The FAAA has announced the election of two new directors to its board, with an existing board member re-elected.
The association says Natallia Smith and Pedro Marin Ramirez have been elected as directors to the board, alongside existing board member Deborah Kent who has been re-elected.
The FAAA says Smith is director and principal financial adviser of TruWealth Advice which specialises in helping women approaching retirement or navigating life changes. She started her career as a financial adviser in 2003 and founded TruWealth (formerly Assetplan Advisory) in 2010.
Marin Ramirez is the founder of Marin Wealth, a self-licensed Brisbane practice he established in 2023, where he is also the responsible manager. The firm advises on retirement and superannuation strategy, investment and portfolio construction, personal insurance, cash flow and debt, and estate planning, and has a dedicated practice advising clients through separation and divorce.
Kent is director and principal of Integra Financial Services which she established more than 30 years ago. She provides holistic, personal financial advice to clients through retirement planning, superannuation, wealth management and aged care. She was a founding member of the Financial Planning Association.
The FAAA says Sheila Gutierrez-Cabacungan will stand down as director following the end of her three-year term.
Chair David Sharpe congratulated the incoming directors saying that as a a member-led organisation “…having a majority member-elected board helps us remain close to the advisers we are here to represent and the issues that are important to them.”
He thanked all those voted and contributed to the process, noting the calibre of the candidates was extremely high “…and it was fantastic to see so many members keen to get involved in their association and play a role in its future.”
Sharpe says Smith, Marin Ramirez and Kent offer a range of experience, skills and perspectives from across the financial advice community and will be strong representatives of the association and the profession.
He also thanked Gutierrez-Cabacungan for her contribution as director over the past three years.
The three directors have been elected for a three-year term and will be formally appointed at the FAAA AGM. They will join ongoing board members Michelle Veitch (who will become chair on 23 November), Glenn Calder, Diana D’Ambra AM, Jade Khao, Ben Marshan and Shaun McDonagh.
