Merger partners Kinetic Super and Sunsuper were jointly awarded the prestigious overall prize for Fund of the Year at the Conexus Financial Superannuation Awards 2018.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull delivered the announcement, via video, to a packed Ivy Ballroom in Sydney, where winners across all categories in the Conexus Financial Superannuation Awards 2018 were announced at a black-tie gala dinner on March 8.
Turnbull congratulated Kinetic Super and Sunsuper, and paid tribute to them and all the other winners and finalists as he thanked them, “for their contribution to making Australia’s superannuation system even better”.
“There are few industries that have such significant and far-reaching effects on people’s lives,” Turnbull said. “For most people, superannuation is their second-biggest asset after the family home.”
He said it was in the interests of members, funds and the financial sector as a whole for the superannuation industry to be the best it could be.
“And one of the important ways we can build a better superannuation system is by encouraging and awarding innovation and excellence,” the PM said. “Tonight’s awards do just that.”
In other categories, Sunsuper took home the trophy for Large Fund of the Year (for funds with $10 billion or more in assets), while Kinetic Super won Small Fund of the Year (for funds with less than $5 billion in assets) and Best Insurance Offering.
The joint winners of Fund of the Year are in the final stages of pulling off a merger, due to be completed by mid-May 2018.
LGIAsuper collected Medium Fund of the Year, while QSuper won Pension Fund of the Year.
VicSuper took home a trio of awards, winning Member Services Fund of the Year, Best Advice Offering and the award for Innovation and Transformation.
BT Panorama again took out the award for Best Technology Offering.
In the only category awarded to an individual, AustralianSuper’s Mark Delaney was recognised as Chief Investment Officer of the Year.
Turnbull took the opportunity to voice his support for the event’s charity partner, The Wayside Chapel, and thank its retiring chief executive and pastor, Graham Long.
“Over the past 14 years, Graham has been the heart and soul of Wayside, and I wish him all the best for the future,” the PM said.
Donations can be made to The Wayside Chapel here>>
Congratulations to all the winners
Best Insurance Offering
- Winner: Kinetic Super
- Finalists: AustralianSuper, BT Super, Statewide Super, Sunsuper, UniSuper
Default Fund of the Year
- Winner: AustralianSuper
- Finalists: LGIAsuper, QSuper, Sunsuper, Super SA, UniSuper
Pension Fund of the Year
- Winner: QSuper
- Finalists: AustralianSuper, LGIAsuper, Sunsuper, UniSuper, VicSuper
Member Services Fund of the Year
- Winner: VicSuper
- Finalists: Cbus Super, QSuper, Sunsuper, TelstraSuper, UniSuper
Best Advice Offering
- Winner: VicSuper
- Finalists: AustralianSuper, First State Super, QSuper, Sunsuper, UniSuper
Best Technology Offering
- Winner: BT Panorama
- Finalists: AustralianSuper, Cbus Super, HESTA, QSuper, Russell Investments Master Trust
Innovation and Transformation
- Winner: VicSuper
- Finalists: REST Industry Super, Russell Investments Master Trust, Statewide Super, Sunsuper
Chief Investment Officer of the Year
- Winner: AustralianSuper’s Mark Delaney
- Finalists: Australian Ethical’s David Macri, MLC’s Jonathan Armitage, Statewide Super’s Con Michalakis, Sunsuper’s Ian Patrick
Small Fund of the Year
- Winner: Kinetic Super
- Finalists: Bendigo SmartStart Super, BUSSQ Building Super
Medium Fund of the Year
- Winner: LGIAsuper
- Finalists: EISS Super, Energy Super, LG Super, Statewide Super
Large Fund of the Year
- Winner: Sunsuper
- Finalists: AustralianSuper, HESTA, QSuper, TelstraSuper, UniSuper
Fund of Year
- Winners: Kinetic Super and Sunsuper
- This award is chosen by the judging committee from among category winners.
About the awards
While there are many other awards nights on the industry calendar, the Conexus Financial Superannuation Awards are unique in that they are not aligned with a research or ratings house, and do not charge funds to participate. Actuarial and consulting firm Rice Warner assists with quantitative analysis.
The judging committee comprises California State Teachers’ Retirement System chief investment officer Chris Ailman, Fund Executives Association Ltd (FEAL) chief executive Joanna Davison, CHOICE chief executive Alan Kirkland, Financial Services Council chief executive Sally Loane, Rice Warner chief executive Michael Rice, and former minister for financial services and superannuation, the Hon. Bernie Ripoll.
Australian Prudential Regulation Authority deputy chair Helen Rowell is a special adviser to the judging committee, which remains the only truly independent awards panel in the sector.
“APRA views sound governance practices as fundamental to the delivery of value for money outcomes for members,” Rowell says. “I was, therefore very pleased to see the steps taken by the judging panel this year to enhance the approach to assessing governance and give it more weight in determining the winners in various categories.”
The 2018 Conexus Financial Superannuation Awards are produced with thanks to platinum sponsor AIA Australia and event partner FEAL.
“AIA is honoured to sponsor the Conexus Financial Superannuation Awards, because we feel this is a great way of recognising the important work funds do, looking after millions of members,” AIA Australia head of corporate and master trust clients Anthony Clough said.
“As a purpose-led organisation, AIA has a partnership philosophy at the heart of our business, and funds are amongst our most important partners in the industry.”
VIEW: Conexus Financial Superannuation Awards 2018 photo gallery
