The Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) has announced chair Marisa Broome will step down from the role, with long-term board member and deputy chair David Sharpe set to step into the job.
Sharpe, who has been an FPA member since 2003 and a board member since 2016 and was appointed deputy chair in February 2021, will take over as chair on 1 May.
Broome, who has been chair since November 2018, said the transition to Sharpe, who was a past treasurer and chair of the Western Australia FPA Chapter, was part of a succession plan.
“I know that I am handing over to a safe and experienced yet innovative pair of hands with David as our association enters a new era with a new chief executive and new chair,” she said.
“I have often said that being the FPA chair has been the greatest privilege of my professional life and I know David feels the same way. He will build on the strong groundwork that has been laid for real change in our profession and he brings substantial experience as a practising certified financial planner professional to the role.”
Sharpe, who runs an advice business in Perth, thanked Broome for her efforts and highlighted the ongoing work to represent the advice sector.
“I will continue to represent the needs of our members and will seek to engage the membership to achieve practical change and respect for our profession. There are a number of challenges still facing financial planners and I will work to be an advocate for our members and their clients,” he said.
“As a practitioner, I am acutely aware of the frustration caused by over-regulation of financial planning and the detrimental impact this has on planners and their clients.”
The transition follows the FPA’s appointment of Sarah Abood as chief executive in January.
