The FAAA has three new elected Board members – Felicity Cooper, an AFA Adviser of the Year and FPA Financial Planner AFP of the Year, Deborah Kent a former AFA President and Sheila Gutierrez-Cabacungan, a Women in Financial Planning Champion.
The association says the three appointments follow the expiry of the terms for Board members Kearsten James, Julie Matheson and Julian Place in November 2023.
The FAAA says Cooper has been the director and authorised representative of her self-licenced AFSL for over six years on the Gold Coast. With over 20 years of experience in the finance sector, she was the recipient of the AFA Adviser of the Year in 2022 and a previous winner of the FPA Financial Planner AFP of the Year in 2018 as well as many other awards.
It says she has been involved in her local chapter for many events and recently presented at the 2023 FAAA Roadshow. Cooper is passionate about financial literacy and representing advisers.
Kent is the co-founder of Integra Financial Services, a boutique financial advice business in Parramatta, Sydney. She has been a financial adviser for over 30 years and some of her many achievements include an FAAA Distinguished Service Award in 2004, AFA President, AFA NSW Director, AFA National Treasurer, Director of the AFA Foundation, President of the Western Sydney Business connection and FASEA Board Director.
The FAAA says she is passionate about helping Australians “…get great financial planning advice and learn about money so they can make the most of their lives and live the way they want without fear or uncertainty. She is equally, if not more, passionate about helping women succeed as advisers.”
Gutierrez-Cabacungan is the Principle Financial Planner and owner of Wealth Forum, a small self-licensed practice in Sydney’s West. She is the Chair of the new Sydney Metro Community as well as having been a member of the Sydney Chapter since 2010, a Western Sydney Ambassador and a Women in Financial Planning Champion. She is passionate about financial literacy and engaging with students and academics to advocate for careers in financial advice.
FAAA Chair David Sharpe says the Board is pleased to welcome the new members noting each brings “…important skills and experience which will add to the depth of knowledge on the FAAA Board.”
He also thanked the three departing directors noting that Matheson has been on the Board for over 10 years and she has “…continued to be a staunch advocate for the CFP program and committed to promoting the highest professional standards in the profession.”
…[James] has been instrumental in bringing the AFA and FPA communities together…
Sharpe says that during James’ term “…she has been instrumental in bringing the AFA and FPA communities together, and worked tirelessly to ensure the highest quality of governance to the Board and the organisation.”
Place has brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the FAAA Board “…always focusing on members as a priority and working towards the highest education standards.”
Sharpe added that James and Place have also contributed to the development of the successful Masterclass series.
The three new positions are for a term of three years starting at the AGM on 20 November 2023.
