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8:30 AM Registrations
Helen Newman
Partner, Business Restructuring, BDO
Stay up to date with the latest tax developments, ATO activity and emerging business issues. This session will focus on the issues most relevant to SME clients and provide practical insights you can apply immediately.
Anna Berryman
Partner, Corporate & International Tax, BDO
What do current economic conditions mean for Australian businesses? This session will explore the trends shaping business confidence, lending activity and access to capital, alongside the opportunities and risks likely to influence business growth in the year ahead. Gain practical insights into navigating changing market conditions and positioning for growth.
Mark Pink
Executive Director Head of Corporate and Business IRRM and FX Sales, Wholesale Banking and Financial Markets
Jared Moriarty
State Manager, BOQ Specialist
Ryan Painter
Relationship Executive, BOQ Specialist
GST and state tax issues are often identified long after the original transaction took place. This session will highlight common risk areas, recent developments and the warning signs that are easy to miss. Learn where issues typically arise and what advisers can do to identify potential problems earlier.
Joanna Lane
Director Indirect Tax, BDO
Denis Chen
Manager Indirect Tax, BDO
11:00 AM Morning Tea
AI is becoming part of everyday practice, but relying on it without the right safeguards can create real risks. Through live demonstrations and real examples, we'll look at where AI can save time, where it can go wrong, and how advisers can use it more effectively. You'll leave with practical tips you can apply immediately in your own firm.
Jarod O'Brien
Manager, Deal Advisory, BDO
Tax Agent Services Act Code of Professional Conduct obligations continue to raise questions across the profession. In this interactive session, we'll discuss what the changes mean in practice, address common concerns and provide the opportunity to ask questions relevant to your firm and clients.
Tim Sandow
National Tax Quality Leader
From contribution strategies and pension issues through to compliance and retirement planning, the SMSF landscape continues to evolve, creating new complexities for advisers. This session will examine the areas generating the most questions in practice, highlight common risks and provide practical guidance to help support better client outcomes.
Diana Wong
Director, Superannuation, BDO
1:30 PM Networking Lunch
8:30 AM Registrations
Koralay Sowter
Partner, Business Services, BDO
Stay up to date with the latest tax developments, ATO activity and emerging issues affecting SME clients. We'll highlight recent changes, explain what they mean in practice and share examples and insights you can apply immediately with your clients.
Dr Mark Pizzacalla
Partner, Business Services and National Leader, BDO
Richard Osborn
Senior Manager, Business Services, BDO
The Early Stage Innovation Company (ESIC) regime offers significant tax incentives for eligible investors, yet many businesses and advisers remain unfamiliar with the rules. This session will explain how the concessions work, who may be eligible and the questions advisers should be asking to help clients identify potential opportunities. We will also explore the proposed Innovative Business CGT Concession rules where the eligibility criteria are similar to ESIC.
Denise Brotherton
Partner, Corporate & International Tax, BDO
10:25 AM Morning Tea
GST and state tax issues are often identified long after the original transaction took place. This session will highlight common risk areas, recent developments and the warning signs that are easy to miss. Learn where issues typically arise and what advisers can do to identify potential problems earlier.
Michelle Bennett
Partner, Indirect Tax, BDO
By the time many businesses seek help, their options have already narrowed. This session looks at the warning signs advisers should be watching for, the conversations clients often avoid, and the difference early intervention can make. Through real examples, we'll discuss how timely action can help preserve value, improve outcomes and avoid more difficult decisions later.
Mathew Blum
Partner, Business Restructuring, BDO
12:30 PM Lunch
Join Tony Greco and Letty Chen for an interactive discussion on the proposed changes to CGT and the proposed 30 per cent tax on discretionary trust earnings. We'll discuss what is currently known, the potential implications for clients and the issues advisers should be considering now.
Tony Greco
Senior Tax Advisor, IPA
Letty Chen
Tax & Super Advisor, IPA
The strongest firms don't wait until retirement is around the corner to think about succession and value. Drawing on real examples from the SME market, this session will discuss the factors that drive firm value, common succession challenges and the steps advisers can take today to improve future flexibility and options.
Tony Schiavello
Partner, Business Services, BDO
3:00 PM Afternoon Tea
What can businesses expect from the year ahead? This session will explore the outlook for the Australian and Victorian economies, the factors influencing interest rates and inflation, and the trends shaping the property market. Gain practical insights into the opportunities and risks likely to affect businesses, advisers and their clients in 2027.
Peter Munckton
Chief Economist, Bank of Queensland
From contribution strategies and pension issues through to compliance and retirement planning, the SMSF landscape continues to evolve, creating new complexities for advisers. This session will examine the areas generating the most questions in practice, highlight common risks and provide practical guidance to help support better client outcomes.
Shirley Schaefer
Partner, Superannuation, BDO
Tenille Ireland
Partner, Superannuation, BDO
4:40 PM Networking drinks
8:30 AM Registrations
Jeff Marsden
Partner Business Restructuring, BDO
Dr Mark Pizzacalla
Partner Business Services and National Leader BDO Connect, BDO
Trusts have been Australia's preferred wealth and business structuring vehicle for decades. The rules are changing. Understanding the new landscape is critical for trustees, family groups and advisers alike. We'll explain the quickly evolving tax landscape and walk through some practical examples to get you thinking about issues in practice, and planning opportunities.
Claire Baker
Partner Corporate & International Tax, BDO
10:15 AM Morning Tea
By the time many businesses seek help, their options have already narrowed. This session looks at the warning signs advisers should be watching for, the conversations clients often avoid, and the difference early intervention can make. Through real examples, we'll discuss how timely action can help preserve value, improve outcomes and avoid more difficult decisions later.
Jeff Marsden
Partner Business Restructuring, BDO
TGST and state tax issues are often identified long after the original transaction took place. This session will highlight common risk areas, recent developments and the warning signs that are easy to miss. Learn where issues typically arise and what advisers can do to identify potential problems earlier.
Joel Brown
Partner Indirect Tax, BDO
From contribution strategies and pension issues through to compliance and retirement planning, the SMSF landscape continues to evolve, creating new complexities for advisers. This session will examine the areas generating the most questions in practice, highlight common risks and provide practical guidance to help support better client outcomes.
Vivi Chen
Partner Business Services, BDO
12:55 PM Lunch
What do current economic conditions mean for Australian businesses? This session will explore the trends shaping business confidence, lending activity and access to capital, alongside the opportunities and risks likely to influence business growth in the year ahead. Gain practical insights into navigating changing market conditions and positioning for growth.
Panellists
Peter Munckton - Chief Economist, BOQ
Syed Ali - State Manager NSW, BOQ Specialist
Camille Morrison - Relationship Executive, BOQ Specialist
Closing remarks
Martin Jaffe - Relationship Executive, BOQ Specialist
The strongest firms don't wait until retirement is around the corner to think about succession and value. Drawing on real examples from the SME market, this session will discuss the factors that drive firm value, common succession challenges and the steps advisers can take today to improve future flexibility and options.
Paul Childers
Partner, Deal Advisory, BDO
3:20 PM Afternoon Tea
The Early Stage Innovation Company (ESIC) regime offers significant tax incentives for eligible investors, yet many businesses and advisers remain unfamiliar with the rules. This session will explain how the concessions work, who may be eligible and the questions advisers should be asking to help clients identify potential opportunities. We will also explore the proposed Innovative Business CGT Concession rules where the eligibility criteria are similar to ESIC.
Pulin Desai
Partner Corporate & International Tax, BDO
4:25 PM Networking drinks
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Do you have a question, or do you need expert advice and insights?
Contact a member of our BDO Connect team directly or email us at bdoconnect@bdo.com.au and we will direct your query to our most appropriate BDO expert.
We’re here to support you!
Sydney
Pulin Desai | Jeff Marsden
Melbourne
Mark Pizzacalla
Brisbane
Anna Berryman | Helen Newman | Diana Wong
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