MEDIA RELEASE: Financial technology business, Padua Solutions, has appointed Kristen Brown to the newly created role of senior research analyst.

Padua provides SaaS & tech-enabled services to financial advisers, enhancing advice quality, reducing compliance risk and increasing advice productivity.

Ms Brown will report into head of research, Benjamin Walsh, who said the appointment comes at a time when the financial advice industry is demanding greater technical expertise and capabilities.

“Kristen will oversee the maintenance and quality of Padua’s superannuation/ pension, insurance, and investment research databases, and will assist with producing comprehensive, high-quality documentation.

“Along with a sound technical knowledge, she also has a strong paraplanning network and will continue to build relationships with product providers and fund managers.

“Kristen has joined the business during a major growth phase, and we’re confident she will quickly become a valued member of the team,” he said.

Ms Brown joins the fintech business following five years as a contract paraplanner, producing financial advice documentation for advisers.

Prior to this, Ms Brown was a senior financial planner with Westpac Financial Planning, where she provided advice to clients of senior commercial bankers and also piloted new technology solutions. She has also had tenures with NAB Financial Planning and AON Financial Planning.

Ms Brown holds professional qualifications with the Financial Planning Association, Self-Managed Super Fund Association of Australia (formerly SPAA), and Kaplan.

The appointment of Ms Brown follows the recent hire of Michael Lagudi as general manager of sales.