Event: Trump one year on, & recalibration of the Australian economy with Dr Matthew Peter

Quinn Allan’s Brisbane team recently hosted the latest CFO Thought Leaders breakfast, bringing together senior finance leaders for a timely and insightful discussion on global geopolitics and economic risk.

For this event we were pleased to welcome back Dr Matthew Peter, Chief Economist at QIC, one year on from his previous session. Matthew led a thought-provoking conversation focused on the Iran conflict and its potential implications for the Australian economy.

Setting the scene, Matthew began by outlining the broader global context, with particular attention on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical trade corridor through which a significant proportion of global oil and LNG supply passes. He explained how disruption to this route represents a major energy supply shock, with the potential to drive volatility across oil, gas, and wider commodity markets.

The discussion then turned to Australia’s unique position. While higher global energy prices can provide a boost to export revenues, particularly through LNG contracts, the Australian economy remains highly reliant on oil imports and holds relatively low fuel reserves. This creates

vulnerability to rising costs, particularly through fuel and transport, which can flow through supply chains and impact both businesses and households.

To provide further context, Matthew outlined a range of potential scenarios: from a more benign outcome where disruptions are short-lived; to more prolonged or severe scenarios where higher energy prices drive sustained inflation and place upward pressure on interest rates. These scenarios highlighted the importance of inflation expectations and the role they play in shaping economic resilience.

The session sparked a highly engaged discussion among attendees, reinforcing the value of scenario planning and forward-looking thinking in navigating an increasingly complex and uncertain global environment.

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Why smart finance leaders are staffing up, not pushing through this EOFY

By Accounting & Finance Recruitment • May 20, 2026

For accounting and finance teams, the end of financial year is simply part of the job. Unfortunately, that doesn’t make it any less relentless. Reporting deadlines, year-end journals, audit preparation, reconciliations, budget planning for the year ahead, all lands at once, on top of the day-to-day work that doesn’t stop just because the calendar is demanding. Although most finance teams get through it, there is often an unexpected hidden cost that shows up months later. Finance professionals rarely resign in the thick of the EOFY rush because they’re too busy, and there’s a certain solidarity in surviving a high-pressure period alongside colleagues. However, when the dust settles in July, something shifts. People come up for air, reflect on the past few months, and start making decisions.