Dear TMA Australia members, sponsors and partners,

With the current elevated levels of uncertainty, geopolitical tension, fuel crisis and rising inflation, it is timely for TMA to be at the forefront of the business and director community and public sector.

In stepping into the role of President of TMA Australia for 2026, I will continue to be a passionate advocate for the positive work TMA members do in our economy, and community. Whilst insolvency grabs the headlines, much of the work of TMA members is discrete, complex and innovative to recycle capital, restructure balance sheets and drive an operational turnaround.   

I am privileged to fulfil this role to serve our members and am fortunate to have two outstanding contributors to the TMA, Genevieve Sexton (Arnold Bloch Leibler) as Vice President, and Jason Preston (McGrathNicol) as Chair, supported by a collegiate and driven Board with a breadth of capability across advisors, funds, lawyers and lenders.

A community built for uncertain times

We are operating in an environment defined by ongoing economic pressure and uncertainty — both globally and domestically. In this context, the role of turnaround and restructuring professionals has never been more important.

It is critical that TMA Australia remains front of mind for corporates navigating these challenges. TMA Australia represents a highly skilled and connected community, focused on helping businesses stabilise, adapt and recover. Our members bring clarity in complex situations and play a critical role in supporting better outcomes across the economy.

In 2026, TMA will be amplifying the work of our members through its partnership with AICD, thought leadership, education and advocacy with senior stakeholders across the market.

Momentum and focus for 2026

TMA Australia enters 2026 in a position of strength, following a year of meaningful progress — including strong membership growth and a continued focus on diversifying our membership to reflect the breadth of professionals working across the turnaround and restructuring ecosystem, expanded education offerings, the launch of the Certified Turnaround Analyst (CTAAus) designation, and the delivery of more than 40 events nationally.

Our focus now is on consolidating this momentum and increasing our impact.

Education remains a core pillar of our offering — through the Turnaround Strategy Course, Education Day, the Allegro-TMA Turnaround Case Competition, and our certification pathways — ensuring members are supported at every stage of their career and equipped to respond to an evolving market, including the Certified Turnaround Practitioner (CTPAus) for senior and experienced leaders.

Members - We continue to recognise and celebrate member excellence through our awards program, highlighting outstanding contributions and achievements across the turnaround and restructuring profession.

Thought leadership - We are committed to strengthening TMA Australia’s role as a leading voice in advocacy across turnaround, restructuring, director duties and Safe Harbour and insolvency reform.

We are also seeing strong momentum from the Voluntary Code for Equitable Insolvency & Restructuring Appointments (EIRA). Eighteen months on, 35 firms have signed the Code, with early signs of meaningful change — including greater visibility of women in large appointments and leadership roles.

In doing so, our focus is to strengthen TMA Australia’s public voice, build a credible evidence base, engage more deeply with directors and policymakers, and position TMA as a leader in innovation across restructuring and turnaround.

Key dates and National Conference

Some key dates for 2026 to mark in your diary include:

• Education Day (7 May) in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth
• Annual Turnaround & Private Equity Lunch (QLD)
• Alternative Capital Providers Lunch (VIC)
• Sydney Soiree (NSW)
• Perth Capital Meets Turnaround (WA)

I also encourage you to save the date for our National Conference and Gala Dinner on 16–17 September in Sydney — our flagship event and a key opportunity to connect, learn and share insights across the profession. I am delighted that David Kennedy (EY), Samantha Kinsey (Mallesons) and Brad Leahy (Allegro) will be the 2026 conference co-chairs.

Looking ahead

I look forward to working with our members, sponsors and partners as we continue to build a stronger, more resilient business community.

For those able to attend INSOL in London in April 2026, we are delighted to be hosting TMA Members on 19 April at an exclusive networking reception hosted in collaboration with the Australian High Commission, London. We are honoured that the Australian High Commissioner, Jay Wetherill, will host the reception.

TMA is built for times of uncertainty.

Gayle Dickerson
President, TMA Australia