ISCOVER
The RBA assistant governor (business services) is set to speak at the Women in Finance Summit 2025.
The Women in Finance Summit is returning in November 2025 with a strong focus on practical strategies for building thriving businesses across the financial services sector.
Now in its third year, the Women in Finance Summit is designed for female leaders in the financial services space (including accounting, mortgage and finance broking, lending, financial advice, and superannuation) who want to strengthen their business performance, enhance their leadership skills, and connect with like-minded individuals.
During the Women in Finance Summit 2025, taking place on Friday, 14 November 2025 at the Hyatt Regency in Sydney, attendees will delve into case studies, proven strategies, and lessons learned from experienced leaders who have built and scaled successful ventures in the finance sector.
In conversation with RBA assistant governor (business services) Michelle McPhee
This year’s Women in Finance Summit will include leadership and business insights from the Reserve Bank of Australia’s assistant governor (business services) Michelle McPhee.
In a candid conversation at the Women in Finance Summit 2025, McPhee will share her leadership lessons from 30 years at the central bank, where she is responsible for leading the RBA’s banking services to the Australian government and overseas central banks, payment and settlement services to participants in the Australian financial system, and the issue of Australian banknotes.
Prior to her current position, McPhee was the head of banking at the Reserve Bank of Australia, a role she has held for the last four years.
The Women in Finance Summit 2025 will also detail business strategies from women leading successful businesses across the country.
How Kate Reid built a global sensation
In Pit Stops to Pastries, Kate Reid – co-founder of the internationally acclaimed Lune Croissanterie – shares how she shifted from the high-octane world of Formula 1, where she worked as an aerodynamicist for the Williams Racing team, to becoming the toast of the culinary world with her award-winning pastries.
In this fireside chat, Reid will reveal how her unwavering commitment to turning a vision into reality led her to launch Lune in 2012, a venture that has since earned global acclaim for crafting what many consider the world’s best croissants.
She’ll discuss how meticulous attention to detail, relentless tenacity, and a laser-focus on mastering a niche have been the driving forces behind her remarkable success.
Lessons from the Women in Finance community
The Women in Finance Summit 2025 will also hear from those leading the way in financial services, including a panel of former winners of the Women in Finance Awards.
Amplifying real-life stories from those who have walked the walk to create businesses that lead with authenticity, this year’s industry speakers include:
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Lel Smits, managing director, The Stock Network (Winner: Director of the Year 2024)
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Olga Koskie, director, Tax Assure (Winner: Principal of the Year 2023)
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Simone Palfreyman, principal, Palfreyman Chartered Accountants (Winner: Regional Professional of the Year 2023)
More speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Women in Finance Summit and Awards are hosted by Momentum Media’s financial services network, comprising The Adviser, Broker Daily, ifa, InvestorDaily, Accountants Daily, SMSF Adviser, Money Management, and Super Review.
To learn more about the summit, including the speakers and agenda – and how to buy tickets – click here.
Women in Finance Awards 2025 – final call for submissions
The Women in Finance Summit 2025 will be followed by the Women in Finance Awards 2025.
Submissions and nominations are still open for the 2025 awards program, which celebrates women working across mortgage and commercial finance broking, financial advice, accounting, and bookkeeping and are encouraged to submit an entry, as are auditors, SMSF advisers, and fintech leaders.
For the past nine years, the national awards program has celebrated the top-performing women influencing Australia’s financial services industry, acknowledging entrepreneurs and CEOs from accounting, banking, broking, financial planning, and the wider finance market.
This year, there are a total of 29 submission-based categories on offer, including 24 individual and five group categories.
Individual categories recognise leaders from across the financial services verticals, as well as the CEO of the Year, Director of the Year, Regional Professional of the Year, and Entrepreneur of the Year.
The highest-scoring individual winner will walk away with the coveted Excellence Award.
Group categories include Employer of the Year, Training and Development Program of the Year, Women’s Community Program of the Year, and more.
Submit an entry or nominate a worthy colleague and/or business by Thursday, 21 August 2025.
The winners of the awards will be announced in a cocktail ceremony on the evening of Friday, 14 November 2025, at Hyatt Regency Sydney. Click here to buy tickets.
[Related: Submissions open for Women in Finance Awards 2025]
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