Peter Switzer is one of Australia’s leading business and financial commentators, launching his own business 20 years ago. The Switzer Group has since grown into three successful companies spanning media and publishing, financial services and business coaching.

Peter is an award-winning broadcaster, twice runner up for the Best Current Affairs Commentator award for radio, behind broadcaster Alan Jones. A former lecturer in economics at the University of NSW, Peter is currently

• weekly columnist for Yahoo!7 Finance
• a regular contributor to The Australian newspaper
• host of Talking Business for the Qantas in-flight service, Radio Q
• finance commentator on Vega FM
• host of his own TV show, Switzer, on SKY News Business Channel

Testimonials

Dear Peter, What fun! You are really very good at what you do. I appreciated our time together and wish you continued success in all you do. Have fun (I know you will).

Jack Welch, former CEO, GE, and ‘Manager of the Century’ (Fortune magazine)

Peter, It was great to have worked with you – you really made the event come alive. I hope you enjoyed yourself. I know Steve Ballmer [CEO, Microsoft Corporation] did.

John Galligan, Director of Corporate Affairs & Citizenship, Microsoft Australia

Here’s a home truth, my only real education – or teacher who I actually ever listen to – is your interviews on Qantas. So thank you with sincere respect.

Sean Ashby, Co-Founder, AussieBum

John McGrath is considered one of the most influential figures in the Australian property industry. As Chief Executive of McGrath Estate Agents, he took the company from a start-up in 1989 to one of Australia's most successful residential real estate groups, selling $3.25 billion in residential property in Sydney in FY09.

A total solution company, McGrath Estate Agents currently has 23 offices located throughout Sydney, the North Cost, Southern Highlands and the Blue Mountains, as part of its growing franchise network.

In October 2008, he was honoured by the Real Estate Institute of NSW with the Woodrow Weight OBE Award, a lifetime achievement award for his outstanding contribution to the real estate industry.

John himself has become a spokesperson for the industry both in Australia and internationally. John has five books that have reached bestseller status including “You Don’t Have To Be Born Brilliant” and “You Inc.”. In “The Ultimate Guide to Real Estate”, John shares with the reader his invaluable knowledge on the Australian property market.

www.johnmcgrathblog.com.au

Craig James is CommSec’s Chief Economist.

On leaving school Craig James joined the (then) Rural Bank, whilst undertaking university studies. He received his Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) at University of NSW in 1984 and then a Master of Commerce (Economics) at the same university in 1988.

He remained at the Rural Bank, which became the State Bank over time and then Colonial, working in branches, Corporate, Planning and Economic Research.

He became chief economist of Colonial Group in September 1987, before becoming chief economist at CommSec in August 2000 with the Commonwealth takeover of Colonial.

In 2002 Craig had a sea-change, joining the Australian Financial Review. He had always wanted to pursue a role in journalism and enjoyed the role as an economic commentator and analysts, finding that he could pursue a journalistic-type role as well as doing more electronic media work at CommSec and rejoined the group in 2003.

On taking the reigns of chief economist at Colonial, Craig endeavoured to style their research in a “user-friendly” way – something that set their research apart and still does today. The approach has been successful in their media work and in promoting Colonial, and then CommSec, to the general public. CommSec is the most quoted economic group in the mainstream media.

CommSec economic reports are a bit different in that they devise tools such as the ‘Mums and Dads’ share index and the iPod index, and undertake research on the weather and demographic changes to show how they affect the economy.

Craig currently does around 2-3 regular TV crosses a day, ad hoc radio and newspaper interviews and writes regular commentaries as well as presenting to staff, clients and external organisations.

Outside work, Craig's main interests are athletics (cross country in winter), weight training, reading widely across a range of newspapers, magazines and electronic media, and trying to keep up with the children.

Sinclair Taylor is Westpac’s Head of Self Managed Super Funds customer strategy, responsible for leading Westpac's growth in this highly affluent market. He also leads Westpac's Many Rivers microfinance program, providing unsecured micro loans to disadvantaged Australians wishing to start an enterprise. With a background in law and banking, Sinclair has been a Senior Relationship Manager in Westpac's Commercial Bank and Corporate Business Group, managing a range of business customers, and has spent time working in Westpac's in-house legal team. Prior to joining Westpac, Sinclair ran a successful entrepreneurial SME business.

Simon is 48 years of age and has been in the investment world almost all his life.

His father Bruce Bond was a pioneer in the world of personal financial advice and appeared as a regular in a large number of publications and the electronic media over a number of decades. His success and following gave rise to many of the financial journalists that are now heard around the nation on so many different programs and various formats.

Bruce was a trusted and respected member of the investment community and Simon has followed in his father’s footsteps.

Simon is a Partner at the Newport Office of ABN AMRO Morgans Australia, after having spent almost two decades learning his trade in the heart of stockbroking in Melbourne's Collins Street at various firms.

He relocated his family back to Sydney for family reasons around five years ago, coming almost full circle, having begun his career in the 70s as a “chalkie” at the Sydney Stock Exchange

Simon is fanatical about the way that technology and the internet is altering the investment landscape around the globe and focuses much of his outlook on how these profound changes will affect the outcomes and futures of investors everywhere.

Shane Oliver is head of investment strategy at chief economist at AMP Capital.

Jason is the Chief Executive Officer of Centuria Property Funds and a Director of the ASX listed Centuria Capital Limited.

In his role Jason is responsible for providing strategic leadership and ensuring the effective operation of Centuria’s property portfolio. Centuria Property Funds has over $1.1 billion of assets under management including 50 properties located throughout Australia. Centuria Property Funds is wholly owned subsidiary of Centuria Capital which is an ASX listed diversified funds manager with over $2 billion of assets under management.

He joined Centuria (formerly Century Funds Management Limited) upon its formation in 1999. In July 2006 Century was acquired by the Over Fifty Group and he was appointed General Manager, Property. Jason has been involved in investment property funds in Australia since 1996 and he has developed considerable expertise in investment property selection, fund feasibility and funds management.

Jason is Vice President of the Property Funds Association of Australia (PFA) and sits on the National Executive Committee. PFA is the peak industry body representing the $32 billion direct property investment industry.

Jason holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Commercial Law).

Jon Denovan is a senior partner at Gadens Lawyers Sydney office. He specialises in banking and finance law. Jon’s primary focus is on the financial services and real estate industries.

In recognition of his contribution to the mortgage industry, Jon was made the first honorary member of the MFAA. He is a director of numerous companies including Credit Ombudsman Services Limited (COSL), the largest ASIC approved alternate dispute resolution scheme, and Gadens NMS Pty Limited, Gadens’ mortgage documentation arm.

www.gadens.com.au

Glenn Baker joined ING Direct in 1994 and has more than 40 years of experience in the banking and finance industry. Prior to joining ING Direct, Glenn worked in local foreign bank subsidiaries and merchant banks, those being Natwest, Bank of Tokyo, and Rothschild. He commenced his banking and finance career at the Commonwealth Bank in 1968.

Following an initial period working in general banking Glenn has since specialised for more than 30 years in the areas of Treasury, Financial Markets Dealing, Asset and Liability Management and Investment. Glenn was directly involved in the establishment of ING Direct in Australia and had previously played a lead role in setting up Bank of Tokyo and Natwest subsidiaries following the initial granting of foreign bank licences in Australia.

More recently, Glenn has been engaged in the Finance function leading to his appointment as Chief Financial Officer in early 2011. In this role, Glenn has management responsibility for Financial Control and Treasury. He chairs the Asset and Liability Management Committee and Pricing Committee and is a member of the Bank’s Executive Committee and Management Committee.

Glenn is a Fellow of the Australian Certified Practicing Accountants and has a Bachelor Degree in Accounting and Financial Management.