey, Head of the Financial Consumer Protection, Education and Inclusion Unit OECD (pre-recorded address) |
| 2.15 – 3.15pm | Collaborating for impact Financial wellbeing is shaped by complex and interconnected systems and no single sector can solve these challenges alone. This session brings together leaders from government, community, health and finance to share how they are designing and delivering cross sector initiatives to improve the financial, physical, mental and social health of more people. They will discuss the balance needed between regulation, education and systems level collaboration to achieve a more integrated financial wellbeing ecosystem in Australia. Panel of speakers: Gerard Brody, Commissioner and Chairperson Essential Services Commission Victoria Georgie Harman AO, CEO Beyond Blue Janet Liu, Group Head of Social Impact and Community Partnerships ANZ Moderator: James Kirby, Associate Editor-Wealth The Australian and Director Ecstra Foundation |
| 3.15 – 3.30pm | Closing remarks |
Speakers
Caroline Stewart
Chief Executive Officer
Caroline Stewart
Chief Executive Officer
Caroline is a philanthropic leader with over 25 years of corporate, legal, financial services, governance and not-for-profit experience.
Caroline is the inaugural CEO of Ecstra. Prior to joining she led the UBS Australia Foundation, a corporate private ancillary foundation. She has worked with multiple stakeholders across the community, financial services, corporate, government and charity sectors and was a banking and finance lawyer. Caroline brings to Ecstra her professional skills, experience, networks and a strong belief that genuine collaboration is required to address the widening financial literacy gap and many structural barriers to financial wellbeing in Australia.
Caroline is a board member of WAGEC (Women and Girls Emergency Centre, Redfern) and The Achieve Foundation. Previously she was a board member of Philanthropy Australia, and chair of the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee, and Deputy Chair of Lenity Australia, a PAF focused on vulnerable women and children in Australia and the Asia Pacific. She is a member of the ACNC Sector Forum and works on a pro bono basis with community organisations. Caroline holds a BA (Syd Uni), is admitted as a Solicitor in NSW and ACT and is a graduate of the AICD.
Dana Beiglari
Non Executive Director
Dana Beiglari
Non Executive Director
Dana is a Senior Solicitor in the Consumer Law practice group at Legal Aid NSW. Her team of 10 solicitors assists some of the most vulnerable people in NSW to access their consumer protection rights in credit and insurance matters. She is a passionate advocate for social justice and financial inclusion.
Dana has provided a consumer advocate perspective in a number of public inquiries, including the Financial Services Royal Commission and the Senate Inquiry into Resolution of Disputes with Financial Service Providers within the Justice System.
Dana is a non-executive director of the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman, co-chair of the Consumer Law Committee at the Law Council of Australia, a Panel Member for the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, and a Member of ASIC’s Consumer Consultative Panel. Dana started her career as a lawyer at the commercial law firm, Allens and has worked at community legal centres.
David Cross
Non Executive Director
David Cross
Non Executive Director
David is a recognised leader in education and public policy with extensive experience in senior management roles across universities, government and the not for profit sector. He is the Chief of Staff at UNSW and previously served as CEO of the Blueprint Institute for Public Policy. He has also worked as a Chief of Staff and Director of Policy for successive education ministers in NSW. Multiple initiatives he has conceived in the education policy space are now implemented and delivering measurable impact across NSW. His expertise and commentary has featured in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, The Australian Financial Review, The Daily Telegraph, Inside Story, and on the ABC, Sky News, and Channel 10. David holds a masters degree in politics and international studies from the University of Cambridge, a first class honours in political science from ANU, and is completing a PhD in public policy at the University of Sydney.
Delia Rickard
Non Executive Director
Delia Rickard
Non Executive Director
Delia has over thirty years’ experience working on behalf of consumers and brings deep consumer policy expertise and sector leadership to the Ecstra Foundation Board. Delia was Deputy Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) from June 2012 until finishing with the Commission in January 2023. Her work at the ACCC spanned the consumer data right, digital platforms, energy, enforcement and compliance, product safety, ACCC’s Financial Services Competition Board, and chairing the ACCC’s market study into the cost of insurance in Northern Australia. Delia has also held senior roles at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
Delia is currently a director of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), a director of Financial Counselling Australia (FCA), a trustee of the Jan Pentland Foundation, a director of Super Consumers Australia, a director of The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network, a director of ID CARE, a director of the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort (CSLR), a director of the Consumer Policy Research Centre, and chairs AHPRA’s Rapid Regulatory Response Oversight Group.
Delia holds a Bachelor of Arts/Law from the University of NSW.
Jo Morgan
Head of Marketing & Communications
Jo Morgan
Head of Marketing & Communications
Jo is a senior marketing and finance industry leader with over 20 years’ experience in the financial sector. She has held a number of senior leadership roles across blue-chip, National and boutique asset managers and financial advice businesses within the Australian financial services industry. Her experience includes business and marketing strategy & planning, media liaison, campaign development and execution, digital and marketing analytics.
Jo holds a B. Business (Marketing), a Masters of Applied Finance and Investments (MAppF), is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and a Fellow of FINSIA, the Financial Services Institute of Australasia. Jo is also a non-Executive Director of Pony Club Australia.
She is an advocate for financial literacy and education and passionate about having a positive impact on the well-being of Australians.
Mike Christensen
Non Executive Director
Mike Christensen
Non Executive Director
Mike is a highly experienced non-executive director and senior executive with over 30 years experience across regulated businesses, including financial services, funds and investment management, property and housing, health, community and education sectors. He is a seasoned finance and risk professional at an executive and governance level with current and past roles as chair and member of finance, audit and risk board committees.
Mike currently serves as a non-executive director of Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT), Homes North Community Housing and Rosebank College.
Paul Clitheroe AM
Chair
Paul Clitheroe AM
Chair
Paul is an experienced media commentator and Chairman of Money magazine. He is also Chairman of InvestSMART and Ensemble Theatre Foundation.
Paul is Chair, Financial Literacy and Professor, Faculty of Business & Economics at Macquarie University. He was Chairman of the Australian Government Financial Literacy Board and Financial Literacy Australia from 2004 to 2019.
Paul was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2008 Queen’s Birthday Honours for service to the financial sector through the promotion of financial literacy, and to the community.
Our Exhibitors
