Financial Executives Institute of Australia (FEI)

The State of Workplace Burnout Report 2024 puts the global rate of burnout at 38% and CFOs and finance teams are not immune. That's why we included an important panel session on 'Resilience and Burnout' in our FEI Mentee Forum. We were fortunate to hear from: * Justin Vaughan, founder of Essentio Health which offers personalised assessment and coaching for health and wellbeing integrating diet, exercise, sleep and mental health * organisational and industrial psychologist John Chan, Ph.D., who helped us consider the enterprise level contributors and mitigants for this very real issue * positive psychologist Marie McLeod, founder of Thrive Ability who featured in the award-winning "How to Thrive" documentary with her program to assist people across a range of circumstances improve their mental wellbeing, and * Nick Gorman, career and worklife balance coach, and founder of Equilibrium at work whose passion and skill for helping professionals achieve high performance with balance was born from his own lived experience with burn out. With such a range of perspectives on our expert panel, our mentees found the discussion "relevant", "important" and "real". A very big thank you to Nick, Marie, John and Justin from FEI. #FEIForum #MentoringLearningConnecting #PayItForward

Our Emerging Leader Small Group Mentees had a great discussion with CFO Brendan Hargreaves on the topic of 'Finance as a Business Partner'. Having been a General Manager as well as a CFO, Brendan is perfectly positioned to share insights from both perspectives. Thanks Brendan for sharing your experience. #FEIForum #MentoringLeraningConnecting #PayItForward

FEI is fortunate to be able to tap into our unparalleled CFO and business network for the benefit of our mentees. Thank you to Peter Marriott, Amanda McIntyre FCA, and Chad Barton for participating in an excellent panel discussion exploring the DNA of a CFO, hosted by FEI President Julie Raffe. In particular, we focused on three specific challenges for CFOs according to EY global research: balancing investing for long-term value, with delivering near-term results; managing risk while driving value through bold transformation and delivering against an increasingly broad CFO remit off the back of a traditional finance career path. The degree and diversity of experience on our panel generated a very rich conversation for our Flagship Mentees. #FEIForum #MentoringLearningConnecting #PayItForward

At FEI, we support the careers of finance execs. In helping our mentees realise their ambitions, we've observed it's more common to focus on the WHAT? than the WHY? when it comes to career goals. That's why Gabrielle Pimstone's session on defining purpose was the perfect opening for our 2-day FEI Mentee Forum. She delivered a thoughtful, interactive, engaging and practical introduction to a concept that can feel critically important and out-of-reach in equal measure. Our mentees are still reflecting on the session, and their own purpose. Thanks Gabrielle. #FEIForum #MentoringLearningConnecting #PayItForward

For the first time in the 22-year history of our mentoring programs, we got our Australia-wide FEI mentees together in one place last week (not to mention our delegate from Japan!) for a 2-day residential Mentee Forum. Spirits were high as we kicked off and introduced our 2024/25 cohort. #FEIForum #MentoringLearningConnecting #PayItForward

An excellent discussion to wrap-up our Mentoring Program Launch series for another year -- with FEI Director David Lamont in conversation with Mike Tilley in Melbourne. Mike's interesting stories drawn across his depth of experience (as an advisor, a CEO, a Chair and an investor) as well as his thoughtful reflections and practical advice, once-again showcased the value of the FEI network and learning from others. Thank you Mike, and thank you to our FEI Mentors, Mentees, Members and Guests for another great start to our mentoring season. #cfodevelopment #mentoring #payitforward

Another great FEI Mentoring Program launch event – this time in Sydney – and FEI extends its sincere thanks to our guest speaker Audette Exel AO, founder and Chair of Adara Group, for her candid discussion with FEI President Julie Raffe. Audette’s engaging anecdotes from her diverse career experience, along with the impact her innovative international development organisation is having globally, perfectly showcased her advice to “be yourself, and don’t fear failure”. A wide-ranging conversation, and an inspiring way to farewell our outgoing Mentees, welcome our incoming cohort and acknowledge the great work of our FEI Mentors. Thanks Audette. #payitforward #cfodevelopment #mentoring  

FEI would like to thank Ann Sherry AO for presenting at our recent FEI Mentoring Launch event in Brisbane. Ann told some wonderful career stories – sharing an honest and, at times, humorous take on the ‘behind-the-scenes’ not only of her many successes, but also the challenges, mistakes, and lessons learned along the way. There’s no doubt she inspired our audience to tackle each day as she has – by being bold. This is the season for our FEI Mentoring Launch events – our favourite event series of the year as we welcome the next cohort of FEI mentees, farewell those mentees coming to the end of their time on the program and, most especially, thank our mentors for their time, wisdom and support of the FEI programs.  Not to mention, it is always enjoyable to reconnect with our members across three states. Thanks to FEI Directors Sharyn Williams (who may have an alternative career path as an interviewer), and Cale Bennett (a talented, but unexpected poet!) for hosting. #payitforward #cfodevelopment #mentoring

FEI would like thank Jennie McLaughlin, founder of Purpose-led Transformation and former EY Partner, for joining us for our recent FEI member roadshow in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. It was a pleasure to host Jennie for the series of informative, interesting and thought-provoking workshops – and we are grateful for her high-quality follow-up material, including a methodology to help our members discover their own purpose. Jennie has worked as a strategic advisor to Boards and CEOs of over 100 organisations -- global multinationals, start-ups and large not-for-profits -- to help define and authentically activate purpose. We also enjoyed connecting with FEI Members across the Eastern states during February/March. #payitforward #cfodevelopment #mentoring

We are delighted to host Jennie McLaughlin, founder of Purpose-led Transformation and former EY Partner, for our Sydney Member Breakfast tomorrow. Jennie has worked as a strategic advisor to Boards and CEOs of over 100 organisations -- global multinationals, start-ups and large not-for-profits -- to help define and authentically activate purpose. Tomorrow marks the final session of our three state roadshow. We have enjoyed connecting with FEI Members across the Eastern states during February/March.   #payitforward #cfodevelopment #mentoring