Melbourne | BDO Connect National Forum

Agenda item

Speakers

Registration

Members welcome & BDO updates

Jason de Boer
Partner, Corporate & International Tax, BDO

Tax in the rear-view mirror: Good call / bad call

Stay up to date with the latest Australian tax cases and ATO rulings that practitioners need to know. This session will highlight the key decisions and rulings from the past year, explain their practical implications for your practice, and provide insights to help you make informed calls for your clients.

Dr Mark Pizzacalla
Partner, Business Services and National Leader, BDO Connect, BDO

Our choices make us: Navigating financial distress

Clients in financial distress face critical and often defining choices. This session will explore current economic challenges and how they can impact your clients, while providing practical strategies to guide them through restructuring options with clarity and confidence. You’ll also hear real-world "war stories" providing context for insolvency solutions and learn how your guidance can shape informed decisions and better outcomes.

Morning tea

Lending landscape with the CBA

Join us for an engaging discussion on the Lending Landscape, where experts from BDO and CBA will share insights on the latest trends and challenges shaping the lending market. We will cover real estate investment, funding requests, and market competitiveness, along with emerging areas such as ESG standards, green finance, and the potential impact of AI. Designed for SME accountants and advisers, this session will provide practical guidance to help you support clients in today’s evolving financing environment.

Cassandra Crawford
National Head, Professional Services, Commonwealth Bank

Kevin Stanley
National Director, Property Market Economics, Insights & Research, Commonwealth Bank

Sandro Campolongo
Executive Manager, Commonwealth Bank

Tony Schiavello
Partner, Deal Advisory, BDO

Rod Naismith
Partner, Business Services, BDO

Indirect tax 2025: What’s changed, what it means

Substantial updates to GST and state taxes - including tax rulings and cases, levy adjustments, and penalties – which have reshaped the indirect tax landscape in 2025, with compliance and cost implications for businesses across Australia. We will highlight the key changes that may be relevant.

Michelle Bennett
Partner, Indirect Tax, BDO

Lunch

Q&A session: New code obligations for tax agents

The new Tax Practitioner Code of Conduct rules are putting tax agents under a bright spotlight, creating uncertainty across the profession. In this interactive Q&A, Tony Greco, who has been closely involved in the consultation process, will break down what the changes mean in practice and share practical insights before opening the floor to your questions.

Tony Greco
Senior Tax Adviser, Institute Public Accountants

Dr Mark Pizzacalla
Partner, Business Services and National Leader, BDO Connect, BDO

AI in action: Practical insights

AI is rapidly reshaping advisory workflows, and small firms are starting to see real results. In this session, we’ll share key lessons learned and provide practical advice on where to focus to unlock efficiency, quality, and staff satisfaction gains. We’ll also discuss the key challenges, risks, and ethical considerations. You’ll walk away with tangible steps to take as both a firm and an individual, with time for an open Q&A to address your questions.

Fahim Khondaker
Partner, Digital, BDO

Afternoon tea

Navigating SMSFs in 2025

SMSFs are evolving fast, and so are the rules. In this practical session, we’ll break down what’s new, what’s changing, and what it means for you and your clients.

From the latest tax and compliance updates to real-world scenarios, you’ll gain fresh insights and actionable strategies to help your clients stay on track with their SMSFs.

Shirley Schaefer
Partner, Superannuation, BDO

Tenille Ireland
Director, Superannuation, BDO

Networking event