20 May, 2026
Finance Transformation Summit VIC 2026
Marvel Stadium - Victory Room
Join leaders at Finance Transformation VIC 2026 to explore finance transformation, technology, and automation.
Delegates
Speakers
Sessions
Supporting the evolving needs of the business in times of constant change.
This summit is bringing together senior leaders to connect and explore best practices for finance transformation in controllership, reporting, planning and forecasting.
As finance leaders continue to manage risk in today’s challenging economic market, resilience, change and strategic decision-making sit at the centre of business continuity.
This event will address top priorities for shaping the next phase of finance leadership. Focusing on innovative case studies and real life examples that help support businesses to achieve operational excellence in a world of constant change.
Meet our Speakers
Chief Financial Officer and EGS of Clubs and Infrastructure
Executive General Manager Financial Planning
Chief Financial Officer
Head of FP&A and Performance
Finance Director
Director Financial Control
Head of FP&A
Director Finance
Group Financial Controller
Group Financial Controller
Head of Finance Transformation
Head of Finance and Global Business Services
Featured Topics for the Day
View Agenda
8:30 am
Registration & Refreshments
Event Opening
9:00 am
Welcome Remarks
9:10 am
Attendee Spotlight
Attendee Spotlight
Middle East Conflict: How Finance Leaders Are Rethinking Risk Mitigation in 2026
9:40 am
Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion:
Finance Leadership Priorities for 2026: Driving Strategic Growth and Building Future Resilience
Strengthening board engagement and confidence through stakeholder engagement
Freeing up resources to invest in innovation, AI adoption and transformation projects
Ensuring data quality, integrity, and trust as the foundation for finance excellence
Enhancing forecasting and scenario planning to support strategic decisions
Matthew Chun
Chief Financial Officer
AFL
Jeanette Royce
Chief Financial Officer
VicGrid
Mo Hossain
Executive General Manager Financial Planning
CAR Group
Virginie Lafougere
Chief Financial Officer
Heart Foundation
10:20 am
Morning Tea & Networking
Stream A: Finance Operations & Control
10:50 am
Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion
Performing While Transforming: How Modern Finance Teams Can Unlock Value-Add & Efficiency
Improving foundational processes and reviewing core systems to reduce manual touchpoints across the organisation
Exploring priorities and challenges in adopting AI and automation to scale and free up time for value-add activities
Building finance team capacity and capability to ensure a balanced approach to BAU and Strategic Stakeholder Engagement
Discussing top strategies to overcome resistance to change and ensure alignment across teams during a transformation
Gerd Hagemann
Head of Finance
The Body Shop
Zoe Marendaz
Finance Director
Specsavers
Michael Brockway
Head of Finance Transformation
Luxury Escapes
Suprit Melinamani
Director, Finance Enterprise Systems Management
VIC Department of Transport and Planning
Rakesh Bandipelli
Director
ASCLA
11:30 am
Presentation
Case Study
Beyond Borders, Beyond Control: Navigating AI – driven fraud and global payment risk
Andy Thiss
Senior Vice President, Sales
Eftsure
Stream B: Finance Planning & Analysis
10:50 am
Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion
Transforming Finance Business Partnering for Strategic Decision-Making
Upskilling finance business partners to communicate with influence
Position commercial finance at the centre of excellence
Moving beyond reporting to supporting business continuity and maintain growth
How is finance becoming critical to guide decision-making of key business units
Charie Jose
Finance Director
Ubisoft
Ari Nalbandian
Head of Finance
Schnitz
Joanne Tremonti
Head of Finance Business Partnering
Australian Red Cross
Marcus Bayer
Head of Finance Business Services
BP
Kate Edgerton
Head of Commercial Finance
Bunzl
11:30 am
Presentation
Presentation
Using AI in Finance to Drive Actionable & Strategic Insights
11:50 am
Lunch & Networking
Stream A: Finance Operations & Control
12:40 pm
Panel Discussion
Interactive Workshops
The Visibility Advantage: Finance Controls for Compliance and Efficiency
Overcoming Risks and Simplifying Global Tax Compliance to Ensure Resilience
Transforming the Monthly Finance Cycle with Technology and AI
Building Resilience Under Fire: Aligning Finance and Operational Excellence to Respond to Geopolitical Challenges
1:30 pm
Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion
Strengthening Financial Controls & Reporting Accuracy to Support Operational Excellence
Financial Controls and Reporting
Celeste Saldaneri
Director, Financial Control
Deakin University
Debbie Ruiz
Financial Controller
Western Health
Ivy Chen
Group Financial Controller
Resimax Group
Gerard Gomez
Group Financial Controller
Telstra Health
2:10 pm
Panel Discussion
Interactive Simulation
Finance Tool - Black Mirror Pitch: If We Can Build It... Should We?
Financial Controls and Reporting
Stream B: Financial Planning & Analysis
12:40 pm
Interactive Workshops
The Role of FP&A Leadership in Times of Uncertainty: Key Challenges and Priorities to Shape the Skillsets of the Future From Scorekeeper to Strategist: If your FP&A ready for what's next? Introducing AI and Automation in Finance Operations Without Disrupting Core Processes Finance BINGO: Improving Your Planning, Consolidation & Reporting Challenges
1:30 pm
Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion
Evolving Financial Planning & Forecasting: From Historical Reporting to Forward-Looking Insights
Ashleigh Gardiner
Head of IT & Business Intelligence
My Muscle Chef
Ashley Nasiakos
Head of FP&A and Performance
Coles
Daniel Bechhofer
VP, Head of Global FP&A and Reporting
SoundCloud
Tim Drummond
Head of FP&A
AustralianSuper
Dean Malthouse
Head of Reporting, Forecasting & Analytics
Transurban
2:10 pm
Interactive Simulation
FP&A Tool - Black Mirror Pitch: If We Can Build It... Should We?
Finance BINGO: Improving Your Planning, Consolidation & Reporting Challenges
Introducing AI and Automation in Finance Operations Without Disrupting Core Processes
From Scorekeeper to Strategist: If your FP&A ready for what's next?
Future Role of FP&A Leadership in Times of Uncertainty
2:30 pm
Afternoon Tea & Networking
2:50 pm
Keynote Presentation
Closing Keynote
How Elite Pilots Take Risks and Make Decisions and How CFOs Can Too
Matt Hall
Matt Hall Racing
