Australia’s Female Superstars in Finance
Mar 09, 2021
Catherine Robson founded boutique private wealth advisory practice, Affinity Private in 2011. Prior to this, Catherine honed her professional skills as a financial planner with 15 years professional experience at Macquarie and NAB, advising Private Bank clients and building a reputation as an expert and respected adviser.
Catherine has an Honours degree in Law and BA in Arts, majoring in Asian Studies, from ANU, a Masters of Laws, majoring in tax from the University of Melbourne, a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment and is a Certified Financial Planner, the highest professional accreditation for financial planners in Australia.
Website: https://affinityprivate.com.au/
Connect with Catherine: Facebook: @SavvyWoman.co.uk Twitter: @CatherineAtAff
Sarah Riegelhuth is a serial entrepreneur and investor in startups, having founded 8 companies since 2009. Following several successful exits, Sarah is currently the CEO of Grow My Team (global recruitment), and sits on the Board of her other two companies, Wealth Enhancers and League of Extraordinary Women. Sarah is personally fueled by a passion for community, gender equality and living life on one’s own terms.
Sarah is a speaker, blogger and author of Get Rich Slow, appearing on TV and writing for many popular publications. Sarah also sits on the board of several not-for-profits including Project Futures, Entrepreneurs Organisation and the Institute for Global Women Leaders. Recognised as the IFA Thought Leader of the Year, Sarah was also named as one of Melbourne’s Top 100 most influential, inspiring and creative citizens by The Age, and listed in the Top 50 Female Entrepreneurs under 40 by Shoestring. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Business (Financial Planning) and several diplomas.
Published work: The book Get Rich Slow: Start Now, Start Small to Achieve Real Wealth
Justine Davies is a finance writer, blogger and author who is passionate about educating both women and men about money. Justine’s philosophy is that the more you understand, the less you have to think about it. With over a decade of experience as a financial planner, Justine writes a weekly Gen Y finance column for the News Ltd papers and a weekly Money Stuff blog for news.com.au. Justine is the money expert for Women’s Health magazine and Practical Parenting magazine as well as a contributor for Essential Baby, and can be heard on various radio stations across the country. Justine has written four books How to Afford a Baby and How to Afford a Husband, both published by ABC Books, a non-finance book titled An Inconceivable Notion, was published by Finch and her most recent book Money for Nothing was published by Wiley in 2012.
Published works: The books How to afford a Baby and How to afford a Husband, the non-finance book An Inconceivable Notion, and her most recent book Money for Nothing
Effie Zahos started out as a graduate trainee for one of Australia’s major banks. Effie moved to TV in 1997, kick-starting her career in finance journalism as head researcher for Channel Nine’s Money Show. A regular finance commentator on TV and radio, Effie is the author of The Great $20 Adventure and A Real Girl’s Guide to Money: From Converse to Louboutins.
After 21 years as editor of Money magazine, Effie is now finance editor, commentator and financial literacy campaigner with Bauer Media.
Published work: The books The Great $20 Adventure and A Real Girl’s Guide to Money: From Converse to Louboutins
Connect with Effie: Facebook: @effiezahos Twitter: @effizahos
Lisa Montgomery is a leader in the financial services sector drawing on more than 30 years experience working with brands including InfoChoice Ltd, Wizard Home Loans and Resi Home Loans. Lisa has an established reputation as a consumer finance expert and appears regularly on national news programs as well as being quoted in countless publications. Lisa’s career now sees her consulting to some of the fastest growing financial services companies in Australia.
Connect with Lisa Twitter: @lisaknowsmoney
Vanessa Stoykov is a finance and money expert with a passion for storytelling with over two decades of experience in the wealth creation space. Vanessa is the Founder of No More Practice Education, a leading on-line financial education hub, which was acquired by ASX listed company OneVue in April 2018. Vanessa is also the Founder and Chief Executive of production house evolution media group, creator of the Channel Nine’s Learn from the Money Masters: The Investment Series, and author of The Breakfast Club for 40-Somethings – a fable that offers a new and entertaining way to change people’s long-term financial behaviours published by global publisher Wiley. Vanessa began her journey in the business world at the age of 26, establishing Evolution Media Group. Starting with only $14,000, the company has grown into a multimillion corporation.
Published work: The book The Breakfast Club for 40-Somethings
Website: https://vanessastoykov.com/
Connect with Vanessa: Facebook: @unlearnmoney Twitter: @ceovanessa Instagram: @vanessastoykov
Melissa Browne is a successful entrepreneur and a passionate advocate for women in business. Melissa the founded award-winning accounting firm A&TA, co-founded The Money Barre – a financial planning business for Gen X and GenY and a play-based preschool Thinkers.inq. and has written two books. Often described as ‘not your average accountant’ Melissa loves to push the boundaries, creating real change and helping others carve out a better financial future.
Published work: The book Unf*ck your Finances, Fabulous but Broke & Money for Shoe
Website: https://www.melissabrowne.com.au/
Connect with Melissa: Twitter: @melbrowne_ Instagram: @moremoneyforshoes
Heidi Armstrong is passionate about making money matters more accessible for people. Drawing on her experience as an entrepreneur, finance expert, and lawyer, Heidi inspires Australians to make better money choices. As the CEO and Co-Founder of State Custodians from 2007 – 2014, and having held a senior position at Liberty Financial, Heidi is a respected voice within the Australian mortgage lending environment.
Website: http://www.moneytolove.com.au/
Connect with Heidi: Twitter: @moneytolove Instagram: @heidi.armstrong_
Caitlin Fitzsimmons is an expert in helping Australians gain an understanding of finances. As the money editor for the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Caitlin manages a talented team of journalists and freelancers across both print and digital mediums. Caitlin has a demonstrated track record of editorial success both here and abroad with a proven ability to connect with readers on complex money matters.
Connect with Caitlin: Facebook: @caitlinfitzsimmons Twitter: @niltiacJulia Lee is the founder and Chief Investment Officer at Burman Invest. She has 20 years of experience in financial markets. Julia has worked in various market facing roles, including as an Equities Strategist with Bell Direct for 11 years. Her passion in markets is in combining fundamental and technical analysis to analyse companies.
Julia Lee is one of Australia’s best-known financial experts providing financial commentary to SKY News, Bloomberg, CNBC, ABC, Sunrise and on the radio and internet. Julia has also hosted several share market shows including “Your Money, Your Call”, “Equity Investor” and “Educated Investor” on Sky news, Sky Business Channel and the Your Money channel. She is a regular contributor to industry publications and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences.
Website: https://burmaninvest.com.au
Connect with Julia: Twitter: @JuliaLeeAU
Gemma Dale from Nabtrade is the host of Your Wealth podcast, a weekly podcast for investors, featuring insights and updates from market and finance experts across a range of topics. Gemma is a regular market and finance commentator on Your Money, Sky Business, featured on Sunrise, AFR, ABC TV and Radio, Channel Ten and other media. Gemma is also a regular presenter at major industry events including ASX Investor and Adviser Days, Kanga Conference.
Website: https://www.nabtrade.com.au
Connect with Gemma: Twitter: @gemma_dale
Betsy Westcott is a financial wellness coach and the co-founder of Ladies Finance Club. Betsy’s greatest wish is that every Australian be financially literate. She believes that the better the skills and knowledge we have about money the better choices we make with our financial resources to live an independent, happy life. That’s why she’s dedicated her career to helping people understand and make the most out of their money.
Betsy’s career began in hotel & resort management. It was by chance that Betsy was poached by a Bank to form a new customer-centric cohort of bankers working to change the culture from the inside out. Betsy had found her calling in the world of finance. She quickly rose to the position of Bank Manager leading teams of bankers across Sydney before she transitioned into the world of Private Banking where she advised some of Australia’s most wealthy and influential individuals.
She later moved into the operations and technical side of banking where she had the opportunity to help build a brand new, customer centric, digital bank.
Today she helps banks transform their businesses to ensure they remain relevant and effective in the future. Her passion is improving the financial lives of others, especially women. Nothing brings her more joy than this. She does this through her financial wellness coaching business and the Ladies Finance Club.
Website: https://www.betsywestcott.com/ https://www.ladiesfinanceclub.com/
Connect with Betsy: Facebook: @LadiesFinanceClub Instagram: @ladiesfinanceclub Twitter: @betsywestcott
Molly Benjamin is the co-founder of Ladies Finance Club and She’s on the Money UK. Molly is a Highly experienced communications, marketing and events consultant specialising in Financial Services & Fintech who has a broad range of experience in all aspects of events management. Outgoing, hardworking, self-motivated, spirited leader and team player with strong creative background and “can do” attitude who enjoys a challenge.
Website: https://www.ladiesfinanceclub.com/ https://www.shesonthemoney.com/
Connect with Molly: Facebook: @LadiesFinanceClub Instagram: @ladiesfinanceclub Twitter: @molly_benji
Mia Taylor believes that the value of Advice is so much more than maximising investment returns but rather helping clients understand what is truly important to them and providing a strategy to increase the probability of those things being achieved.
Mia was the winner of the 2017 AFA Rising Star award, the current AFA Genxt NSW State chair, and has presented at both community and industry events on the benefits of a truly holistic approach to financial advice. She is committed to empowering her clients and advice community to live a Healthy, Wealthy, Happy Life.
Connect with Mia: Twitter: @moneymattersmia Twitter: @MiaTaylor55
Belinda White is a seasoned PR professional who specialises in finance. Belinda started The Fierce Girl’s Guide to Finance as a resource to help women take charge of their money. It’s relatable, conversational and designed to help women look at money as more than just something they spend – but as a way to have opportunities. An experienced media and presentation trainer in her day job, Belinda also runs Fierce Girl workplace seminars.
Website: https://fiercegirlfinance.com.au/
Connect with Belinda: Facebook: @fiercegirlfinance
Nicole Heales is an award-winning Financial Adviser who specialises in teaching women to be clever with money, so they can relax and enjoy their lives. She is the winner of the Power 50 – Australia’s 50 Most Influential Advisers 2017, 2018 and 2019 and recently appeared on the Pineapple Project’s Podcast.
Website: https://nicolehealesfinancial.com.au/
Connect with Nicole: Facebook: @nicolehealesfinancial Instagram: @nicoleheales
Rachael Bursell is an award-winning financial adviser, and proud Canberran. She grew up with financial planning, watching her father establish himself in what was, at the time, a small industry compared to today. This sparked her passion for personal finance and as a result she followed in his footsteps and has been working in financial services for over 18 years, before taking on the role of financial adviser in 2017. Rachael is passionate about improving equality and ensuring that both men and women have the same financial opportunities, confidence about money and realistic plans for their future. Giving back to the community is incredibly important to Rachael so she provides pro bono financial guidance and support to women experiencing financial abuse. When she’s not helping her clients protect what’s important and plan for the future, she is a wife to Torsten and mum to Lily and Elijah and has a love for travel, an addiction to coffee and a weak spot for good gin.
Website: https://financeyourfuture.com.au/
Connect with Rachel: Facebook: @rachaelbursellfinancialfeminist Instagram: @rachaelbursell
Sarah King –With 14 years experience in financial services and operations roles, Sarah King is the Head of Advice and Client Care at Stockspot, Australia’s largest online investment advisor. Sarah is driven by her passion to empower women in wealth creation and establishing financial independence. Sarah’s super power is explaining investing like a real person. She’s also a qualified NLP coach, which she mergers with her investment advice background to help people understand their money goals. Sarah holds a B.Business/BA International Studies and Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning.
Connect with Sarah: https://www.stockspot.com.au/
