Enjoy canapé and drinks reception to continue conversations in the Parterre room.
The LIA’s Annual Conference returns as a flagship event for financial services professionals. The conference attracts approximately 320 senior delegates each year from financial planning, pensions, investments, wealth management, and financial advice.
This full-day, CPD-accredited event is built around three core pillars. It focuses on internal strength, client impact, and business momentum, giving advisers practical insight to strengthen personal performance, improve client outcomes, and build a business that can sustain long-term success.
The conference is designed to maximise meaningful peer connection. Delegates attend from across the financial services sector, creating opportunities to share insight, challenge thinking, and build professional relationships. Networking takes place throughout the day, including dedicated morning and afternoon breaks, lunch, and a canapés and drinks reception from 16:30pm - 17:45pm at the close of the conference.
Date: Thursday, 30th April 2026
TIme: 9:15am to 16:30pm.
Location: The Johnstown Estate, Co. Meath.
CPD: 4 hours toward categories 1, 2, 3, CU, and CFP® designation
Ticket price: €135
Lead Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Market Intelligence
Stay ahead of industry trends with expert analysis on regulatory developments, economic shifts, and emerging opportunities in financial services.
Practical Insights
Gain actionable strategies and real-world solutions to enhance your financial advisory practice and navigate the evolving landscape with confidence.
Speakers
Hear from a diverse lineup of national and international thought leaders who will share their expertise, experiences, and future-focused insights.
CPD
Earn 4 hours Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to maintain your professional credentials while deepening your industry knowledge.
Networking
Build meaningful connections with peers, industry leaders, and experts through structured networking sessions and informal discussions.
Personal Development
Strengthen resilience, personal effectiveness and leadership presence to perform with clarity, confidence and sustained impact.
Anton Savage
Conference MC, Broadcaster, Journalist and Communications Expert
Anton Savage is a broadcaster, journalist, author and communications expert. He has presented The Anton Savage Show, Savage Sunday and The Sunday Business Show, and has written for every leading national publication. An experienced conference MC and moderator, Anton is also Managing Director of The Communications Clinic, one of the country’s leading communications consultancies.
Mark Hedderman
LIA President & CEO of Hedderman Financial Solutions
LIA President & CEO of Hedderman Financial Solutions
Mark Hedderman is President of LIA and CEO of Hedderman Financial Solutions, a multi-award-winning advisory firm. He also serves on the Board of Financial Planners of Ireland (FPI). With advanced professional qualifications, Mark is known for delivering clear, structured financial planning and simplifying complex challenges for clients. He has previously served in the Reserve Defence Services which has helped influence his work ethic and disciplined approach.
Kevin McConnell
CEO, Gem Strategic
Kevin McConnell is CEO of Gem Strategic, a specialist consultancy advising financial institutions on capital, risk and strategy. With over 30 years’ experience in global capital markets, he works with European and North American institutions on capital resilience and investment oversight. Kevin serves on investment committees and boards, and lectures in Wealth Management at Trinity College Dublin.
View LinkedIn Profile
Seb Lewis
Senior Strategist, Vanguard Advisory Research Centre
Sebastian Lewis, CFA, is a Senior Strategist in Vanguard’s Advisory Research Centre, providing insights and thought leadership on investing, portfolio management and financial planning. He has over 20 years’ experience in global equity research and asset management, holding senior roles at Morgan Stanley and Sanford Bernstein in New York and London, including Director of European Research. He joined Vanguard in 2024.
Caroline Dabu
Prinicipal, VSGS Advisory Services Inc. & FPSB Global Board Chairperson-elect
Caroline Dabu is Principal of VSGS Advisory Services and a global advocate for the future of financial planning. With over 25 years’ leadership experience in wealth management, she helps firms evolve beyond traditional models for sustainable growth. Caroline is the Chairperson-elect for FPSB Ltd., the international standards body overseeing CFP® certification. She serves on international boards and is a recognised voice on strategy, longevity and advice transformation.
View LinkedIn Profile
Lisa Cusack
Pilot, Aer Lingus
Lisa Cusack is a pilot with Aer Lingus, flying the Airbus A330 to the United States. Inspired by her first flying lesson at 13, she pursued aviation after graduating from DCU with an honours degree in Applied Physics, funding her own early training through business ventures. Selected as one of 18 cadet pilots from 3,000 applicants, Lisa is now a sought-after motivational speaker and award-winning advocate for women in aviation.
Mairead Hennessy
Founder & Principal, Taxkey
Máiréad Hennessy is Principal of Taxkey, a specialist tax consultancy she founded in 2016. A Chartered Tax Advisor and Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland, she has over 20 years’ experience advising business owners, high-net-worth individuals and property investors on complex tax matters. Máiréad is a regular conference speaker and contributes to tax policy discussions through the Tax Administration Liaison Committee (TALC).
View LinkedIn Profile
Roma Burke
Chairperson, NAERSA & Partner and Consulting Actuary, Lane Clark & Peacock Ireland Ltd.
Roma Burke is Partner and Consulting Actuary at Lane Clark & Peacock Ireland Ltd., with over 25 years’ experience advising trustees and corporates on pensions, governance and regulatory strategy. Recently elected Chair of NAERSA and former Chair of the Pensions Council, she has held numerous leadership roles across the profession and is a Chartered Director and Fellow of the Society of Actuaries in Ireland.
Sharon Malone
CEO & Founder, Finerty
Sharon Malone is CEO and Founder of Finerty, an Open Finance platform providing financial advisers and institutions with real-time data and client insights. A former wealth adviser with 15 years’ experience in financial planning, business exit and retirement strategy, she is known for her innovative approach to advice and for leveraging technology to improve efficiency, transparency and client outcomes.
Alex Denning
Professional GT Racing Driver
Alex Denning is a professional GT racing driver with over 18 years’ competition experience. In 2022, he was named Motorsport Ireland Young Driver of the Year, and in 2025 became the first official Lamborghini Driver for Ireland after winning the Lamborghini Asia Pro Championship. A Business and Economics graduate of Trinity College Dublin, he also runs a driver academy mentoring the next generation on career development.
Paul Dicker
Principal, Paul Dicker Consulting
Paul Dicker is a Professional Development Consultant and Principal of Paul Dicker Consulting. He holds an MA in Applied Psychology (Positive and Coaching Psychology) from University College Cork. With over 30 years’ experience in financial services and consulting, Paul now works with organisations across the private and public sectors, delivering training, facilitation and executive coaching.
Alan Quinlan
Head of Digital Innovation - Irish Life
Alan Quinlan is Head of Digital Innovation at Irish Life, leading the development of digital and AI capabilities for brokers and clients. He previously established the European hub for Ignition Advice, co-founded AI financial engagement platform Dimply and held senior strategy roles with BT Financial Group in Australia. A fintech mentor and investor, Alan specialises in digital transformation and innovation in financial services.
Agenda
-
Registration, Networking and Refreshments
8:30 AM - 9.15 AM
-
Welcome and Opening Remarks
9:15 AM - 9:40 AM
Joanne Keane, CEO of LIA
-
Wealth Demographics and the Financial Planning Landscape in Ireland
9:40 AM - 10:20 AM
Kevin McConnell
An in-depth look at the evolving wealth profile of Irish consumers and the trends shaping the financial planning profession.
-
Future-Proofing Wealth: Tax-Smart Strategies for you and your clients
10:25 AM - 11:00 AM
Mairead Hennessy
In this session Máiréad will explore tax considerations for personal, family and business succession planning, including tax-efficient exit strategies for financial planners. She will also discuss when to seek specialist advice and the value of collaborative planning in achieving stronger outcomes.
-
Morning Break
11:00 AM - 11:25 AM
Grab a coffee, network with peers and meet with event support sponsors and exhibitors in The Yeats suite.
-
NAERSA’s current priorities and progress, together with key trends
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Roma Burke
An overview of NAERSA’s current priorities and progress, together with key trends emerging across the sector. The session will also explore areas for development and provide insight into forthcoming changes and what they may mean for the profession.
(Breakout Room Session)
Precision & Discipline Under Pressure - Alex Denning
Small, disciplined decisions - whether on track or in portfolios - compound over time and determine long-term outcomes. -
Panel Discussion: Open Finance
12:05 PM - 12:45 PM
Sharon Malone and Alan Quinlan - facilitated by Mark Hedderman
A panel discussion exploring the opportunities, challenges, and future of Open Finance.
-
Lunch and Networking
12:45 PM - 13:40 PM
Hot Lunch will be served in the Fire & Salt Restaurant.
-
Quantifying the value of Advice, using behavioural coaching to drive better client outcomes
13:40 PM - 14:15 PM
Seb Lewis
This discussion will explore how financial advisers can clearly quantify and communicate the tangible value of advice, with a particular focus on the role of behavioural coaching in improving client decision-making, long-term outcomes, and overall financial wellbeing.
-
Redefining Wealth: The Longevity Lens
14:15 PM - 14:55 PM
Caroline Dabu
Caroline will explore why traditional wealth strategies are no longer enough in the age of longevity, introducing a “Longevity Asset Allocation” framework and practical tools to help advisers build resilient, multi-dimensional strategies that prepare clients for longer, healthier lives.
(Breakout Room Session)
Mindset For High Performance - Paul Dicker
This session explores the mindset behind consistent high performance. Drawing on positive psychology, Paul shares practical shifts to build resilience, stay optimistic, maintain momentum and perform at your best -
Afternoon Break
14:55 PM - 15:15 PM
Grab a coffee, network with peers and meet with event support sponsors and exhibitors in The Yeats suite.
-
The Sky is Not the Limit!
15:20 PM - 16:20 PM
Lisa Cusack
From her first flying lesson at age 13 to becoming an Airbus A330 pilot with Aer Lingus, Lisa Cusack’s journey is a story of ambition, resilience and unwavering self-belief. She will share the determination, discipline and mindset that helped her overcome many obstacles to realise her lifelong dream - and the lessons we can all apply in our own personal and professional lives.
-
MC Wrap up
16:20 PM - 16:30 PM
-
Drinks Reception & Networking
16:30 PM - 17:45 PM
Breakout Room
-
Precision & Discipline Under Pressure
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Alex Denning
Small, disciplined decisions - whether on track or in portfolios - compound over time and determine long-term outcomes.
-
Mindset For High Performance
14:15 PM - 14:55 PM
Paul Dicker
This session explores the mindset that underpins consistent high performance. Drawing on positive psychology, Paul will examine the mental habits that build resilience, optimism and sustained motivation. He will share practical mindset shifts to help you navigate setbacks, maintain momentum and perform at your best.