South Australia’s most senior finance professionals will gather this May for the highly anticipated William Buck CFO Summit. Recognised as one of the state’s premier forums for connection, strategic thinking and business insight, the summit has firmly established itself as a must-attend event on the corporate calendar.
Hosted by leading accounting and advisory firm William Buck, the summit draws CFOs, finance leaders and business executives. Attendees can look forward to discussions addressing challenges and opportunities in the financial and business landscape.
Matthew King, William Buck Partner and Head of Audit and Assurance, says the momentum from last year is driving even greater ambition for 2026. “Last year was our strongest event yet with around 250 attendees and we’re expecting to build on that this year again,” he says. “It’s Adelaide’s only dedicated event for finance leaders, though the program resonates well beyond that audience. CEOs, CIOs and directors consistently find value in it too.”
King is quick to note that the summit is not just another technical accounting conference. “It’s a forum to explore challenges and opportunities shaping the role of CFOs and business executives today, including leadership, artificial intelligence, strategy and ESG.”
The summit lineup includes Bruce Carter AO, regarded as SA’s go-to problem solver in business circles, who will draw on decades of experience to offer lessons for today’s leaders.
William Buck Chief Economist Besa Deda will take the room through the current economic landscape, covering interest rates, the housing market and the geopolitical factors shaping business conditions.
“We’re also thrilled to welcome the Treasurer for the fourth year,” King says. “This year, we welcome Tom Koutsantonis, who will share the Malinauskas government’s economic vision for the state and what this means for SA businesses.”
Emerging technology and regulatory changes are a key focal point for this year’s discussions. Artificial intelligence will once again take centre stage, this time with a deeper dive into practical implementations for finance teams. ESG will also be a feature, exploring approaches and learnings gained from implementing ESG reporting.
Yet for many attendees, it’s the business stories that leave the strongest impression. “People consistently tell us how much they value hearing directly from well-known South Australian businesses,” King says. “The growth journeys, the strategic decisions, what’s worked and what hasn’t, these are the conversations that genuinely resonate in the room.” This year we welcome Sascha Detmold Cox, CEO of Detmold Group as well as Ben Miels, Group CEO of Stratco, who will share the story behind the company’s growth and the strategic thinking that has driven its success at scale.
The program also makes space for personal leadership and performance. Transformational speaker Dr Gemma Munro will deliver her session Peaceful Peak Performance, an inward-looking exploration designed to help time-pressed CFOs rebuild their energy, sharpen their focus and sustain high performance without burning out.
Networking remains at the heart of the summit’s value, offering numerous opportunities for connection, from breaks to an afternoon networking session over drinks. “The presentations spark the conversations, but the real magic happens in those informal moments.” Securing a CFO’s or executive’s time is never straightforward, but King says the summit’s consistent attendance speaks for itself. “These are extraordinarily busy people. There’s no ideal day on their calendar. But they keep coming back, and I think it’s because the combination of peer connection and genuine insight makes it worth prioritising.”
The William Buck CFO Summit takes place on May 13 at Adelaide Oval. For more details and to secure your spot, click here.
