The Financial Services Council (FSC)/Workplace Savings NZ (WSNZ) has lined up Reserve Bank governor and former head of the NZ Superannuation Fund, Adrian Orr, to debate the ‘big issues’ at the industry body’s annual conference in September.
Orr will join NZ Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) chief, Lawrence Kubiak, and Business NZ head, Kirk Hope on stage to nut out a range of global hot topics covering geopolitics, economics, demographics and prosperity.
FSC chief, Richard Klipin, said Orr would bring his exclusive insight to bear on the big picture global problems and how they affect NZ.
“We’re very pleased to have Adrian on board,” Klipin said. “The conference program is now almost full covering topics of interest to those involved in insurance, investment and KiwiSaver and businesses both large and small.”
As well as the Orr-inclusive debate, the FSC event features another all-star panel session discussing the moot ‘is trust the new currency?’ with: Rob Everett, Financial Markets Authority (FMA) chief; Rob Flanagan, FSC chair; Damien Mu, AIA Australasia head; and, Ana-Marie Lockyer, ANZ head of wealth products.
“We’ve also got a dealer group advice session,” Klipin said, that would canvas the options for financial advisory firms under the soon-to-be changed legislative regime. John Botica and Liam Mason – respectively FMA directors of market engagement and regulation – will lead the dealer group discussion.
In addition to Orr, the FSC last week also confirmed mental health advocate, Jazz Thornton, founder of Voices of Hope.
“Voices of Hope is a relatively new charity in New Zealand on a mission to provide hope for those struggling with mental health issues by promoting mental well-being, empowerment and recovery,” the FSC program says.
Last week, too, the dual industry body opened up its joint award program for nominations.
Following on from last year’s inaugural showing, the FSC awards focusing on individuals who have “made a difference” to the industry cover the “Rising Star, Innovation, Shaping the Future and Diversity” categories.
Meanwhile, the long-running WSNZ awards include the traditional categories of: Product Disclosure of the Year, Most Innovative Communication, Best Overall KiwiSaver Member Experience and the Excellence in Communication Award.
Klipin heads both the FSC and WSNZ, which have been in protracted merger negotiations for several years.
He said nominations for all awards were already “rolling in”.
“Overall, conference registrations are up 61 per cent compared to this time last year,” Klipin said. “We’ve tapped into a real demand for the industry to come together as a community.”
Up to 350 delegates were expected for the two-day event set down for September 6-7 at Auckland’s Pullman Hotel.