Programme
The Study tour is structured to deliver a dynamic mix of industry insights, strategic learning, and networking opportunities across Melbourne and Sydney.
Each day is of the tour is designed around a key theme, guiding you through market trends, business scaling strategies, leadership development and the latest in AI and innovation.
See below for a preview of what you can expect.
Sunday 27-July.
Arrive. Recharge. Get ready.
Touch down in Melbourne and check in at QT – your base for the first half of the tour. Take the evening to get settled, greet your fellow attendees and gear up for what’s ahead.
Monday 28-July.
Outlook, opportunity and action.
The Study tour kicks off with sharp insights and fresh perspectives on adviser trends, market movements, and what strong leadership looks like in practice.
After a welcome from Campbell our CEO, our first speaker will be Andrew Inwood, founder of CoreData. We’ll then hear from industry leaders Sam Tremethick from NMG and Wayne Handley, the MD of Bombora who’ll offer a compelling local view on building standout advice businesses in today’s climate.
- Andrew will explore where future growth will come from in the advice sector. Drawing on CoreData’s research across NZ, Australia and global markets, Andrew will share insights on operational efficiency, scaling businesses, and the shift towards business insurance as the key area of opportunity. He’ll also highlight emerging trends and innovations shaping the future of insurance advice.
- Wayne will share the Bombora journey – how he built and grew a market-leading, specialist risk-only advice business in Australia. His session will deliver practical insights into leadership, focus, and creating a strong advice culture.
- Sam will provide a broader market perspective, covering key trends across Australia and New Zealand. He’ll explore emerging growth opportunities, shifting client expectations, and what advisers need to stay ahead in a changing regulatory environment.
Later in the day we'll hear from Dean Holmes Co-Founder of Absolute Wealth Advisers and adviser coach at The Wealth Network on optimising business and Kevin Chou from Partner Re who will speak to product innovation.
- Dean draws from over 15-years of hands-on experience and will share practical strategies to help advisers optimise their business for future growth. With a focus on People and Process — particularly the people — Dean will explore how to structure your team and create a culture that supports long-term success. Known for his direct and action-oriented style, expect real-world insights you can immediately apply to your own practice.
- Kevin will share insights from across the APAC region, with a focus on trends and product innovation in the adviser space.
This opening session sets the tone for the tour – challenging you to think big, stay focused, and lead with clarity.
Tuesday 29-July.
Digital momentum and maturity: turning insight action.
Led by Professor Yalcin Akçay of Melbourne Business School, who’s worked with c-suites across global organisations, this full-day session turns the spotlight on digital transformation.
We’ll explore Fidelity Life’s digital maturity framework, designed to help advisers evolve with the accelerating pace of change across AI, automation, and digital strategy.
The session includes:
- Practical models to assess digital maturity across strategy, culture, technology, and operations.
- Self-assessment tools to benchmark current capabilities and identify growth areas.
- Real-world examples from financial services and beyond.
In the afternoon, we shift focus to communication and implementation – how to bring the digital maturity journey to life. This interactive session equips advisers with tools, templates, and messaging strategies to engage teams, drive adoption, and build a shared vision for transformation.
We’ll also be joined by additional members of the MBS faculty for the afternoon session.
Wednesday 30-July.
Scaling smarter: Equity, leverage and leadership.
On Day 3, in the morning we travel to Sydney to explore what separates good advisers from great ones. The focus is on mastery: refining the habits, frameworks, and strategies that drive a high performing business.
In the afternoon you’ll hear from industry leader Kris Mason, from MBS on what top-performing advice businesses are doing differently.
- Kris, joined by key members of his leadership team, will share his journey of significant growth, including how he’s scaled through strategic acquisitions and business modelling with a clear, focused vision.
Later in the afternoon, we’ll also hear from our reinsurance experts Hanover.
Focusing on reinsurance insights shaping the industry, this session’s designed to challenge your thinking and equip you with actionable ideas to take your business to the next level.
Thursday 31-July.
Advising at the edge: Innovation, efficiency, excellence.
We explore how technology and behavioural science are reshaping adviser-client relationships and business performance with the Team from The Lab Insight and Strategy.
We will also hear from Angus Woods from Adviser Ratings, who will share data-driven insights on the Australian advice market, including key trends, market statistics, and what sets top-performing advisers apart. We also have Paul Milbourne from Milbourne Insurance Solutions from sharing his insights on understanding and attracting the ideal client.
And with Terry Bell from Business Health, the focus will be on the practical implementation of strategies that are delivering real results for advice businesses today.
Key sessions include:
- Olivia Hendy and Nikki Dahlgren (The Lab Insight & Strategy) on values-led advice: how subtle shifts in communication and positioning can create deeper, more meaningful client impact.
Download you pre-work materials here. - Drawing on their latest research, Angus will highlight how leading advisers are achieving stronger revenue growth, higher profit margins, and better client outcomes. The session will explore diversity, shifts in adviser and client demographics, growing client fees, and trends in client acquisition. The team will also touch on technology, platform and research tool preferences, and the rise of small licensees — sharing lessons that could be applied in the New Zealand context.
- Paul will share practical insights on identifying and serving high-value clients, structuring advice to meet their needs, and the power of authenticity in building trust. He’ll also explore why “walking the talk” matters—sharing lessons from his own journey and why buying what you sell makes a difference.
- Terry will share 10 proven initiatives that are working in practice — from innovative approaches to business planning through to examples of how his overseas clients have adapted their business plans to drive success. His session will go beyond high-level themes, offering concrete examples and actionable insights on what successful businesses are doing and why — and how you can apply these ideas to their own practices.
This forward-looking session is packed with practical tools and ideas to elevate client engagement and drive future-focused growth.
Friday 1-August.
Reflect, reinforce, propel.
The final day is about consolidating your insights and setting your focus for what’s next.
- John Eales – legendary Wallaby and respected business leader – will present a powerful session on leadership under pressure.
You’ll also reconnect with programme director Tony Dench for guided reflection and action planning. Together, you’ll translate key takeaways into strategies you can implement right away.
You’ll leave with fresh insights, clear direction, and stronger connections – ready to propel your business into its next phase of growth.