FINSIA 2025 MEMBER CONSULTATION
The consultation period closed on Friday, 27 June 2025.
On behalf of the FINSIA Board, we want to express our sincere appreciation for the thoughtful feedback shared by members throughout this process. You can read the consultation paper here and we will be continuing to update FAQs here.
Over the coming weeks, the Board will carefully review all feedback shared with us to help inform and guide the Board’s decision-making in the period ahead. We are also actively working through specific questions raised by members regarding the proposed strategic alliance with the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI), with assistance from CISI, to provide clear and comprehensive answers.
We are committed to keeping you updated and informed throughout this important process. More information will be shared with you about the Board’s planned next steps, along with answers to the questions raised during the consultation process.
Thank you once again for your continued support and commitment to FINSIA. Your voice is helping shape the future of our professional community.
Sydney, 30 May 2025
A message to FINSIA members from FINSIA President, David R. Cox F FIN
The FINSIA Board is pleased to announce a proposed strategic alliance that would lead to FINSIA and all current members joining the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) later in 2025.
This initiative represents a unique opportunity for FINSIA members to expand their global recognition and networks, and to access world-class thought leadership and professional development opportunities. Over the past three years, the FINSIA Board has been reviewing feedback from members about our current member value proposition, and how that relates to FINSIA’s long-term strategic plan.
The Board has now identified a pathway that it believes will meet our members’ needs for professional recognition, high-quality education and learning opportunities, and networking forums to build and nurture connections across the global financial services sector.
This new strategic alliance with CISI will allow all FINSIA members to access a unique opportunity to become part of a global professional body with a well-respected and highly-regarded track record of work in the financial services sector. Additionally, all FINSIA members joining CISI will have access to exclusive professional designations, and for some of our highly experienced members the opportunity to become a “chartered member” after a short period of time.
FINSIA has had a long-standing partnership with CISI, whose members span the breadth of the financial services sector across banking, funds and wealth management, financial planning, securities dealing, corporate finance, fintech, and many other disciplines.
The FINSIA Board has recently signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with CISI to set out a pathway which will be exclusively available to FINSIA members whose membership is current and paid in full at the integration date.
While no specific date for FINSIA members to join CISI has been confirmed at this point, it is anticipated that this would occur in November 2025. This will allow time for a member consultation process to take place, and for the FINSIA Board to review feedback from members and commence the process of entering into a separate agreement with CISI to give effect to the alliance.
We understand this is a significant change for our organisation and our members.
Since FINSIA’s inception in 2005 – and previously through the Australasian Institute of Banking and Finance and the Securities Institute of Australia, and previous antecedent organisations – it has played a key role in developing and supporting professionalism in financial services in Australia and New Zealand for more than 135 years.
But as the market for financial services shifts, with an increasing focus on globalisation and specialisation, our members’ needs are changing. Evolving member expectations come at a time of rapid change in the professional development and learning marketplace, and those shifts have had a structural impact on FINSIA in a variety of different ways.
To continue delivering value to our members, it is critical that we look to the future. It is also essential that we preserve and respect your professional standing in the financial services community. The FINSIA Board is confident that a strategic alliance that would lead to FINSIA and all current members joining CISI is the right pathway forward, having considered a wide range of alternative options.
Member feedback is now closed.
The consultation period was closed on Friday, 27 June 2025.
The feedback shared by our members will be reviewed and will play an instrumental role in guiding the Board’s next steps. More information will be shared in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, we encourage you to read more about the consultation process by clicking the button below.
Click here to access the consultation paper
Additionally, the Board will continue to review more questions as they come. These questions will be answered in our FAQ.
FINSIA’s proposed strategic alliance with CISI – Your questions answered
On Thursday 19 June 2025, I hosted an online webinar to engage with members who wish to discuss the Board’s proposal with me, Vice President, Andrew McNeil SF FIN, and FINSIA Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Yasser El-Ansary F FIN.
This session outlined the proposed strategic alliance with CISI and highlighted how the transition will deliver real benefits for all FINSIA members. Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions about the proposal.
Click the button below to watch the recording.
Watch the recording
I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts during this important consultation process, and I thank you for your continued support of our organisation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
As FINSIA explores a proposed strategic alliance with the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI), we understand that members will have key questions about what this means for their membership, professional recognition, access to events, and ongoing learning and development opportunities.
Contact FINSIA
If you have any questions about your membership with FINSIA, or how you can renew your membership with FINSIA to ensure you are eligible to join CISI in late 2025, please contact us at enquiries@finsia.com.
