FinTech Australia names former Treasury adviser as Policy Lead

Mr Kavass’ role, which commenced on Monday, 18 July, is said to be focused on coordinating with FinTech Australia’s policy partners and members as a means to “help formulate and progress” the organisation’s policy agenda”.

This agenda includes the rollout of the consumer data right (CDR), the regulation of both Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) companies and crypto-assets, payment policies, as well as the government support for the fintech community during turbulence in the venture capital market.

Mr Kavass comes to the role with more than six years of experience in the policy space. 

From 2016 to 2018, Mr Kavass served as a policy analyst with Treasury, before being named as a departmental liaison officer with the then-minister for housing and assistant treasurer, Michael Sukkar until late 2019.

Mr Kavass also served in this role under Stuart Robert, who was the Assistant Treasurer from August 2018 to May 2019. 

Following his time with Treasury, Mr Kavass was a lawyer with ASIC, where his role covered the financial services, wealth, credit and banking sectors. 

In early 2021, Mr Kavass returned to the Federal Government, serving as a policy adviser with Mr Sukkar, who was then the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Housing.  

Speaking of FinTech Australia’s first policy lead, the organisation’s general manager Rehan D’Almedia commented that this was an exciting and key appointment, particularly in how it follows the recent federal election.  

“With a new government in power, we’re looking to step up the rigour of our policy support for our members and build on the extensive groundwork that the organisation has laid over the past few years,” Mr D’Almedia said. 

Mr D’Almedia added that Mr Kavass’ experience in Treasury and ASIC will “make him invaluable” in helping FinTech Australia articulate its policy agenda. 

Mr Kavass said that he considered it to be an honour to take on this new role with FinTech Australia. 

“I’ve interacted with the peak body over the years on policy matters, and it has served as a key voice in shaping the government’s stance on important regulatory issues,” he said. 

Mr Kavass added that he was looking forward to working with Mr D’Almedia and the broader fintech space to “navigate what is shaping up to be a complex framework of policies for the sector”.

[Related: ​​Fintech launches Islamic banking prototype]