H&B

AGENDA DAY 1

Wealth Symposium 2026 | Victoria

14-15 October 2026
RACV Torquay Resort, VIC

WEDNESDAY 14 OCTOBER | 08:30

REGISTRATION

09:00

WELCOME

TRACEY McNAUGHTON, Chairperson

Tracey has 30 years investment, funds management and financial markets experience. Tracey’s executive role is Chief Investment Officer at Escala Partners, a leading wealth management business for ultra-high net worth individuals and not-for-profit institutions, where she oversees a team that manages over $7 billion in financial assets. In 2022 she was appointed non-executive director of the Winston Churchill Trust where she also sits on the Investment Audit and Risk Committee. In 2024 she was appointed a Board Director of the CFA Society Australia where she also sits on the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee. She is a CFA charter holder and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

09:20

WHAT ARE THEY PAYING YOU FOR? GROWTH, VALUE AND THE CLIENT WHO DID THE WORK

If demand exceeds supply and your pipeline is full, why would you spend any time on the sales engine? But is hope a strategy? Clients can generate their own SOAs and can create their own plans, so what are they paying you for?

A session about growth, value proposition and how the adviser conversation changes when the client walks in having already done the work.

SPEAKERS:

Mark Zaglas,  Principal, Encore

Cameron Spittle,  Managing Partner, Trellia Wealth Partners

Marcus Ainger,  Partner, Prime Financial Group

Mark Zaglas
Cameron Spittle
Marcus Ainger

10:25

MORNING TEA

10:55

TOTAL INCOME | DEFENSE AND FRANKING

When inflation persists, how do you meet surging income demands while ensuring that you are adequately compensated for underlying risks?

This session unites Australian credit and equity income to discuss forward returns in a permanently higher rate regime. We examine navigating domestic debt markets to capture elevated yields without the illiquidity constraints of crowded private credit, while concurrently unpacking how sustainable, franked dividends deliver a powerful, tax-effective engine to meet client income needs.

SPEAKERS:

Andrew Hamilton,  Head of Implementation, Antares

Phil Strano,  Head of Australian Credit Research, Yarra Capital Management

Jason Petras,  Director, Resonant Asset Management

Andrew Hamilton
Phil Strano
Jason Petras

12:05

THE CREDIT LENS | BALANCING LIQUIDITY, CAPITAL AND INCOME

When the market structurally changes, how do you rebalance your fixed income allocations to maintain liquidity, capital stability whilst maintaining income?

With financial markets facing significant structural shifts at a time when the search for income is only growing, this session explores how investors can balance the occasionally conflicting objectives of delivering predictable liquidity, capital preservation and high levels of income. We examine the features of the different tools available and explore how blending fixed income strategies can achieve robust outcomes for investors through an uncertain environment.

SPEAKER:

Pete Robinson,  Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager, Barings Asset-Based Finance Australia, Barings

Pete Robinson

13:00

LUNCH

14:00

THE VALUE EVOLUTION | NAVIGATING GLOBAL EQUITIES

How do advisers look after client capital while extracting alpha in a highly concentrated, expensive market?

This session unites three distinct approaches to capturing global alpha. We explore a patient, contrarian lens designed to unearth mispriced anomalies, alongside a rigorous, valuation driven approach to large cap equities. We contrast these fundamental philosophies with a disciplined, systematic framework that exploits data signals to eliminate behavioral bias.

A session on how human conviction and quantitative precision interpret today’s valuation dispersion to deliver sustainable, long-term returns.

SPEAKERS:

David Ganucheau,  Senior Managing Director, Portfolio Manager | Analyst, Barrow Hanley Global Investors

Bruce Apted,  Head of Portfolio Management, Asia Pacific, Systematic Equity Active, State Street Investment Management

Andrew Russell,  Portfolio Manager, PM Capital

GUEST MODERATOR:

Jonathan Tolub,  Partner | Portfolio Manager, Trellia Wealth Partners

David Ganucheau
Bruce Apted
Andrew Russell

15:20

AFTERNOON TEA

15:45

NAVIGATING THE TECH & AI REVOLUTION IN FINANCIAL SERVICES

In an era of rapid technological transformation, financial service practices must evolve or risk obsolescence. This session delivers a pragmatic blueprint for integrating AI and cutting-edge technologies, moving beyond theoretical discussion to real-world implementation.

Through practical insights and lived experiences, we’ll explore how strategic tech adoption can revolutionise communication, streamline reporting, and enhance compliance. Featuring a hands-on demonstration of implemented technology, attendees will gain actionable strategies to future-proof their practice and unlock unprecedented operational efficiency.

SPEAKERS:

Simon Betchley,  Head of Institutional Consulting, Finura Group

Daniel Rickard,  Chief Technology Officer, Verse Wealth​

Simon Betchley
Daniel Rickard

16.40

MAD MAX MEETS THE MATRIX | THE WEAPONISATION OF TECH AND TERRITORY

What was the point of the war in Iran? And how is AI rewriting global security?

Are we prepared for a world where both territory and technology are actively weaponised? We analyse the harsh realities of the Iran conflict, exploring exactly why it was triggered, the underlying strategic objectives, and its lasting implications for global stability. Alongside this kinetic warfare, we examine the rapid weaponisation of AI, detailing how this digital arms race is fundamentally dictating global supremacy.

SPEAKER:

Rebecca Shrimpton,  Senior Advisor, The Asia Group

Rebecca Shrimpton

17:45

SYMPOSIUM DAY 1 CONCLUDES

18:00

SYMPOSIUM DINNER