AFSA Summit 2026 program

Introduction from MC and facilitator

Alicia Barry

Welcome to Country

Uncle Michael West, Metropolitan LALC Representative

Summit welcome and introduce keynote

Tim Beresford, Chief Executive and Inspector-General in Bankruptcy, AFSA

Opening remarks and keynote

Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury

Session 1 – Trust, institutions and future ready stewardship
Speaker

Fiona Parker, Head of Corporate, Edelman Australia

Session 2 – Economic resilience and uncertainty in a changing world
Speaker

Luke Yeaman, Chief Economist and Head of Global Economic & Markets Research, Commonwealth Bank of Australia

Session 3 – Future pressures: PI demographics and financial exposure

The panel will discuss how demographic change, shifting labour market, emerging credit products, and the growing use of AI are reshaping patterns of financial exposure and vulnerability.

Moderator
Sue Whitaker, Official Receiver, AFSA

Panellists

• John Melluish, CEO, ARITA
• Dr Lucie O’Brien, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Melbourne
• Matthew Killeen, Head of Delivery, Aryza
• Claude von Arx, Senior Financial Counsellor, Consumer Action Law Centre
   

Session 4 – Stewardship under pressure: Exercising judgement when rules are not enough
Speaker

An interactive Q&A with Dr Simon Longstaff AO, Executive Director, The Ethics Centre
Read his article on When rules are not enough

Session 5 – Technology and AI: Embedding trust in digital systems

This session explores how AI, automation and system integration are reshaping regulation, advisory services, and enforcement.

Moderator
Josh Smith, CIO, AFSA

Speaker
Monita Lal, First Assistant Secretary and Chief AI Officer, Department of Finance

Session 6 – Stewardship of the PPSR: System integrity in a digital credit economy

This session explores how shared stewardship across regulators, secured parties, advisers and system users supports the integrity of the Personal Property Security Register (PPSR).

Moderator
Gabbie Gallagher, National Manager Trustee Operations, PS & RP, AFSA

Panellists

• Anthony Walsh, Partner, Dentons Australia 
• Mick Mckenna Director of Industry Affairs, Australian Automotive Dealer Association
• Schon Condon, Principal Consultant, DVT McLeod’s and Board Member, Association of Independent Insolvency Practitioners

Session 7 – Designing ethical and resilient future ready credit and insolvency systems

Moderator
Virginia Hartley, General Manager Regulatory Operations Group, AFSA

Panellists

• Tim Beresford, CE AFSA
• Kate O’Rourke, Commissioner, ASIC
• Brendan Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, AUSTRAC
• Nay Sharafeldin, Ombudsman, Australian Financial Complaints Authority
• Peter Kohlhagen, Executive Director, Policy and Advice, APRA