FPEC comprises financial planner practitioners and academics. It advises universities who are applying for FASEA accreditation of courses and provides industry support to academia, including support for academic research.
FPEC Governance
FPEC comprises academics and industry professionals. It is overseen by acting Chair Sharon Taylor, Associate Professor, Western Sydney University and provides advice to the FAAA Board.
FPEC ACTIVITIES
FPEC seeks to raise the standard of financial planning education and promote financial planning as a distinct learning area and a career of choice for new students and career changers by:
- Driving the development of university-level financial planning programs through the provision of advice for universities undergoing FASEA accreditation, and by liaising with and assisting FASEA on educational matters.
- Supporting structures within the university environment to build financial planning as a discipline by supporting research forums, research grants and by supporting FAAA Academic Awards.
- Encouraging industry engagement with academia by promoting the university and industry partnerships, representing academics to regulatory bodies, supporting conferences and activities which bring academia and professional practice together.
- Encouraging the growth of enrolments in financial planning courses by promoting financial planning as a career path to university and high school students, seeking to develop and grow scholarship funds, supporting the growth of internships and professional year placements for graduates.
FPEC Members
- FPEC Chair: Marc Olynyk AFP® – Senior Lecturer in Financial Planning Deakin University
- Diana Bugarcic – Commercial Manager, TAFE NSW
- Ron McIver – Lecturer, University of South Australia
- Professor Robert Durand – Professor, Curtin University
- Dr Michelle Cull – Associate Dean, Western Sydney University and FPRJ Co-Editor Representative
- Dr Kirsten McDonald – Senior Lecturer, Griffith University and FPAF Representative
- FPEC Deputy Chair: Julian Place CFP® – FAAA Director
- Sarah Abood – CEO, FAAA
- Anne Palmer – Co-Head of Education and Professionalism, FAAA
- Renae Anderson CFP® – Manager, Select Advice, UniSuper
- Greg Cunningham CFP® – Director Cunningham Financial Services
- Rebecca Watt CFP® – Snr Remediation Manager, WBC
FPEC active sub-committee members
- Dr Syed Shams – Senior Lecturer, University of Southern Queensland
- Dr Julie Knutsen – Adjunct Professor, VU Online
- Loretta Iskra – Lecturer, University of Wollongong
- Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman – Head of Discipline, Accounting and Finance, Australian Catholic University
- Dr Abu Mollik – Senior Lecturer, Canberra University
FPEC Research Grants for Academics
FPEC established an annual grant scheme in 2014, which was sponsored by FPA (now the FAAA) and partners. Grants of up to $10,000 have been awarded via this program to support the development of financial planning as an academic discipline.
The grants are currently closed and the program is not being offered while we seek new sponsors. If you are interested in sponsoring the program please reach out to us via [email protected]
Research Grants brochure
More details about the scheme and detailed guidelines for completing EOIs and full submissions can be found in the grants scheme brochure.
2020 grant recipients
The Financial Planning Education Council (FPEC) awarded two research grants to universities in 2020 to support research into this area. Both teams were awarded $10,000 to fund their programs. The research grants were supported by MLC Advice.
Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
Dr Elisabeth Sinnewe (research lead), Dr Chrisann Lee, Lecturer, and Professor Gavin Nicholson from QUT were awarded a $10k grant for a research project ‘Developing healthy financial habits in young adults: Investigating the relationship between financial literacy, engagement with finances and financial decision-making’.
University of South Australia (UniSA)
Professor Chandra Krishnamurti (joint research lead), Professor Chandrasekhar Krishnamurti (joint research lead), Mr Geoff Pacecca (joint research lead), Associate Professor Rajabrata Banerjee, Associate Professor Kartick Gupta, Mr Ron McIver from UniSA were awarded a $10k grant for a research project ‘Financial advice regulatory reform: impacts on cost of provision and lower socio-economic consumer groups’ access to advice’
2019 grant recipients
The Financial Planning Education Council (FPEC) awarded two research grants to universities in 2019 to support research into this area. Both teams were awarded $5,000 to fund their programs. The research grants were supported by NAB.
Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
- Research team Associate Professor Tina Cockburn, Dr Kelly Purser and Dr Sherrena Buckby for the project: ‘The role of financial planners in preventing, recognising and responding to elder financial abuse’.
Griffith University
- Research team Dr Tracey West, Mr Richard Olley, Dr Tom Verhelst for the project: ‘Quantifying the dynamics of elder abuse’.
Past recipients
Past grant recipients include:
- Dr Michelle Cull, Western Sydney University
- Dr Abdullahi Ahmed and Daniel Richards, RMIT University
- Dr Dianne Johnson, Griffith University
- A team led by Dr Adrian Raftery, Deakin University
- Assoc. Professor Sharon Taylor and Ms Suzanne Wagland, Western Sydney University
- Ms Julie Knutsen, with Assoc. Professor Mark Brimble and Dr Robyn Cameron, Griffith University