Michael Dundon, chief executive of VicSuper, has been named fund executive of the year at the FEAL annual award dinner.
Dundon is the 15th winner of the award and will receive a $25,000 education grant from AMP Capital, which previous winners of the award have used on week long leadership courses at leading business schools such as Harvard, IMD, INSEAD, London Business School and Wharton.
John Meagher, head of institutional business at AMP Capital, congratulated Dundon on his “outstanding” contribution to the fund and the fund’s contribution to the industry and community.
“Examples of what VicSuper has achieved under his leadership is the development of innovative retirement products for members, and the modernisations of their technology and systems to enhance their members’ products and services,” Meagher said.
Meagher added as a leader Dundon had a significant focus on developing the people within the team, best illustrated by the funds internal leadership programme. The programme develops the skills and the culture and has been extended to close to half of the staff within VicSuper.
“The comment from his chair Bruce Hartnett probably sums Dundon up well,” Meagher said. “He brings a strong strategic vision to the management and direction of VicSuper. He is member-centric and always has the needs of members as a central consideration in every initiative we undertake.”
In accepting the award, Dundon thanked his team and said the FEAL education program was a terrific initiative.
He also cited that in his view the best way to get people to a strong position in terms of capability was to have a team that understands the benefits of teamwork, strong performance and alignment around strategy.
“My view is to be brave and experiment and if it doesn’t work just try again and modify and keep going until you get some success,” Dundon said.
Dundon was chosen for the award by a judging panel consisting of Neil Cochrane, chair of First State Super and outgoing chair of FEAL, Jane Perry, incoming chair of FEAL, Dr Don O’Sullivan, associate professor of marketing at Melbourne Business School, Debbie Blakey, chief executive of HESTA, and Damian Hill, chief executive of REST and recipient of last year’s award.
The judging criteria was across five areas: innovation, leadership, exceeding expectations, demonstrated strategic planning, and contribution to the market place.
