Member-owned organisation, the Independent Financial Advisers Association, has announced a new initiative for 2026, the IFAA Virtual Industry Leaders’ Summit, which it hopes will become an annual event.
IFAA’s General Manager, Grant Uridge, says the virtual conference will bring together CEOs and senior leaders from across New Zealand’s financial services industry to share their perspectives on the opportunities, challenges and future direction of the profession.
It will be held during two afternoon sessions on July 29 and August 5. The speaker line-up includes:
Wednesday 29 July (3pm to 6pm)
- Paula ter Brake – CEO, Chubb Life New Zealand
- Grant Willis – CEO, Asteron Life
- Skye Daniels – CEO, nib NZ
- A senior leader from Fidelity Life
Wednesday 5 August (2.15pm to 5.15pm)
- Michael Weston – CEO, Partners Life
- Henry Tongue – CEO, Generate
- Michael Hewes – FMA Director – Deposit Taking, Insurance and Advice
- Simon Power – CEO, Fisher Funds
Uridge say each 30-minute online session will comprise approximately 20 minutes of discussion followed by a live Q&A, allowing advisers to engage directly with leaders from across the NZ financial industry.
“Each presenter will bring their own perspective and discussion topics will include their professional journey, what motivates them as leaders, the vision and priorities for their organisation over the next five years and the key opportunities and challenges facing New Zealand’s financial advice profession,” he says.
IFAA is a member-owned organisation and currently has 37 member FAP businesses, representing approximately 65 financial advisers throughout New Zealand.
It was formed through the merger of the TripleA Advisers Association and Plus4 Insurance Solutions in 2024, bringing together two long-standing adviser groups under a single member-owned organisation.
…Our role is to support our members through advocacy, professional development, industry engagement and practical business services…
“Our role is to support our members through advocacy, professional development, industry engagement and practical business services that help independent advisers build stronger and more successful businesses,” says Uridge.
It works closely with regulators, product providers and industry stakeholders to ensure the voice of independent financial advisers is represented while also delivering a range of member benefits including webinars, roundtable discussions, an annual conference, industry partnerships and business support services.