Strategic positioning produces stellar result for DiFabio

Rising Star of the Year: Michelle Di Fabio, HOSTPLUS  

A passion for promoting the benefits of superannuation but also good governance and social engagement has been a feature of Michelle DiFabio’s work in financial services and has secured her the title of Rising Star of the Year at the Money Management and Super Review Women in Financial Services Awards. 

DiFabio, who took on the role of head of strategy at Hostplus this year, said she had always been motivated to keep busy in her work and when she decided to enter financial services superannuation was a good place to be engaged. 

“I wanted to work inhouse with an organisation and engage in strategic planning and superannuation is a good place for this type of work as there are new things to assess and innovations that can be made,” DiFabio said. 

“I wanted to gain experience where possible and then give back to the industry and outside of it and have done so over the years through alumni work and mentoring programs.” 

In working her way through the ranks of Hostplus, DiFabio has been involved with product development, member engagement, industry reform issues, environmental, social and governance matters and corporate responsibility. This spread of tasks led one judge to comment “I am impressed with Michelle’s accomplishments at work as well as her commitment to giving back” to which DiFabio responded she was pleased with the recognition of her work had received by the judges. 

The judges commended the finalists commenting that Suncorp Life senior product manager for group insurance Natalie Binns was excelling in both her day job and beyond while Harvest Wealth financial adviser Kylie George demonstrated a “great commitment to the profession and your clients that will make the industry a better place”. 

Eluvia financial adviser Samantha Robinson had continued to meet the challenges of providing financial advice while showing leadership according to the judges while ANZ Wealth product manager Rajasree Variyar continued to “do a great job in product development”.  

Finalists 

Natalie Binns 

Suncorp Life 

Kylie George 

Harvest Wealth 

Samantha Robinson 

Eluvia 

Rajasree Variyar 

ANZ Wealth

For full coverage of the awards and winners click here