Accounting and business advisory firm PKF Newcastle will deliver a series of online professional development seminars throughout October 2026, targeting core operational disciplines for business owners, company directors and senior managers. The three-part educational series addresses common governance and administrative capability gaps across three primary pillars: corporate financial literacy, director statutory duties and workplace health and safety compliance.
The structured curriculum is designed to assist recently promoted executives, board members and business founders operating across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens and the Upper Hunter. Delivered via live online interactive modules with recorded access options, the program aims to provide decision-makers with practical oversight skills without requiring specialised accounting or legal qualifications.
The first module, Financial Fundamentals for Decision Makers, is presented by PKF Partner Stacie Shaw and focuses on interpreting commercial balance sheets, profit and loss statements and corporate cash flow metrics. The second session, Director Duties, led by PKF Director Simon Rutherford, covers statutory obligations, governance risks, and personal liabilities associated with corporate and not-for-profit board positions. The final module, What the Heck is WHS?, provides a practical breakdown of workplace health and safety compliance requirements and executive duty-of-care expectations.
Partner at PKF Newcastle, Stacie Shaw stated that many organisational leaders are thrust into executive roles without formal training in core commercial disciplines.
“There is so much in business that’s treated like assumed knowledge; as if business owners and execs and decision-makers should ‘just know’ this stuff that no one ever teaches outside a legal or finance or accounting or some other degree,” Stacie said.
“We’ve set out to fix that, with pragmatic, practical seminars that aren’t dry or boring (we promise!) and don’t chew up days and days of your time. We see people promoted within businesses because they’re great at their jobs – and thrust into new roles that demand so much more of them, outside their existing skillset, often just because they’re not confident in what is unfairly called ‘the basics’. On top of the content, we set up a safe space to ask the ‘silly questions’ with zero judgement, so you can let go of hidden fears and more confidently own your decisions.”
Program registration is open to commercial operators and regional professionals, with live interactive web access and post-event digital downloads managed through PKF Newcastle.
IMAGE | PKF Newcastle launches October executive seminar series targeting leadership fundamentals
