Time

Session

Speaker

8.30 - 9.00

Registration

9.00 - 9.15

Welcome and Forum overview

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

9.15 - 10.00

ATO topical updates and areas of focus
In this session, the ATO will discuss its current areas of focus for private businesses, including: 

• Our continued focus on the influence of advisers on the tax performance of their clients
• Practical insights arising from compliance activities, particularly Division 7A
• Tax risks arising from succession planning

Jenny Lin
Assistant Commissioner, Risk and Strategy, Private Wealth, ATO

10.00 - 10.40

Tax in the rear-view mirror, "Good call/bad call"
Keep updated on important new Australian tax cases & ATO Rulings that practitioners must be aware of and keep up to date with at a practice level.

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

10.40 - 10.50

Sponsor spotlights

Accountancy Insurance

10.50 - 11.15

Morning tea

11.15 - 11.45

Mental well-being for your teams and clients
Join us for an engaging discussion exploring the importance of fostering positive mental health with your teams and clients. The goal, spark meaningful conversations and actions to promote mental well-being.

Host

Koraly Sowter
Partner, Business Services, BDO

Panellists

Tony Rabah
CEO - Male Hug

Elizabeth Blunt
National Leader, Not-For-Profit, Partner, Audit & Assurance, BDO

11.45 - 12.30

Q&A session: New code obligations for tax agents
There is a bright spotlight on tax agents under the new Tax Practitioner Code of Conduct rules. There is significant confusion and angst amongst tax professionals. Tony Greco (Senior Manager – IPA) has been heavily involved in the consultation process and will help you understand what it means for you in practice.

Tony Greco
Senior Tax Adviser, Institute of public Accountants

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

12.30 - 12.45

Sponsor spotlights

TOA Global
Accountests

BGL Corp,

Tax Depreciation

12.45 - 1.45

Lunch

• Navigating ATO collection activity
• Protecting your clients by avoiding ‘Phoenix’ activity 
• Use of ‘Safe Harbour’ & Small Business Restructuring 
• How to map out a contingency plan.

2.15 - 3.00

Topic: Financial reporting/sustainability reporting
SME businesses need to change the way they think to get ahead.  If they do, they will have greater access to more customers, to more finance (equity investors & bank financing), and attract and retain quality people! Don’t miss this session to find out how strategies around sustainability can help you and your clients achieve all this and more

Aletta Boshoff
Partner & National Leader of IFRS & Corporate Reporting and Sustainability, BDO

3.00 - 3.15

Afternoon tea

3.15 - 4.00

Family trust elections, and invalid trust distributions
Hear from Daniel, a Principal at Sladen Legal, and a Chartered Tax Advisor with The Tax Institute. Daniel is accredited as a specialist in Taxation Law by the Law Institute of Victoria and recognised by Best Lawyers as the Lawyer of Year in Taxation Law in 2022, and Trusts and Estates in 2024. Daniel will highlight some key issues on the ATO radar and seen in practice in relation to these issues.

Daniel Smedley
Principal & Accredited Specialist in Tax Law, Sladen Legal

4.00 - 4.45

Business risks with SMSFs & super
With constant regulatory change & increased public and ATO scrutiny, how do we protect our practices from risk?  This session will look at: 

• Current focus of the regulators in the super space 
• What you need to be doing with your clients to minimise their risk
• How to de-risk your practice.
• Current focus of the regulators in the super space 
• What you need to be doing with your clients to minimise their risk
• How to de-risk your practice.

Shirley Schaefer
Partner, Superannuation, BDO

Tenille Ireland
Director, Superannuation, BDO

5.00 - 8.00

Networking event