Sessions

I’m Andrew and I’m obsessed with the potential of the accounting industry..

The days of just doing the books and filing tax returns are gone. I affectionately refer to this kind of work as ‘keeping our clients out of jail’. Whilst it’s important work, it’s the bare minimum. And I know the accounting industry is capable of so much more than that.

Accountants of today (and tomorrow) need to be more and do more.

After all, keeping our clients out of jail is the bare minimum. The real magic happens in business problem solving, leveraging technology to streamline operations, and connecting on a human level to help our clients kick goals with both feet.

As the founder of Illumin8, I lead a team of accounting, bookkeeping, and business advisory specialists who share my passion for helping small business owners do more of what they love.

At Illumin8, I’m not limited by the traditions of the old world of accounting. Instead, I always push the boundaries, ask lots of questions and when I listen to the answers, I’m not afraid to challenge what I hear. It’s the only way I can make the difference I want to make.

The result of my approach is that my team is empowered to make decisions and to support their clients. They’ve got the freedom to think for themselves. That’s a big reason why we’ve won multiple accounting industry awards and why I was named as Australia’s accounting industry Thought Leader of the Year back in 2018.

Elinor Kasapidis is the Senior Manager Tax Policy for CPA Australia. Elinor is responsible for the development of policy, research and advocacy on issues related to tax policy, legislation and administration in Australia and internationally. She leads the CPA Australia Taxation Centre of Excellence and represents CPA Australia on a variety of tax-related forums and groups. Elinor held a range of executive roles at the ATO prior to joining CPA Australia.

Mark helps people SIMPLIFY the SHIFT to HEALTH, HAPPINESS and HIGH PERFORMANCE through a fascinating blend of EASTERN WISDOM and WESTERN SCIENCE.

A former AFL Footballer and best-selling author of ‘Ancient Wisdom for Modern Health, Mark understands the challenges facing business people today – stress, sleep difficulties, fatigue, changing demands, remote work, balancing home life & mental health issues.

With his unique mix of cutting-edge Western health-science, age-old Eastern medicine insights (Ayurveda), plus the secrets of the world’s longest-living people and highest performing business people, Mark’s sessions help people deal with these challenges. He also helps people look after their most precious resource – themselves – and recapture their NATURAL HIGH state of high energy, low stress, life balance and work success.

He does all this with simple, down-to-earth solutions anyone can do. (His tips don’t take any more time out of people’s busy days and most actually save considerable time.) Regular comments include, “truly life-changing” “the most commonsense view on health I’ve ever heard” “finally something that makes sense and inspires me to actually make changes”.

With Mark, you won’t hear anything about calories, fats or heart rates. You will however learn about the world’s oldest health science, the coming consciousness revolution and why good relationships, having fun and a sense of community or team are far more important for our health than having a six-pack, drinking green smoothies or activating our bloody almonds!

“Mark will change the way you think about wellness and quite possibly your life.”

Robert S. Conlee - CEO Neways International - Utah USA

“Mark mumbles, never ate his broccoli and isn’t as funny as he thinks he is. But he’s a lovely boy and I think you will like him.”

Mark’s mum

Matthew Addison is Executive Director of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers Ltd (ICB) and recently elected Chair of COSBOA.

He has been instrumental in representing and developing the bookkeeping profession since 1990. During this time Matthew has been involved in the development of Business Accounting Software, Software Company Partner Programs and the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 (bringing in the recognition of Bookkeepers as Registered BAS Agents).

He represents ICB on the ATO Tax Practitioner Stewardship Group (Co-chair 2018-2021), a member of the ATO BAS Agents Advisory Group and the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) Consultative Forum. Representing Bookkeepers at many ATO Working Groups including significant consultation on Single Touch Payroll, a member of the Australian Business Register Strategic Advisory Council including representation into the Modernising Business Registers program.

Matthew is a registered tax agent as Director of Addisons Productivity Solutions, a consulting, bookkeeping, Business & Tax Practice (1993 to 2008); a Fellow of Chartered Accountants ANZ and previously a member of the Tax Practitioner Board (2009-2015).

He takes an active role in professional (agents, bookkeepers and consultants) education, seminars and training. Matthew connected the Australian Bookkeeper community with ICB Global to bring The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers to Australia in late 2005.

Tyson Cobb is a senior marketing and brand strategist to the accounting industry, as well as a podcaster, speaker and trainer. He has consulted for businesses across several different industries over a 14-year career in brand and marketing and has spent the last 6 years providing strategy and marketing support for accountants and professional services firms.

For several years Tyson watched on as accountants received cookie-cutter brands and misleading marketing advice that would often lead to poor marketing performance and underwhelming brands that had minimal chance of differentiating them in a saturated market. Tyson saw a need to provide tailored, honest and ethical marketing advice to an industry with untried potential and opportunity.

Along with his team at Practice + Pixels, Tyson wants to create excitement in the accounting industry. Excitement for marketing, for unique brands and immersive digital experiences. They want to change the way accountants look at and approach marketing and branding so, together, they can create unique digital experiences to accelerate their growth through marketing.

Judy is Principal Solicitor at Judy Sullivan Consulting Pty Ltd. From 2013-2020 she was Partner (Tax) at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sydney. This followed seven years as Partner (Tax) at King & Wood Mallesons Sydney. Prior to this she held various roles including Senior Associate (Tax) with Mallesons Stephen Jaques and Principal (Tax) Ernst & Young. She is currently a Member of the Revenue Law Committee and the Charities and Not-for-Profit Committee of the Law Council of Australia. She is also a Member of the ATO Not-for-Profit Stewardship Group and the Advisory Committee for the Board of Taxation. Judy holds a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws (ANU) and a Master of Laws, University of Sydney. She was appointed to the Board in October 2020.

Julianne is a barrister specialising in taxation, and has been a tax adviser for more than 25 years. She is a chartered accountant, chartered tax adviser and Tax Bar Association member. Formerly an accountant with Coopers & Lybrand and a solicitor with Freehills, Julianne was also an adviser to the federal government during the GST and business tax reforms of 1999 to 2001. Julianne holds a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws from Monash University, and a Doctorate of Juridical Science from the University of Melbourne. She is also a member of the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority and the Board of Taxation. Julianne was appointed to the Board in December 2015 and reappointed in February 2019.

Sylvia is an Assistant Commissioner for the Individuals and Intermediaries Engagement and Support Branch. Sylvia has responsibility for the ATO’s relationship with the tax profession, including engagement, consultation, stewardship group, speaking events and the Practitioner Lodgment Program. Sylvia also leads the Schools and Culturally and Linguistic Diverse Community education programmes, Tax Help and TaxTime support services, content and products for individual taxpayers.

With over 20 years’ experience in the ATO, Sylvia has specialist knowledge and skill in user centred design, design facilitation, project management and policy and new measures design and development.

A regular host on Tax Professionals Live Conversations streams, Sylvia is currently studying her Master’s Degree in Business Administration.