Robyn Petrou, chief executive of Energy Super, was awarded superannuation fund executive of the year at the Fund Executives Association Limited (FEAL) National Conference in Melbourne last week.
Petrou was recognised for succeeding in the male-dominated world of the energy industry, of which she has won admiration, and for the depth of her strategic thinking. Praised for her wide involvement in industry bodies Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia and Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees, she was also acknowledged for her contribution to FEAL.
In her acceptance speech, Petrou praised her board, in particular chair Bob Henricks for his guidance and support.
“A superannuation chief executive needed to have organisation, resilience and the ability to function on little sleep to succeed,” she said.
Petrou receives $20,000 to undertake a training course at a renowned business school abroad, funded by AMP Capital. She told IM online will take a high level leadership course of 1-2 weeks in duration, but that she was as yet undecided on the business school she would attend.
Previous winners have included chief executives Michael Dwyer of First State Super and Terry McCredden of UniSuper, both of whom used the grant to attend the Proteus Leadership Program at the London Business School.
Petrou recently told Investment Magazine that the $4.5-billion fund is focused on growth, taking control of its international equities, awarding $700 million in mandates to four managers.
