FAAA unveils latest Gwen Fletcher Memorial Award recipient

David Ormsby of O’Sullivan Financial in Brisbane has been named the Gwen Fletcher Memorial Award recipient in recognition of his “demonstrable dedication to providing high-quality advice” in the most recent CFP Certification Unit.

The award is named in honour of the late Gwen Fletcher, or the “First Lady of Financial Planning”, who was instrumental in the formation of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) before passing away in February 2014 at the age of 94.

In addition to his role as a financial adviser at the Brisbane-based firm, Ormsby is currently undertaking a master of financial planning qualification. This will build on his existing bachelor of commerce majoring in financial planning and finance with a minor in taxation from Griffith University.

Ormsby said it was both “incredibly rewarding and a little surreal” being honoured with this award.

“When I first learned about the award, I was inspired by Gwen Fletcher’s impact on financial planning in Australia, which makes this recognition even more meaningful,” Ormsby said.

“I would highly encourage anyone serious about a career in financial planning to pursue their CFP accreditation. It’s a challenging program, but incredibly rewarding. The depth of knowledge you gain, especially around strategy, ethics, and client engagement, really sets you up to deliver meaningful advice.”

Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA) chair David Sharpe congratulated Ormsby on this achievement, noting his ongoing commitment to pursuing higher education in financial planning.

“Such commitment honours the legacy of Gwen Fletcher, who was a pioneer in education for financial planners and who elevated our profession to another level,” Sharpe said.

“Everyone who takes part in the CFP Certification Program puts in a high degree of work and effort, so it has been a consistent challenge to select a recipient of the award each semester.

“David has demonstrated strong dedication and commitment to his studies, and on behalf of the FAAA, I congratulate him on reaching the highest level of professional certification in financial planning.”

Alongside the 22 others who successfully completed the CFP certification this semester, Ormsby joined the more than 223,700 CFP professionals worldwide.

“The CFP Certification Program is an important part of the FAAA’s efforts to equip planners with the skills needed to provide the best quality financial advice to Australians,” Sharpe said.

“We continue to see more members taking part in the course, benefiting the broader financial planning profession in Australia and those seeking advice.”