Meet Your Risk Academy Educators

David Glen, National Technical Manager, TAL

David’s responsible for providing advice on the tax treatment of TAL products. He also leads the development and delivery of technical content for advisers. With over 20 years’ experience providing tax and strategic advice to the financial services industry in Australia and Asia, David is well equipped to work closely with advisers to formulate effective client solutions. David has worked as a tax partner at a large accounting firm and has also been a tax counsel for several insurance companies. David is a qualified solicitor, Chartered Accountant and holds a post graduate diploma in taxation law.

Scott Hoger, National Manager, Education and Partnerships, TAL

Scott joined TAL in 2013 and has over 15 years' experience in financial services. At TAL, Scott's responsible for providing strategic advice solutions to advisers and licensees. Scott has a strong technical knowledge base, having worked as a financial adviser and business development manager in a number of large banking institutions and insurance companies. He's also run his own financial planning business, specialising in personal and business insurance.

Jason Bamford, National Manager, TAL Risk Academy

Jason has over 20 years experience in financial services, including roles in senior product management and innovation.

He joined TAL in 2007 as a Senior Product Manager to develop products for advisers, before moving to the Licensee and partnership team to play an integral role in the creation of TAL Risk Academy.

Jason has a degree in Marketing and Management and is currently completing his Masters in Financial Planning.

Glenn Baird, Head of Mental Health, TAL

Glenn Baird leads TAL’s mental health strategy working with internal stakeholders and mental health groups to encourage the health and wellbeing of TAL’s people, its customers and of all Australians.

A qualified psychotherapist, facilitator and trainer with over 14 years’ experience, Glenn has mainly worked with suicidal clients from diverse backgrounds – including professional athletes, corporate lawyers and tradespeople.

Glenn has designed and implemented award-winning workplace education and support programs promoting health and wellbeing.

Danielle Waugh, Advice Education Manager, TAL

Danielle joined TAL in 2016 and has over 18 years of financial services experience, predominantly within licensees. She has qualifications in both financial planning and human resource management.

Danielle is responsible for managing the TAL Risk Academy content, ensuring it aligns with advisers’ educational goals.

With a particular interest in Professional Year and supporting new entrants, Danielle is passionate about the future of financial advice.

Vaish Harishanker, Mental Health Coordinator, TAL

Vaish works closely with Glenn Baird to support TAL’s mental health strategy.

Prior to working with TAL, Vaish held positions withing the financial services industry, as well as a number of years at a not-for-profit supporting outpatients from hospital care.

Vaish has completed her Bachelors in Psychology with honours (UNSW), an Introduction to Clinical Psychology at Harvard University and is currently completing her Masters in Psychology.

Jo Hetherington, Head of Financial Health, TAL

Jo joined TAL in 2011 and has over 22 years’ experience in forensic accounting.  A Chartered Accountant, Jo worked at one of the ‘Big 4’ accounting firms for 10 years. During this time, she acted as an expert witness, quantified economic losses for personal injury cases and was involved in commercial litigation matters.

Part of Jo’s role as Head of Financial Health at TAL is leading financial thought leadership and training programs, and working closely with TAL Risk Academy to educate advisers and TAL’s underwriting and claims teams to help increase financial risk efficacy across the business.

Jade Custance, Business Development Manager, TAL

Jade has over 15 years’ experience in the financial services industry and a true passion for risk advice since joining TAL in 2008.

Working closely with advisers, her experience spans risk insurance, practice management and business analytics, and is complemented by her studies in Financial Services and Management.

Jade helps advisers grow their businesses with unique value propositions, advice opportunities and helping making risk business efficient. She particularly enjoys working with new entrants and supporting them to excel in their career.

Adara Campbell, Senior Cyber Awareness Analyst, TAL

Adara Campbell is a cybersecurity awareness and education specialist at TAL, who is passionate about raising awareness of key cyber risks and the behaviours required to address day to day cybersecurity challenges.

Her job is to help influence positive changes in online behaviours and digital culture both at work and at home. Ultimately, helping to solve human problems and simplify security for people.

Sarah Abood, Chief Executive Officer, Financial Advice Association Australia

Sarah Abood has over 25 years’ experience working in the financial services industry and she is a passionate advocate for financial planning.

Sarah has a deep understanding of the financial planning profession, and the demands of running a financial planning practice. This was gained from her nine years as a CEO of privately-owned and self-licensed financial planning firm.

Prior to commencing as FAAA CEO, Sarah held the position of chief operating officer at HOPE Housing Funds Management. She has also worked in senior change and transformation, and marketing roles for some of Australia’s leading financial institutions. Sarah holds a BA from the University of Sydney, an MBA from Macquarie University (MGSM) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Sacha Loutkovsky, Founder, The Sail Agency

Sacha Loutkovsky is a former award-winning financial adviser who specialised in insurance advice for more than 15 years, advising clients on how to best set up and manage their protection strategies. During her advice career, Sacha was the NSW Chair for the AFA’s GenXt program and sat on various Boards of Advice.

Sacha is currently Head of Learning and Development for Finance (Corporate Services) at Griffith University, where she is responsible for the training and development of more than 4,500 employees.

Under her brand The Sail Agency, she also works with financial advice firms and product providers to help engage and grow their customer base through the use of content, media, education programs and process enhancements.

Jason McSpeerin, Co-founder and Director, Lifexplorer

Over the past 20 years, Jason has delivered more than 1,500 workshops to some of the world’s leading corporate organisations, with a strong focus on Sales Capability, Business Development and Sales Leadership.

He has provided specialist advice to organisations in numerous industries and his clients include AMP, ANZ, QSuper, Super Partners and Telstra Super.

Jason’s talent lies in his ability to think strategically and deliver workshops in a highly facilitative, engaging manner.

Jason currently develops training and initiatives for Insight Learning Solutions. It’s through these initiatives that Jason has seen phenomenal results in the form of changing employee behaviour for the better: effectively increasing sales, improving leadership capabilities and enhancing employee engagement.

Jason Poole, Adviser and Managing Director, GPA Financial Services

Jason runs a strategic financial planning practice that helps people make better financial decisions so that they can enjoy life with peace of mind.

Apart from loving his clients, he also helps Australian financial advisers to advise with more confidence and master how to build a value and fee-based business model so they can put their clients first, stay in business and protect their profits.