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CFO Forum Sessions

CFO delegates will join the full Forum for the opening sessions before moving into a private CFO-only stream designed for candid discussion, peer insight and strategic leadership conversations.

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CPO & CFO Forum Sydney-23
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2026 CFO Forum Speakers

Our experts bring diverse industry experience and perspectives, empowering you to lead boldly, think strategically, and innovate with confidence.

  • Chris Lynch

    Chris Lynch

    Company Director, The Faculty | Former Chief Executive Officer, Transurban | Former Chief Financial Officer, Rio Tinto and BHP

    During his impressive career, Chris Lynch has worked across numerous industries, such as mining and transport, in notable C-suite leadership roles. In addition to his executive roles, Chris has also served as a fellow of CPA Australia and has developed an extensive pool of economic and financial knowledge.

  • Justin Crump

    Justin Crump

    Founder & CEO, Sibylline

    Justin Crump founded Sibylline in 2010 and leads its strategic growth from the UK, drawing on deep expertise in global intelligence, security and risk. A former banker turned military tank commander, he served in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Iraq and Kosovo and as Aide-de-Camp to the 6th Duke of Westminster. Author of the Amazon bestseller Corporate Security Intelligence and Strategic Decision-Making, he is a trusted advisor and frequent defence commentator on major media.

  • Siobhan Blewitt

    Siobhan Blewitt

    Founder & CEO, Frais Capital

    Siobhan Blewitt brings 28 years of investment and wealth management experience to her role as Founder & CEO of Frais Capital, following senior leadership positions including Executive Director at Morgan Stanley and Partner at Baillieu Stockbroking. A Fellow of FINSIA and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, she is committed to advancing women in finance and proudly mentors emerging leaders through Women in Banking & Finance.

  • Fiona McGauchie

    Fiona McGauchie

    Country Leader Australia and New Zealand, Egon Zehnder

    Updated bio coming soon.

  • Andrew Dillon

    Andrew Dillon

    Chief Executive Officer, AFL

    Updated bio coming soon.

  • David Bartolo

    David Bartolo

    Managing Director, Bartconsult Pty. Ltd.

    David Bartolo is a seasoned leader in Australia’s electrical energy sector with over 30 years of experience, including 19 years in senior roles at AGL such as Hydro Principal Engineer, Head of Asset Management, Chief Engineer, and Head of Asset Intelligence. Since 2024, he has been Managing Director and Principal Consultant at Bartconsult Pty Ltd, delivering training that gives non-technical professionals a stronger technical understanding of the electricity industry. Passionate about education, David remains actively involved in advancing operational technology and asset intelligence across the sector.

  • Alex Joiner-1

    Alex Joiner

    Chief Economist, IFM Investors

    Alex Joiner, Chief Economist at IFM Investors since 2016, leads economic, financial market and geopolitical risk analysis supporting investment decisions and asset management. He engages global clients on macro trends and asset allocation, and is a regular media commentator and speaker. With over 20 years’ experience, he previously held senior roles at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and ANZ Bank. He holds a First Class Honours degree in Economics and a PhD in Econometrics from Monash University, and serves on the Australian Business Economists executive committee.

When
13th - 14th May 2026
Where
RACV City Club, Melbourne
Ticket Price
$2,200

CFO FORUM – Tuesday 13 May

09:00 - 09:15

JOINING THE MAIN CFO & CPO FORUM

CFO participants begin the day in the main Forum alongside procurement and enterprise leaders for a global and macroeconomic perspective.
09:15 – 10:00
Justin Crump

GEOPOLITICAL OVERVIEW

Hear the latest view on market forces and geopolitical tensions that are shaping global supply chains, investment conditions and business risk. Forewarned is forearmed; learn from the most up-to-date intelligence. We welcome global expert from London, Justin Crump, the CEO of Sibylline to share a geopolitical update.
Justin Crump
Justin Crump
Founder & CEO, Sibylline
10:00 – 10:20
Siobhan Blewitt

ECONOIMIC OVERVIEW

Siobhan Blewitt, Founder & CEO of Frais Capital, will deliver a strategic economic outlook, connecting global macro trends with local market dynamics. Highlighting critical signals leaders should be watching closely in 2026.
Siobhan Blewitt
Siobhan Blewitt
Founder & CEO, Frais Capital
10:25 – 10:40
Chris Lynch

PANEL DISCUSSION

What questions are keeping you up at night? An opportunity to discuss, debate and gain specific insights from our panel.
Chris Lynch
HOST: Chris Lynch, Company Director, The Faculty | Former Chief Executive Officer, Transurban | Former Chief Financial Officer, Rio Tinto and BHP
PANEL: Siobhan Blewitt, Founder & CEO, Frais Capital | Justin Crump, Founder & CEO, Sibylline
10:40 – 11:00

MORNING TEA & MOVE TO CFO ROOM

11:00 – 11:15
Chris Lynch

WELCOME & SCENE SETTING

Chris Lynch will frame the CFO stream, translating the morning’s macro and geopolitical insights into the realities facing enterprise finance leaders. This session will connect global forces to boardroom priorities, setting the tone for an afternoon of practical, peer-led discussion focused squarely on the CFO agenda.
Chris Lynch
Chris Lynch
Company Director, The Faculty | Former Chief Executive Officer, Transurban | Former Chief Financial Officer, Rio Tinto and BHP
11:15 – 12:00
Fiona McGauchie

EVOLVING ROLE OF THE CFO

The expectations of CFOs have shifted dramatically in recent years. No longer defined purely by financial stewardship and control, today’s CFO is increasingly expected to shape strategy, influence enterprise direction and operate as a trusted partner to the CEO and Board. This session will explore the transition from CFO to CEO, the moments where CFOs create the greatest organisational impact, and what boards are now seeking in modern finance leaders. Drawing on global search insights and lived leadership experience, we will unpack the capabilities, presence and enterprise mindset defining the next generation of CFOs.
Fiona McGauchie
Fiona McGauchie
Country Leader Australia and New Zealand, Egon Zehnder
12:05 – 12:50
Justin Crump

FROM GEOPOLITICS TO THE P&L

Building on the morning’s geopolitical briefing, this CFO-focused session will translate global instability into practical financial implications. As supply chains realign, capital flows shift and economic assumptions evolve, CFOs are being forced to reassess risk settings, capital allocation frameworks and forecasting discipline. Justin Crump will explore how geopolitical tensions are influencing inflation, interest rates, energy and commodity markets, and what this means for enterprise resilience. The discussion will focus on how CFOs are adjusting decision-making frameworks in uncertain conditions while maintaining a balance between growth and risk discipline.
Justin Crump
Justin Crump
Founder & CEO, Sibylline

LUNCH TO BE SERVED

1:00 – 1:45
Andrew Dillon

ECONOMICS OF SPORTING EVENTS

Over lunch, Andrew Dillon will share insights into the economics behind one of Australia’s most commercially successful sporting initiatives. Gather Round provides a compelling case study in large-scale event strategy, stakeholder alignment and economic impact. This session will examine the financial and commercial model underpinning the event, the return on investment delivered to host states and partners, and the leadership challenges that come with operating in a high-visibility, high-expectation environment. CFOs will gain perspective on value creation, risk management and strategic execution at scale.
Andrew Dillon
Andrew Dillon
Chief Executive Officer, AFL
1:45 – 2:30

CFO & CPO ALIGNMENT FOR VALUE

Finance and procurement alignment is increasingly central to enterprise performance. In this session, senior leaders will share real-world examples of how integrated operating models and cross-functional governance drive measurable outcomes. Through case studies drawn from large, complex organisations, we will explore how alignment between CFOs and CPOs strengthens capital discipline, accelerates strategic decision-making and enhances productivity and sustainability outcomes. The discussion will highlight practical lessons from navigating operational complexity and managing risk in global environments.
Himesh Persotam
Vice President: Finance - Africa Region, AngloGold Ashanti
2:30 – 3:10
David Bartolo

UTOPIA

Dave Bartolo, an energy industry expert with over 20 years of experience will share a must see presentation about the complexities and cost implications for Australia energy supply. In this session Dave will drill into the real numbers, the real costs and real impacts for businesses. Discussions around how this will impact business strategy moving forward.
David Bartolo
Dave Bartolo
Managing Director, Bartconsult Pty. Ltd.
3:10 – 3:20

AFTERNOON TEA

3:20 – 3:45

UNLOCKING PERFORMANCE THROUGH AI AND OPERATING DESIGN

AI and automation are no longer abstract concepts; they are actively reshaping finance productivity and decision-making. This session will explore where AI is genuinely delivering impact, from automated journal entries and reconciliations through to predictive forecasting and enhanced internal controls. We will examine how operating model redesign and capability uplift are supporting this shift, and what leading organisations are doing to embed AI responsibly while maintaining governance discipline. The discussion will focus on practical implementation rather than theory, providing insight into how finance teams are unlocking performance in real terms.
3:45 – 4:20
Alex Joiner

FROM INSIGHT TO EXECUTION: WHAT CFOS ARE DOING NEXT

With the geopolitical and macroeconomic context established earlier in the day, and the practical application of AI and operating design explored in the previous session, this discussion turns to the decisions CFOs are making now. Alex Joiner will focus on where organisations are actually deploying capital, where they are pulling back, and how they are prioritising across competing demands in the current environment. Drawing on IFM’s global perspective, he will explore how leading organisations are balancing investment in productivity initiatives, including AI and operating model redesign, with broader pressures around cost, risk and long-term returns. The session will unpack how CFOs are making trade-offs between efficiency, resilience and growth, and what this means for capital allocation, portfolio decisions and enterprise performance. This is about decision-making, not implementation."
Alex Joiner
Alex Joiner
Chief Economist, IFM Investors
4:20 – 4:40

PANEL DISCUSSION

Bringing together perspectives from economics, technology and enterprise transformation, this panel will connect the themes of the day into a practical discussion on where CFOs are focusing now. The conversation will explore how organisations are translating insight into action, where investment is being prioritised, and how finance leaders are balancing productivity, risk and growth in a rapidly changing environment.
HOST:
PANEL: Alex Joiner, Chief Economist, IFM Investors
4:20 – 5:00

WRAP UP

Register for the CFO Forum Sessions

Please enter your details to register for the CFO sessions of the CFO & CPO Forum 2026.

Registration includes access to both days of the CPO Forum and dinner on day one after the CFO Wrap Up.

When
13th - 14th May 2026
Where
RACV City Club, Melbourne