AIIP 2019 close to selling out

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Spaces for AIIP 2019 are almost sold out as conference dates, scheduled for the final week of June, approach.

The Association of Independent Insolvency Practitioners’ (AIIP) Conference will feature two of the best known names in tax as a double act after organisers confirmed Michael Cranston and Aris Zarifiou would be sharing the stage at AIIP 2019.

Cranston, who will also speak at the AIIP formal dinner, could scarcely have a higher profile.

In February has was acquitted of charges of dishonestly misusing his position as a deputy commissioner to assist his son Adam, who is being investigated in relation to the multi-million Plutus Payroll fraud.

Joining him at the Hyatt Hotel in Canberra will be Aris Zarifiou – a former Director of the ATO’s Significant Debt Recovery Division.

The men will share the stage to discuss debt recovery and phoenixing as well as providing insights for liquidators on how to deal with the ATO.

Ironically, the two will also be sharing a new office, having both agreed to work in a consultancy capacity with Tania Waterhouse’s Waterhouse Lawyers.

According to organisers the Conference is almost completely booked.

The theme of this, the second Conference of the AIIP, will be “Dealing with Change”.

Cranston and Zarifiou will be among 20-odd guest speakers at AIIP Conference 2019.

Delegates will also hear from a specialist panel convened to discuss the potential fallout for businesses, borrowers and insolvency practitioners from the Banking Royal Commission.

Speakers will include small business and family enterprise ombudswoman Kate Carnell, former Federal small business minister Bruce Billson, Australian Financial Complaints Authority chief executive David Locke and ANZ Bank business and small business banking managing director Isaac Rankin.

Dealing with change of course requires an understanding of a market in its current state and The Franchise Accountant co-founders Peter Knight and Kate Groom will deliver a detailed analysis of where things stand in the franchise industry, currently beset by a range of employee underpayment scandals.

Nor would any insolvency conference exploring the theme of dealing with change ignore an opportunity to present the insolvency practitioner’s perspective and this year’s panel discussion is likely to be lively.

Advocating their particular view will be Murray Legal’s Michael Murray, Crouch Amirbeaggi’s Shabnam Amirbeaggi, AFSA’s regulation and enforcement director Mark Findlay, Jones Partners’ Michael Jones and former PPB Advisory stalwart Mark Robinson who’s recently joined dVT Group.

An update on the economy, which was well received at last year’s inaugural AIIP Conference, will be delivered again by Macquarie Group’s Ben Forrester while the rapidly evolving litigation funding space will be examined by ERA’s Blake O’Neill and Stephen Humphreys from the Department of Jobs and Small Business.

Given the implementation of ASIC’s industry funding model and the new powers bestowed upon the regulator in the wake of the banking Royal Commission, ASIC’s senior executive leader – insolvency practitioners – Thea Eszenyi can look forward to a particularly attentive audience when she updates delegates on ASIC’s position on the proper administration of insolvency law.

Changing sentiment around property investment and the threat of major changes to rules applying to property-related taxes in the event a Labor government is elected later this month are certain to ensure Savills’ Nick Lower will also have delegate’s undivided attention as he updates the conference on changes in the real estate market.

Finally, this year’s keynote speech will be delivered by Federal Court judge Michael Lee. Please take a moment to support INO’s continued chronicling of the insolvency profession.

For information see: ‘Dealing with Change’ – Current State of the Insolvency Profession in Australia