With consolidation continuing to occur in the superannuation funds sector, the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) national conference in Melbourne will discuss whether the days of corporate superannuation funds are numbered.
Representatives of two of Australia’s largest remaining corporate superannuation entities — Joanne Farrell, general manager, human resources, Comalco Aluminium Limited and Allan Murphy, superannuation manager, South Pacific, BOC Limited — will discuss the future for corporate funds.
ASFA is suggesting that while it is true that many corporate super funds have folded into master trusts and industry funds this does not necessarily represent the extinction of a species.
The debate comes at a time when the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has suggested there could be as few as 450 trustee entities by the middle of next year.
The debate is expected to centre on what motivates corporate fund trustees to take the decision to fold into retail master trusts and industry funds and what motivates them to maintain their existing arrangements.



