Chris Bath, Channel 7, Television reporter

Chris Bath is the anchor of the 6pm weekend news bulletin in Sydney. She is also the co-host of the flagship program in Channel Seven's news and public affairs line-up, Sunday Night. Her twenty year career spans radio and television during which time she has garnered wide appeal from audiences nationwide. Chris' media career has included political interviewing as well as presenting world and local news.

Communications Forum session 1
360 Member Engagement
Speaker: Kristi Mitchem, Head of Global Defined Contribution, State Street Global Advisors

How do you make your communication efforts meaningful for your retirement investors? In this session we will explore new ways to engage with retirement investors to get them engaged and to drive them to action. Best practice checklists and communications samples will be discussed to illustrate how to engage people in the retirement decision-making process.

In her presentation Kristi will:

• Share key takeouts from the research that contributed to this thinking.
• Share her global perspective on what the key challenges are engaging with member in both the accumulation stage and in post-retirement.
• Provide some examples on what she believes are global best practice when it comes to communication with members.

Communications Forum session 2
Differentiating your products in a MySuper world

There is talk that MySuper will drive default products to all look the same, making it increasingly difficult for consumers and advisers to differentiate between fund offerings.

In this session, Karen Volpato, marketing manager at First State Super, will challenge the much overheard views that MySuper will make super funds bland. In fact, Karen believes that having a key set of product features which funds must deliver, will make us work harder to be more innovative. Karen will explain this and her view that MySuper won’t change the essential drivers of a good brand – why are we what we are (vision), how will we deliver the vision (mission), and what value will we deliver?

Pat Heaslip, research director at Customer Service Benchmarking Australia, will then explain that in the MySuper world, llistening to members and employers will be more critical than ever. Pat will share feedback that Customer Service Benchmarking Australia has received from fund members - which you will find valuable and even surprising. Pat will share how this feedback can be used by funds in their quest to attract, engage and retain members.

With the reform process in full swing, this session is your opportunity to prepare for a MySuper world.

Speakers:

• Pat Heaslip, Research Director, Customer Service Benchmarking Australia
• Karen Volpato, Marketing Manager, First State Super

Conference Opening Session (Communications forum participants to attend)
Welcome by Tony Lally, ASFA Chair

Plenary 1 & 2 – Making the BIG connection - with change comes challenge and opportunity

Speakers:

• The Hon Alexander Downer, former foreign minister and UN Envoy to Cyprus
• General Peter Cosgrove AC MC, Director, Qantas Superannuation Limited
• Q&A with these leaders

Communications Forum working buffet lunch
Lunchtime Forum session – what makes a winning campaign?

Facilitated by Chris Bath
Panellists:

• Christopher Zinn – Choice
• Gay Power – Power to Communicate
• Peter Duyvestyn – QIC

Conference Concurrent session 1B (Communications forum participants to attend)
Uptake of social media – experiences of using it in corporate branding

Speakers:

• Lucio Ribeiro, Managing Director, The Online Circle
• Wayne Sullivan FASFA, Executive Manager-Marketing, HOSTPLUS Superannuation Fund

Conference Plenary Session 3 (Communications forum participants to attend)
Making the BIG connection – Superannuation is not just about selling your brand, but selling the brand of “super” as an industry

Speakers:

• Janine Allis, Founder, Boost Juice
• Naomi Simson, CEO and Founder, RedBalloon