Melbourne | BDO Connect National Forum

Sessions

Speaker

Registrations

Member welcome

Koraly Sowter
Partner, Business Services, BDO

Business and tax updates
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

ESIC tax incentives & Proposed Innovative Business CGT Concession – Tricks and traps
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

Morning tea

Indirect tax risks: The issues advisers find too late      
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

Early intervention in client distress     
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

Lunch

CGT and trust tax proposals: Q&A with IPA
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

Building firm value: Creating options before you need them
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

Afternoon tea

SMSF risk and retirement strategy
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

Networking event