Following two weeks of voting, the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA) has announced that Glenn Calder and Ben Marshan will join the board as new members, while Jade Khao (Tan) was re-elected.
All three positions are for a term of three years and will start at the annual general meeting on 18 November 2025.
The appointments will replace William Johns, whose term expired, and Angela Martyn, who resigned from the board in September.
“The appointment of Glenn, Ben and Jade to the FAAA board come at a crucial time in the evolution of the financial advice profession,” FAAA chair David Sharpe said.
“Each board member brings important skills and experience which will add to the depth of knowledge on the FAAA board and will play an important role in guiding our strategic direction as we navigate a challenging regulatory landscape.”
Calder is the joint chief executive and executive director of Viridian and has been a practising financial adviser for more than 15 years.
In addition to his Certified Financial Planner designation, Calder has also completed an MBA and AICD Graduate as well as specialist designations such as SMSF accreditation and ASX Derivatives Level 1 and 2. He is currently completing further postgraduate study at the University of Melbourne.
Marshan is the managing director of Marshan Consulting and a director of the Future2 Foundation. He had led FAAA and CALI advocacy and standards teams, which the FAAA noted resulted in “tangible regulatory improvements, easing compliance and elevating professional standards”.
He is also the chair of the FPSB Regulatory Engagement Group and is a CFP and life risk specialist, with a master of commerce (financial planning) and MBA.
Khao joined the FAAA board in November 2022, having spent six years on the FAAA Sydney Chapter including four years as chapter chair. She is also an FAAA Women in Wealth Champion, a panellist at the last FAAA Professionals Congress and an ambassador for Zen Tea Lounge Foundation supporting domestic violence victims.
She was also the NSW Gen Next chair for the AFA, is a member of the ASIC Regional Liaison Committee advocating for the financial advice profession, chairs the major events advisory committee, and is a member of the board finance, risk and audit committee and the board conduct and integrity committee.
Khao is a CFP, holds a bachelor of business (finance and information technology) and is also a life risk specialist, SMSF specialist adviser and AICD Graduate.
Sharpe thanked the outgoing directors for their time on the board.
“Angela has worked tirelessly on the board and as the chair of the policy and regulations committee to bring about the best outcomes for members. For her three-year term she has been absolutely dedicated to the cause, and even before she was a director was a great contributor. Her work has ensured the highest quality of governance to the board and the organisation,” he said.
“During Will’s six years on the board he has been a passionate advocate for members with an unwavering commitment to ensuring the FAAA is always doing the right thing. Will has supported many committees for education, policy and standards during his term, and has volunteered extra time to special projects.
“On a personal note, it has been a delight to have worked with Angela and Will on the board and their insight will be missed. Thank you for the amazing effort for the FAAA.”
If I paid my membership fees do i get a refund upon cancelllation ?
How can a non practicing adviser represent advisers on the board
What is a Life Risk Specialist? It says Ben Marshan is a CFP and a Life Risk Specialist, but I cant find him on the Financial Adviser Register under “Ben Marshan”. It does not appear that he is authorised to advise on Life Risk products, so I wonder what makes him a Specialist?
Jade Khao is described as a Life Risk Specialist, an SMSF Specialist Adviser, and a CFP. She is on the Financial Adviser Register, but she is NOT REGISTERED, so certainly not authorised to provide personal advice to retail clients. How can you be a Life Risk Specialist and SMSF Specialist Adviser if you are not allowed to give personal advice to retail clients?
Are these honorary titles conferred by the FAAA?
CFP was an honorary title conferred on FPA members prior to about 2002. They still let those “grandfathers” use it, even though everyone else since has had to complete a degree and a high level postgrad course to obtain CFP designation.