Judges

Arthur has responsibility for the ongoing management, development, and oversight of a national plan for the achievement of the IPA’s Strategic Theme Build a professional community for the SME and SMP sectors. This is primarily through the strategic support of advisory committees, discussion groups and other member fora. Ensuring that the ‘voice’ of members is given due consideration in the strategic thinking of the Institute.
Since starting with the IPA in February 2010 – bar an 8-month sabbatical in Pharmacy - Arthur has overseen significant membership growth both in terms of new members and retaining current members.
Arthur brings a wealth of management, business development, marketing and communications knowledge gained over almost 30 years in Australia and in the UK. He has worked with some of the most recognised global brands in financial services. In that time, Arthur has been involved in all aspects of marketing communications, management, planning and research. His aim is to ensure the continued growth of the Institute of Public Accountants with the accompanying recognition of our members.
Arthur holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing and Spanish from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.

With over 25 years of experience as a property valuer in New South Wales and Victoria, Gareth has valued more than 15,000 properties, encompassing a diverse range of asset types. From residential home units and industrial development sites to luxury harbour-front dwellings, working farms, and commercial properties, Gareth brings an unmatched breadth of expertise to every valuation.

A graduate of the University of Technology Sydney, where he earned a Bachelor of Land Economics in 1999, he is recognised as a Certified Practising Valuer and an Associate of the Australian Property Institute and is regularly called upon to provide expert evidence in a range of litigation matters. These qualifications underpin his commitment to the highest professional standards.

In addition to valuation, Gareth is a licensed Buyer's Agent with a proven track record of purchasing high-performing properties in every state and territory across Australia over the past decade. This dual expertise provides unique insights into property markets nationwide, blending analytical precision with strategic investment acumen.

Having collaborated extensively with lawyers, accountants, mortgage professionals, financial planners, and property developers, Gareth specialises in complex litigation matters. His experience includes being cross-examined as an expert witness and consulting with finance and accounting professionals on challenging taxation cases. This combination of technical expertise and strategic problem-solving has solidified their reputation as a trusted authority in property valuation and acquisition.

Jeff Zulman the leading expert when it comes to helping Mortgage Brokers buy, grow and sell their businesses.

Jeff’s mission is to help smart business owners grow, manage and sell their businesses so they maximise profit and minimise the stress that comes with owning an SMB.

In Jeff’s role as the Managing Director of Trailblazer Finance, he’s helped thousands of Mortgage Brokers with expert advice, industry leading valuations and access to the finance they need for growth.

In Jeff’s role at Trailblazer Finance, he works closely with ambitious brokers who are committed to achieving business success.

Jeremy Danon has undertaken compliance work in a variety of businesses and industries – futures and securities broking, market regulatory, market making, foreign exchange, accounting, banking, insurance, managed investment schemes, Registered Schemes and remittance dealing. Jeremy Danon has gained an extensive insight in providing compliance expertise to a wide cross section of clients in the financial services industry, by virtue of his experience with boards, committees and management.
With formal qualifications in business, accounting and corporate governance, Jeremy Danon has maintained his competencies with memberships of the following industry bodies:
Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia.
Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.
Member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.
Master Member of the Stockbrokers and Financial Advisers Association.

Professor Rahat Munir is the Head of Department of Accounting and Corporate Governance, Macquarie University. He is FCA, FCPA and PhD. Professor Munir is internationally acclaimed for his engagement with industry-driven curriculum and has been at the forefront of leading development and change initiatives. He is also forensic accounting specialist with financial crime investigative skills. He has pioneered innovative learning and teaching (L&T) practices, academic standards & accreditations. Her maintains strong ongoing relationships with external stakeholders, including professional associations, universities and communities - Universities in China, Southeast Asia, South Asia and Europe. He has served on the panel for Faculty/Course Reviews of various Universities in Australia and New Zealand. With his strong engagement with industry, he leads CFO Forum, Industry Academic Series, Thought Leadership and Business Leaders Roundtables. He has written over 100 peer reviewed journal articles, conference papers, books, book chapters, monographs and commissioned reports, and over 50 publications for professional and lay audiences. Although the bulk of his research focuses on management accounting and controls, he has also published in important cognate areas such as education, CSR, corporate governance, corporate culture and research expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Professor Munir has delivered scores of invited/keynote presentations, and his expert opinions has been featured in radio, television, newspapers, newsletters, and web outlets. He is affiliated with several professional bodies including the Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, Professional Risk Managers International Association, USA, American Accounting Association, British Accounting Association, Canadian Accounting Association and European Accounting Association. Professor Munir serves on various high-level Committees and Advisory Boards. Professor Munir’s sustained excellence in teaching and research has been recognised through international awards.

Few, if any, can match the depth and breadth of Rob’s experience and knowledge of accounting firm management and leadership. He’s been the CEO of two small accounting firms, the GM of Pitcher Partners Sydney, the Business Manager for Grant Thornton Sydney and the Finance and Administration Manager for PW Sydney. He also spent 10 years at PW delivering client services, including as a Business Services Manager.

As the founder of Planet Consulting he’s spent the past nine years helping owners run better accounting firms. Better for the owners, better for the team and better for the clients. He works with firms ranging in size from sole owners through to mid tier firms.

Rob is probably best known for facilitating the Accountants Peer Groups (currently 14 of them) across Australia providing a structured approach for firm owners and leaders to help each other and benefit from Rob’s experience. He is also well known for delivering the Manager Development Program, built from the ground up by him to build the critical non-technical skills of supervisors and managers in accounting firms.

In addition to accounting qualifications (including being an FCA) Rob holds a Master of Business Coaching degree with distinction from the Sydney Business School University of Wollongong and a Graduate Certificate in Design Science from the University of Sydney. He is also a longstanding graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, having completed the Company Directors Program twice.

Rob is a keen traveller, and along with his partner Kate, has visited 80+ countries! Rob has trekked in the Himalayas, the Andes and the alps in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. He has cycled in Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand and Australia and driven through Western Europe on a solo four month trip after completing a stint in the UK for PW. Kate and Rob try to visit at least a few new countries each year. In 2024, new countries included Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana and Zambia. In 2025 it has included Chile, Peru, Brazil and Bolivia.

Steve Prendeville is the founder and Managing Director of Forte Asset Solutions, Forte Licensing Solutions and Forte Consulting Solutions. Forte’s Asset Solutions core activity is selling financial services businesses. Forte Licensing Solutions assist practices to find the right Dealer group or become self- licenced. Forte Consulting Solutions assists business to grow.

Steve has enjoyed a successful 30 plus year career in financial services.

Steve was a Partner in Deloitte and CEO of DFS Financial Services a HNW Advisory Group. After selling DFS Steve created Australia’s first specialist financial services M&A group.

Steve is a member of the International Association of Consultants, Valuators and Analysts.

Dr Vincent Bicudo de Castro is an academic at Deakin Business School with a focus on business and interdisciplinary research. He is a Chartered Accountant with a Bachelor of Economics and degrees in Accounting at the bachelor, master (by research), and PhD levels, along with other qualifications. His research portfolio demonstrates remarkable versatility, spanning solo-authored works and collaborative studies that showcase his proficiency in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.

Vincent has industry experience in auditing, having worked for two of the world's largest audit firms, where he provided assurance services to financial institutions. In addition to his auditing career, Vincent has held a role in compliance and internal controls at a leading asset management firm, where he oversaw investments worth billions of dollars across hedge funds, private equity, equities, and real estate portfolios.