CA Catalyst SMP Strategy Panel - NZ

This 90-minute session of inspiration and practical education includes: 

- A 45-minute insight on how leading Public Practice firms from around the world build sustainable strategies 

- A 45-minute panel discussion amongst Public Practice Leaders sharing how they tackle the challenges of the modern-day accounting firm and discussing how they are setting their firms up for success in 2023.  

Amanda Gascoigne FCA - Facilitator
B Com, FCA 

Amanda is a CA Fellow and the founder of Amanda Gascoigne Consulting and The Balanced Firm.
 

She was the Australian-based Practice Mentor for the recent CA ANZ Practice Peer Mentor Exchange and is a member of CA ANZ’s Trans-Tasman Public Practice Advisory Committee.
 

As a small business owner for 22 years, 18 of those as a chartered accounting practice founder and owner, Amanda has been able to combine her love of conversation, people, accounting, small business and family.
 

She now helps small and solo accounting practice owners across Australia and New Zealand have better practices and better lives and also helps them have better relationships with their clients and teams through her coaching and mentoring business exclusive for the industry.
 

Amanda wrote in a pre-pandemic article that she believed that in 2020, small and solo accounting practice owners would be looking for more. More from their practices. More from their lives. And in 2023, Amanda is optimistic that positive and sustainable shifts in practice models will be embraced for practice owners to achieve this. Here’s the article for your interest.

Ian Vacin - Presenter
Co-Founder, Chief Partnerships Officer, Karbo

Ian Vacin is the Co-Founder and Chief of Partnerships at leading practice management platform, Karbon.
 

With 25+ years' experience in technology & process improvement and 15+ years of leadership experience in the accounting industry at Karbon, Xero, and Intuit, Ian is a recognised expert, innovator, and teacher.
 

He is passionate about helping businesses be as successful as possible in order to positively impact the small businesses they serve.

Jack Dixon CA – Panelist
Principal, Back Beach Accounting

After working abroad in Montréal, Jack began his decade of experience in public practice in mid-tier firms before moving into a more boutique setting in the Sydney CBD. He developed a keen interest from there in the agility and dynamism of smaller firms, particularly in the areas of technology and automation, shelving no-value-add processes to the greatest extent possible in order to win back time in front of clients.
 

2018 brought great change when Jack moved to regional NSW (Coffs Harbour) with a young family and since then he has been enjoying helping small-medium business owners live their best life at work so they can live their best life outside of it.
 

Jack is a strong advocate for working smarter instead of harder and about being intentional both inside and outside of work.

John Schol FCA - Panelist
CMInstD MBA BCom: Principal, Malloch McClean

John Schol FCA is a director of the award-winning New Zealand firm Malloch McClean. He holds a Certificate of Public Practice, a Master’s in Business Administration and is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors.
 

John is a member of the CAANZ Council and holds professional directorships in two Local Government Council Controlled Organisations and a NZX listed company. He has assisted more than forty accounting firms with the governance, development, modernisation, and growth of their businesses.
 

John is passionate about CA ANZ differentiating and enhancing its brand and its value to members. His vision is to ensure accountants remain at the forefront of business through leadership, adaption, and the uptake of technology. His work within the industry has included presenting webinars, seminars, and workshops, speaking at conferences, and has hosted two seasons of the CA Catalyst pod-cast series Small Firm Big Impact.

Karen Draper CA - Panelist
B.Com, Grad Dip (Accy): Director, Wallace Diack Chartered

Born and raised in Marlborough, Karen is Marlborough’s representative on the Local Leadership team for the Chartered Accountants Australia and NZ.
 

Karen has worked in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada over the last 20 years as an accountant and has gained broad accountancy and taxation experience across a range of industries. Karen has worked in both public practice and corporate, and is a Director at Wallace Diack Chartered Accountants (a two-partner firm with 22 staff).

More recently Karen has become New Zealand’s second accountant to be part of the Early Adopters hub – connecting innovative and exciting tech startups in the accounting and SME space with progressive and tech-savvy accountants.