FPA names Chair for Conduct Review Commission

The Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) has announced the appointment of Graham McDonald as chair of its Conduct Review Commission (CRC), an independently chaired tribunal that hears and determines disciplinary complaints.

McDonald has experience as both a solicitor and barrister, as well as experience in dispute resolution gained as a former presidential member of the Australian Administrative Appeals Tribunal. He has also served previous roles as banking ombudsmen and chair of the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal.

McDonald will be joined on 1 July 2017 by deputy chair Dale Bouche, whose current term as chief executive officer of the Legal Services Council and Commissioner for Uniform Legal Services Regulation will end in September 2017.

Commenting on both appointments, FPA chair, Neil Kendall, said: "The high calibre of the new appointments reflects the reputation the FPA has built in the financial planning profession. Both appointees put their names forward to independently uphold the high standing of members, and we're delighted to have them on board."

In thanking outgoing deputy and acting chair Mark Vincent, Kendall said: "The FPA would like to acknowledge the important contribution made by Mark to the development of the CRC. Over the past two years Mark has lead the CRC through an important period of transition, improved processes and independence for our professional accountability systems."