FSF to host annual conference
Ethics, conduct and culture will be the topics of discussion when New Zealand’s financial services sector gets together for the Financial Services Federation (FSF) Conference and Awards.
This is the first year the FSF, which represents responsible finance and leasing companies, has fully opened its non-profit conference to non-members. It’s a move Lyn McMorran, executive director, says is part of the federation’s work to set industry standards and promote responsible lending more widely.
“The FSF will always run a membership-based model, but we do see our conference as an opportunity to share learnings and best practice more holistically to impact not just customers of our members, but those of financial institutions more widely,” she says.
Programme highlights include an opening address from Kris Faafoi, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister, who will discuss proposed changes in the latest review of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act among other sector issues.
A panel discussion on the context and impact of the spotlight on ethics, conduct, and culture in financial services will include Kirsten Patterson, chief executive of the Institute of Directors, Helen Gordon, executive director of the Australian Finance Industry Association, and Dr Jeffrey Stangl, an ethics trainer with expertise in finance from Massey University.
Delegates will also hear from three companies judged by Reader’s Digest readers as among the country’s most trusted brands in 2019 – Toyota NZ, Resene Paints and Turners Automotive Group. The representatives will discuss the journey and nature of their brands, how they have evolved, earning and maintaining customer trust, and what being a trusted brand means.
Other sessions will include a wider update on regulation concerning the sector, and a closing address by Sam Johnson, renowned Student Volunteer Army founder and former Young New Zealander of the Year. The conference and awards take place October 16 at the Grand Millennium, Auckland. The full programme line-up can be found at the FSF’s website here.
Staff and companies to be honoured
The conference will be followed up by the FSF Crediting Excellence Awards and a gala dinner being sponsored by Equifax. Awards criteria focus on responsible lending, and asking entrants from FSF members to show how they go the extra mile in ensuring good outcomes for their customers and community.
“It’s often the way in financial services that dodgy lenders get all the attention, but there are many people who do an excellent job providing necessary and responsible finance products to Kiwis every day, and we think these people should be recognised,” says McMorran.
Who the awards finalists are
Autosure New Finance Professional: Alicia Jauhari of Go Car Finance, Yazid Sheik of Go Car Finance, and Janet Sebastian of Home Direct.
Centrix Outstanding Support Professional: Sarah Heffer of Go Car Finance, Chrismari Scheun of Avanti Finance, Scott Liang of Flexigroup, Simon Gormley of Go Car Finance.
Provident Insurance Leadership Award: KK Lai of Go Car Finance, Petr Belotckii of GoCar Finance, Angela Shutkowski of Avanti Finance, Kirsty Walker of Home Direct.
Financial Services Complaints Ltd Innovation Award: Experian Illion, Open Data Solutions and Centrix.
Equifax Corporate Citizen Award: Latitude Financial Services. Avanti Finance and FlexiGroup NZ.
This year’s judges are Soraiya Daud from FinCap, the national body representing financial mentors, former Banking Ombudsman Deborah Battell, and Rob McInnes, the FSF’s former legal counsel.
