Superannuation Executive of the Year: Danielle Press, Equip Super
In what has been a year full of new regulations and reforms in the super industry, Money Management and Super Review has recognised Equip’s Danielle Press as Superannuation Executive of the Year.
Judges at this year’s Women in Financial Services awards were particularly impressed with the way Press took the reins as Equip launched its retirement phase version of MySuper called MyPension this year.
They praised the product, saying it could really benefit super fund members.
Press herself has been engrossed in changing the conversation towards retirement income and delivering a product that takes members through retirement and starts to address longevity issues.
She said she is proud of being part of the MyPension product project, saying it has the ability to provide a stable source of income through retirement for members.
“It’s been a really exciting journey. We’ve taken something that’s a very simple concept, something that is easily understood by members and we’ve been able to automate that into a product that really does what it says it’s going to do,” she said.
Press said her greatest challenge has been to remain focused on members’ needs even as the fund makes sure it is compliant and works with regulators to implement reforms.
Judges praised her for her well-rounded experience, and said she has achieved a lot in the last few years.
Press earned a Bachelor’s degree in economics at the University of Western Australia, after which she worked for the Reserve Bank.
She then moved to UBS Global Asset Management, where she was a managing director from 1993 to 2010.
Other finalists in this category included customer services leader, Pacific Renee McGowan from Mercer, executive general manager, customer experience and insights Teifi Whatley from Sunsuper, head of wealth management office of the trustee Sue Everingham from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, and strategy manager Michelle Di Fabio from HOSTPLUS.
FINALISTS
Sue Everingham, CBA
Michelle Di Fabio, HOSTPLUS
Renee McGowan, Mercer
Teifi Whatley, Sunsuper
