FAAA opens nominations for three new directors

The Financial Advice Association Australia is calling for nominations for the election of three new ordinary member directors, who will serve a three-year term.

All FAAA ordinary Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and practitioner members are eligible to stand for election, nominate or support nominations and vote in the election.

Those nominated must have renewed their membership for the current financial year and require a proposer and a seconder, who also must be ordinary members. Affiliate members are not eligible to nominate or vote.

The board can have a minimum of three member directors and maximum of nine, four of whom must be practicing CFP professionals.

“We have a majority member-elected board, which ensures we stay close to the financial advisers we are here to represent,” FAAA CEO Sarah Abood tells Professional Planner.

“We have elections two out of every three years, with rolling director terms, which ensures our board has a good mix of continuity and changing skills, diversity, priorities and practitioner experiences. 

“If you, or someone you know, is a practitioner member and are keen to help create a great future for financial advice, I encourage you to nominate.”

Professional Planner understands this is the second board election since the FAAA was established in 2023.

Following this election Sheila Gutierrez-Cabacungan and Deborah Kent will leave the board with two new directors being appointed to replace them, and third new appointee.

Current board members who will remain are Diana D’Ambra, Shaun McDonagh, Jade Khao, who was re-elected in November 2025; and Glenn Calder and Ben Marshan who were both appointed in November 2025 as new members.

David Sharpe will be replaced as chair by current deputy Michelle Veitch following the association’s annual meeting in November.

Each term for FAAA board members lasts three years and elected directors cannot hold office for more than two terms consecutively and no more than 10 years in total.

Nominations opened on 1 September and will close on 22 September. Voting will go from 6 to 20 October with new directors announced at the annual meeting in November.

The role of FAAA board directors

Nominees must acknowledge the FAAA Board Charter, Officers’ Code of Conduct, and the FAAA Member Director Role Description, then submit an online application addressing four key areas in up to 200 words each, including involvement in FAAA committees or communities, prior board experience and governance skills, financial literacy and business acumen, and a pitch.

FAAA board directors have the authority to determine matters relating to policies, practices, management and operations of the FAAA. The board must also ensure that the FAAA complies with all its contractual, statutory and any other legal obligations, including the requirements of any regulatory body.

Among many other responsibilities, the board also appoints and decides the CEO’s remuneration; approves and ratifies the appointment, the terms and conditions of the appointment of additional directors; and the appointment and the removal of senior management.

FAAA was established in April 2023 through the merger of the Financial Planning Association and the Association of Financial Advisers.

After the three new members are appointed in November and Veitch takes on the chair’s role the FAAA board will have nine members with five new faces having been appointed in the last 12 months.