The Kaizen team joined advisers, practice leaders and emerging planners for the 2026 FAAA Melbourne Inspire Lunch. Hosted by the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA), it is the profession's signature annual event celebrating and championing women in financial planning.
The Inspire Lunch brings together FAAA members and professionals from across the financial planning community to connect, share experiences and celebrate the achievements of women shaping the future of the profession.
Over lunch, conversations moved easily between career milestones, practice growth and the realities of building a long-term career in advice. Seasoned principals sat alongside planners only a few years into the profession, and that mix of perspectives is what gives the event its value. Here is what stood out.
What women in finance learn from Jelena Dokic about resilience and self-belief
The afternoon's keynote came from Jelena Dokic: former World No. 4 tennis player, bestselling author, advocate and award-winning broadcaster.
Jelena has become one of Australia's most respected commentators and a powerful voice for mental health and wellbeing. Her books, Unbreakable and Fearless, and the documentary Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story share a journey of overcoming adversity and finding strength through life's hardest moments.
Her message of resilience, perseverance and self-belief resonated deeply in a room of professionals who understand what it takes to build trust, grow a client base and lead through uncertainty.
How can the financial planning profession better support women?
Three themes from the day carry straight into the conversations we have with advisers and the firms that hire them.
For professionals: your path is an asset
Many of the most accomplished women in advice have built their careers through persistence and adaptability rather than a straight line. Career breaks, sideways moves and roles outside planning often bring client empathy, judgement and resilience that firms genuinely value. When you are considering your next move, tell that story with confidence.
For emerging planners: visibility changes what feels possible
Seeing women lead practices, licensees and investment committees makes the road ahead clearer. If you are early in your career, seek out mentors, attend events like Inspire and ask the questions you might otherwise hold back. The network you build now will shape the opportunities you hear about later.
For employers: culture is your strongest retention strategy
The firms attracting and keeping exceptional female talent are investing in mentoring, flexibility and clear pathways to equity and leadership. Candidates are asking about these things earlier in the hiring process, and they can tell the difference between a policy and a practice. Firms that can point to real examples are winning the best people.
How does Kaizen champion diversity, equity and inclusion in financial services recruitment?
Championing women in financial planning shapes how we work in every search, shortlist and placement. That means intentionally seeing and helping others see the capability behind them, and giving clients candid insight into what talented women in the market are looking for.
Two lessons from Jelena's keynote sit at the heart of that work. Everyone needs a person in their corner: for Jelena it was Todd Woodbridge, and it is a privilege to be that sounding board and source of support for our candidates and clients when it matters most. And perfection is a myth; there is real strength in being openly vulnerable rather than staying silent.
It also means showing up. Being part of the community, listening and learning alongside the profession, keeps our advice grounded in what is actually happening in the market.
Read more about our diversity, equity and inclusion practices in our Resources page
Thank you
Our sincere thanks to the FAAA Melbourne Inspire Committee for creating such a generous and welcoming space, and to Jelena Dokic for a keynote that will stay with us for a long time. Congratulations to every woman in the room whose work is shaping the future of financial planning.
Whether you are weighing your next career move or building a team that reflects the clients you serve, we would welcome a confidential conversation. Get in touch with the Kaizen team.
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