For over 20 years, Grant Thornton has been delivering industry insights, technical content, and networking opportunities to bankers from all the major financial institutions via our annual Bankers’ Boot Camp series.

As the series continues into 2024, we will continue to bring you virtual on-demand webinars with an array of guest industry speakers and Grant Thornton specialists sharing insights and expectations for the year ahead.

Global growth is forecast to be below historical averages over the next two years, with continuing economic uncertainty presenting ongoing challenges for bank customers. With interest rates peaking in late 2023, what will be the impact on households and businesses in 2024? Will record savings continue to cushion the impact of rising energy, food, and other living costs - and for how long?

 

With government departments and many private companies reducing headcount, will rising unemployment start to bite? While headwinds undoubtedly exist, there are opportunities for bank customers to best position themselves for future growth and success. Our series will aim to tackle these challenging questions and arm bankers with insights for their next customer conversation.  

Bankers' Boot Camp Series

Economic update - Dr Keith Suter AM

Economic update – Dr Keith Suter AM

Dr Keith Suter AM is a global futurist, thought leader, author and media commentator on national and foreign affairs. He has presented tailored keynotes at the Bankers' Boot Camps for the last few years and once again, has given us his predictions for the year ahead both locally and internationally.

Cyber Security

Cyber Security

Cyber security is a systemic risk to the prosperity of Australia and the problem is going to get worse before it gets better. Recent events have demonstrated that cybersecurity can impact everyone and that everyone has a role to play in addressing the issues. At the intersection of the problem for Australia is a weak point…mid-size business. With increasing regulatory interest in cyber and new legislation coming into play, business expectations on having robust cyber security mechanisms in place have never been higher.

This session explores recent events in the market and equip bankers with the knowledge to have informed conversations with their customers on this important and systemic business risk.

Sector focus: Issues confronting Residential Construction

Sector focus: Issues confronting Residential Construction

  • Matt Byrnes – Partner & National Head of Restructuring Advisory at Grant Thornton
  • Cameron Crichton – Partner, Financial Advisory at Grant Thornton
  • Tass Assarapin – Partner at Mitchell Brandtman
  • Darryl Bird – Partner at Mitchell Brandtman

In March 2023, one of Australia’s largest residential home builders, Porter Davis, collapsed leaving almost 3,000 homeowners in limbo. Matt Byrnes highlighted some of the challenges and learnings from Grant Thornton’s appointment as liquidators to the Porter Davis Homes Group, as well as from our dealings with other builders and industry participants.

Cameron Crichton along with Mitchell Brandtman Partners, Tass Assarapin and Darryl Bird discuss more broadly their expectations for the sector over the next 12 months, including regulatory and commercial trends impacting sub-contractors, suppliers and trades.

Restructuring & Insolvency update

Restructuring & Insolvency update

  • Tianne Nagy-Jones – Director, Financial Advisory at Grant Thornton
  • David Hodgson – Partner & Head of Financial Advisory [WA] at Grant Thornton
  • Matt Byrnes – Partner & National Head of Restructuring Advisory at Grant Thornton

A slowdown in demand in many sectors, coupled with higher interest rates and the rising cost of living, is putting increased pressure on many businesses. At a headline level, insolvency appointments are materially up on recent years. But what does this actually mean and how is this impacting our economy?

Our panel of restructuring specialists covered a number of areas that should be front of mind for bankers, including;

  1. Insolvency trends & stats
  2. ATO update and recent enforcement activity
  3. Restructuring options for bank customers
  4. Law reform - what can we expect?
  5. Safe Harbour protection for directors – has it been a success?
  6. Important early warning signs to look out for in a customer
Sector focus: Manufacturing

Sector focus: Manufacturing

Australian mid-sized manufacturers continue to face challenges including supply chain disruption, rising costs and more recently cost of living pressures now impacting consumer demand. However the industry has a history of resilience and a demonstrated ability to adapt. Hear from industry experts as we share and discuss the latest trends and insights, and highlight what to be mindful of as bankers in the sector. This includes a presentation of the (unique to Grant Thornton) manufacturing benchmarking data, drawing on the audited financial results of 100 mid-sized manufacturers. 

Speakers: 

  • Michael Climpson - Partner & National Head of Manufacturing at Grant Thornton Australia
Sector focus: Retail

Sector focus: Retail

Consumers are engaging with and reacting to the retail sector in new ways, forcing many retailers to look at their entire ecosystem. Questions remain over how Australian retailers balance their investments in a high inflation environment, and how they address the ongoing challenges around attracting and retaining top industry talent. Our retail experts will also share some of the key trends emerging in other advanced markets, including their observations from the National Retail Federation (NRF) conference that was held in New York in January.

Speaker:

  • Liz Webster - Partner, Management Consulting at Grant Thornton Australia
Supporting bank customers through M&A

Supporting bank customers through M&A

We will discuss M&A activity in the Australian market and how you can support your customers in planning for and undertaking M&A activity. The session will include:

  • Overview of the current market conditions for M&A including statistics from our 2023 Dealtracker Report
  • Working with your customers to explore acquisition opportunities
  • Private equity as an opportunity for your customers to secure additional funding, enable a partial exit, support growth and build their business to an ultimate exit
  • Talking to your customers about maximising the value of their business, including an overview of valuation principles

Speaker:

  • Holly Stiles - Partner & National Head of Corporate Finance at Grant Thornton
Restructuring & Insolvency update

Restructuring & Insolvency update

Our technical specialists, including Partners from both Grant Thornton and Norton Rose, will discuss a number of legal and commercial issues impacting banks and their customers in the current market

Speakers:

Sector focus: Aged Care & Health

Sector focus: Aged Care & Health

A panel of specialists and industry participants will discuss a number of challenges and opportunities facing aged care, and provide suggestions for what key stakeholders, including the government, need to do to ensure the resilience and sustainability of this critical sector.  Key elements will include the results of investigations by the aged care taskforce and its recommendations, the new Aged Care Act and its likely focus on consumer rights, and the future of Refundable Accommodation Deposits.

Speakers:

  • Darrell Price - Principal & National Head of Health & Aged Care at Grant Thornton
  • Michael McCann - Partner & Head of Financial Advisory - Cairns at Grant Thornton
  • Carolyn Bamberry - Director, Financial Advisory at Grant Thornton
  • Melissa Argent - CEO at Rockpool Residential Aged Care

Watch the full series on-demand

Fill out the form below to gain access to recordings & resources

Featured speakers

Matt Byrnes
Series facilitator
Matt Byrnes Follow on LinkedIn

Partner & National Head of Restructuring Advisory at Grant Thornton

Dr Keith Suter AM
Keynote speaker
Dr Keith Suter AM

Global futurist, thought leader, author, and media commentator in national and foreign affairs

Cameron Crichton
Industry Specialist
Cameron Crichton Follow on LinkedIn

Partner, Financial Advisory at Grant Thornton

Tass Assarapin
Industry Specialist
Tass Assarapin Follow on LinkedIn

Partner at Mitchell Brandtman

Darryl Bird
Industry specialist
Darryl Bird Follow on LinkedIn

Partner at Mitchell Brandtman

Tianne Nagy-Jones
Presenter
Tianne Nagy-Jones Follow on LinkedIn

Director, Financial Advisory at Grant Thornton

David Hodgson
Presenter
David Hodgson Follow on LinkedIn

Partner & Head of Financial Advisory [WA] at Grant Thornton Australia

Matthew Green
Presenter
Matthew Green Follow on LinkedIn

Partner, Risk Consulting at Grant Thornton

Featured speakers cont.

Michael Climpson
Industry Specialist
Michael Climpson

Partner & National Head of Manufacturing at Grant Thornton

Liz Webster
Industry Specialist
Liz Webster Follow on LinkedIn

Partner – Management Consulting at Grant Thornton

Holly Stiles
Presenter
Holly Stiles Follow on LinkedIn

Partner & National Head of Corporate Finance at Grant Thornton Australia

Darrell Price
Industry Specialist
Darrell Price Follow on LinkedIn

Principal & National Head of Health & Aged Care at Grant Thornton

Michael McCann
Industry Specialist
Michael McCann Follow on LinkedIn

Partner, Financial Advisory at Grant Thornton

Carolyn Bamberry
Industry Specialist
Carolyn Bamberry Follow on LinkedIn

Director - Financial Advisory at Grant Thornton

Melissa Argent
Presenter
Melissa Argent

CEO, Rockpool Residential Aged Care

Philip Campbell-Wilson
Presenter
Philip Campbell-Wilson Follow on LinkedIn

Partner – Financial Advisory at Grant Thornton

Natasha Toholka
Presenter
Natasha Toholka Follow on LinkedIn

Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright

Jenna Scott
Presenter
Jenna Scott Follow on LinkedIn

Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright

Organiser

For all series enquiries please contact:

Amy Watson

Executive Assistant | amy.watson@au.gt.com | +61 3 8663 6026

Contact organiser

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