The founder and managing director of the SMSFs Professionals Association of Australia (SPAA), Andrea Slattery, has been crowned Money Management and Super Review’s Woman of the Year.
Slattery was recognised for her contribution to raising the profile of self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs), which now account for 31 per cent of the superannation asset pool at $580 billion, at the second annual Women in Financial Services Awards.
In her role as the voice of SPAA, she has taken the reputation and self-regulation plight of SMSFs to Canberra, establishing representation on the Superannuation Advisory Committee and contributing to a raft of inquiries, including the Cooper and Wallis reviews.
She has also rallied for SMSFs and their growth opportunities at an international level, both at the United Nations Conference of International Advisors and the Financial Services Trade Mission to China.
Her efforts, both as an advocate for SMSFs and women in leadership roles, have attracted high praise across the political spectrum.
Former Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, said: “SPAA, under the excellent leadership of Andrea Slattery, has represented the interests of self-managed super funds, ensuring this diverse group has a strong voice”.
Similarly, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann was effusive in his admiration.
“I have always found Andrea Slattery and her team a source of intelligent, practical and high quality advice,” he said.
Her nominator, Meg Heffron, director of Heffron SMSF Solutions, credits Slattery with “turning the SMSF sector on its head”.
“My best insight into Andrea’s influence came during the 2009-10 Cooper Review into superannuation. She made sure not only that the SMSF sector was represented, but that a woman was included on the committee,” she said.
The awards recognise excellence from women across the financial services spectrum, with this year’s Rising Star, Investment Manager of the Year and Financial Planner of the Year among the titles acknowledged.
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