Spotlight on Retirement 2025

Jean-Luc Ambrosi
Chief Member Officer, CareSuper

Jean-Luc is an award-winning marketer known for shaping impactful member engagement strategies, leading member centric transformation programs in both accumulation and retirement phases, and building meaningful, differentiated brands in the Australian superannuation landscape.

His background in psychology lays the foundation to understand what drives consumers, how to communicate with them and how they fundamentally relate to brands. Central to his approach is his rejection of clichés and pre-packaged ideas, replaced by a practice based on building customer insights and personalisation, mastering customer engagement techniques, leveraging digital platforms, and an ability to create forward visions - for each organisation to be genuinely relevant.

Jean-Luc Ambrosi is also the author of the book 'Branding to Differ' published in November 2013.

Andrew Baker
Global Head of Strategy and Corporate Services, Ignition Advice

Andrew has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry including founding industry consulting firm Tria Investment Partners, and subsequently senior roles with AustralianSuper, QSuper, and NMG Consulting’s London practice.
Andrew develops and executes Ignition’s business and financial strategy and acts as Ignition’s policy subject matter expert

Tiana Berriman
Senior Manager, VSPL Strategy & Services, Vanguard Australia

Tiana Berriman is a seasoned financial services leader with over 15 years of experience spanning risk, compliance, strategy, and governance. Currently serving as Senior Manager, VSPL Strategy & Services at Vanguard Australia, Tiana plays a key role in shaping strategic initiatives and service delivery.

Prior to this, she held senior leadership roles at Netwealth and Colonial First State, where she led risk and compliance teams through periods of significant growth and transformation. Tiana brings deep expertise in superannuation, regulatory engagement, and operational resilience, making her a valuable contributor to discussions on the future of retirement in Australia.

Kristin Bishop
Senior Manager, Retirement Advice, Cbus Super

Kristin Bishop leads the retirement advice strategy at Cbus, driving innovation in delivering accessible, scalable advice for members transitioning into retirement. Kristin’s remit includes addressing the apathy tax through proactive member engagement and solving for the advice needs of the missing middle approaching retirement.

Prior to joining Cbus, she ran her own successful comprehensive advice business, giving her deep, real world understanding of client needs and the complexities of advice delivery. With experience spanning strategy, operations, and regulatory engagement, Kristin is committed to reshaping the way funds support members in retirement. She brings a practical, member-first mindset to the evolving challenge of providing meaningful retirement outcomes at scale.

Shaun Bransdon
General Manager - Retirement & Wealth, TAL

Shaun has over 16 years’ experience across investment platforms, superannuation and life investment products at TAL and the Macquarie Group. In his current role, Shaun leads a team of product, investment and operational specialists who develop and deliver retirement income solutions to Australian superannuation funds. He also leads the teams responsible for managing and growing TAL’s wealth partnerships.

Platon Chris
Partner, KPMG

Platon is a Partner in the Superannuation Advisory practice and is also the Consulting Lead for Asset Wealth Management at KPMG. Platon has over 28 years’ experience in the superannuation industry, including fund administration, investments, insurance and advice

Platon has previously worked at Mercer, Perpetual and JANA Investment Advisers.

Platon is a keen follower of soccer which has seen him travel all over the world to watch his favourite teams.

Ross Clare
Director - Research and Resource Centre, ASFA

In this role Ross has been responsible for preparation of research papers across a range of superannuation and retirement income issues, including adequacy of retirement income and the structure of the Australian retirement income system. 

He is responsible, amongst other things, for the development and maintenance of the ASFA Retirement Standard, which is now very commonly used.

Prior to joining the staff of ASFA he held senior positions with the Australian Treasury and an Australian Government research agency, the Economic Planning Advisory Commission.

Ross has degrees in Economics and Law from the Australian National University. 

Mary Delahunty
Chief Executive Officer, ASFA

Mary Delahunty joined ASFA in 2024 and her leadership qualities, industry knowledge, and demonstrated commitment to advancing the sector, align with ASFA’s 60-year-long mission to bring the whole industry together to strengthen the effectiveness of the superannuation system for all Australians.

In 2022 she founded Seven Advisory which provides specialist ESG and impact advisory services to institutional investors developing their social license to deliver long-term value. Prior to that she was Head of Impact at HESTA where she was instrumental in shaping strategic policies and responsible investment practices to advance member outcomes in the superannuation system. She was also previously an executive with Link Market Services.

Mary is a member of the Pensions & Investment World Pension Summit International Advisory Board and holds several board positions including in the RegTech and education sectors and was a 2015 Churchill Fellow awarded for international research on gender equity in retirement outcomes.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne and a Masters of Applied Finance.

James Douglas
General Manager, Superannuation, APRA

James Douglas is a General Manager for Superannuation at APRA. James leads APRA’s Member Outcomes branch, with responsibilities spanning APRA’s retirement work, the performance test, superannuation publications and a portfolio of system-level project work. James has previously led a range of policy, supervisory and project functions spanning APRA and Treasury.

Jody Evans
Associate Professor, Melbourne Business School

Associate Professor Jody Evans is a senior academic at Melbourne Business School with over 25 years of experience in marketing, brand strategy, and leadership development. Her work spans the corporate, government, and social purpose sectors, with a focus on helping organisations engage meaningfully with the communities they serve and supporting leaders to navigate complexity with clarity and influence.

Jody brings a distinctive interdisciplinary perspective, drawing on formal qualifications in both psychology and marketing. Her research and consulting expertise lie in brand positioning, stakeholder engagement, and customer-centric strategy. She has led projects across a wide range of sectors, including financial services, health, and the arts, helping organisations shape strategic narratives, strengthen their value proposition, and communicate with impact.

In recent years, Jody’s research has focused on improving financial well-being in retirement. Through the Orford Initiative at MBS, she has led behavioural research exploring how confidence, trust, and emotional framing influence consumer engagement with lifetime income products. This work contributes to broader industry efforts to support better retirement decision-making and long-term financial security for Australians.

Jody also directs two Executive Leadership Programs at MBS designed to support women at key inflection points in their leadership journey. She regularly works with senior and emerging leaders to build presence, influence, and communication capability, helping them lead with authenticity, strategic clarity, and purpose.

She currently serves on the Board of the Melbourne Recital Centre, where she chairs the Foundation Committee, and is a former board member of the Shepparton Art Museum Foundation and the Public Galleries Association of Victoria.

Sarah Forman
Chief Retirement Officer, Team Super

Sarah Forman is a senior executive with over 30 years’ experience in financial services across the superannuation and wealth management sectors, having led strategy, product, sales, member experience and operational teams. Sarah has extensive experience in the management and delivery of financial advice services, having successfully led the financial advice functions at some of Australia’s largest superannuation and wealth management providers, and wants to see all Australian’s supported with the help, guidance and advice they need to feel confident about their futures and live a great retirement.

Ms Forman holds a Bachelor of Arts (Economics and Government) from Sydney University, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and has a range of professional KAPLAN accreditations related to financial services as well as a Professional Certificate in Management from the Graduate School of Management, University of Adelaide.

Katherine Forrest
Chief Operating Officer, IQ Group

Katherine Forrest is a strategic leader with over 25 years of experience in the superannuation and financial services industry. As Chief Operating Officer of IQ Group, she has played a key role in driving innovation, blending modern operational strategies with business and technology leadership. Her expertise spans project delivery, strategy, and IT management across both public and private sectors, shaping IQ Group’s consulting capabilities and redefining how clients achieve success.

A sought-after speaker on industry transformation, Katherine draws on her extensive experience to help organisations navigate change, whether through regulatory adaptation, digital transformation, or shifting consumer expectations. She has deep insights into how highly regulated industries can leverage technology and operational efficiencies to enhance customer experience, improve compliance, and drive long-term sustainability.

Katherine’s work in superannuation has also provided valuable lessons for adjacent industries, including aged care, health and retirement. As the sector faces increasing regulatory pressures, service delivery challenges, and evolving consumer demands, she shares insights from superannuation’s transformation - exploring how industry consolidation, digital innovation, and governance best practices can serve as a blueprint for aged care leaders. With a passion for driving meaningful change, Katherine translates complex industry challenges into actionable strategies, helping organisations stay ahead in an era of disruption.

Angela Hartl
Principal, Mercer

Angela Hartl is a Principal and qualified Actuary at Mercer, based in Sydney. She specialises in helping trustees enhance member outcomes during the retirement phase and frequently speaks at retirement conferences while publishing thought leadership pieces. Alongside her retirement-focused work, she is also a defined benefit Actuary. With over 25 years of experience at Mercer, her international career spans both the United Kingdom and Australia.

Daniel Hicks
Executive Manager - Client Relations, Guideways

Daniel has been working in the financial services industry for over 20 years. Initially working as a financial adviser, Daniel helped set up UniSuper's award-winning financial advice business. Since 2017 he has been working with Guideway helping super funds provide their members with quality advice, at scale. Daniel holds qualifications in business, finance and economics and is the author of "Understanding Economics: A work of science fiction".

Emma Higgs
Special Counsel, Financial Services, Mills Oakley

Emma Higgs is an experienced advisor on legal and regulatory matters affecting superannuation funds, working with trustees to navigate the complexities of compliance, strategic planning, and industry reform in an evolving regulatory and commercial environment.  She has a specialist interest in retirement incomes, trustee governance and member outcomes, having spent several years in London advising on occupational pension schemes, including at the UK pensions regulator - dividing her time between fund oversight, enforcement action and policy development.  Emma will present findings from a detailed review of retirement income strategy summaries across the industry, offering insights into how funds are responding to the Retirement Income Covenant and preparing for the introduction of revised SPS 515 Member Outcomes.

Ben Hillier
Director, Retirement, AMP

Ben Hillier, Director Retirement at AMP, has over 25 years of experience in strategic management and product leadership, and has worked in every sector in superannuation – retail, profit-for-member, government, corporate and SMSFs.  Ben joined AMP in 2021 where he led the development of MyNorth Lifetime, a market-first lifetime income solution that pay high rates of income for life yet allows complete investment choice and considerable income flexibility.  Prior to joining AMP, Ben was Head of Product at QSuper where he launched their Lifetime Pension product.

Peter Hogg
General Manager, Guidance & Advice, Aware Super

Peter Hogg is the General Manager of Guidance & Advice at Aware Super. He has over 15 years’ experience working as an Advice leader within profit for member superannuation funds which includes leading significant transformation programs and embedding regulatory change in practice.

After 20 years, he remains a licensed financial planner who is a known advocate for the value of advice and role it plays in improving retirement outcomes for members.

James Koval
Chief Policy & Advocacy Officer, ASFA

James joined the ASFA team in 2024 to lead policy, research and advocacy. James brings over a decade of public policy experience working for government, peak-body organisations, and other key policy and strategic roles.

ASFA is the peak policy, research and advocacy body for Australia’s superannuation sector, and the role of James’ team is to advocate for efficiency, sustainability and trust in Australia’s world-class retirement income system and to ensure all Australians are able to enjoy a dignified retirement.

Prior to joining ASFA, James has worked as a government engagement specialist in the Vice-Chancellor’s office at the University of Sydney and prior to that worked in various roles across government, including for treasurers, government leaders, and senior cabinet ministers.
James holds qualifications from the Australian National University and has undertaken further learning with the London School of Economics and the University of Sydney.

Pippa Lane
Acting Senior Executive Leader - Superannuation and Life Insurance, ASIC

Pippa leads ASIC’s Superannuation and Life Insurance team within ASIC’s Regulation and Supervision group. She oversees ASIC’s regulatory work associated with the life insurance and superannuation industries.

Prior to joining ASIC, Pippa held senior roles in policy and supervision at the UK Financial Conduct Authority across life insurance, pensions and mortgages. Pippa led financial services policy at Citizens Advice, the UK’s national debt advice charity after starting her career in government research. She holds a PhD in politics and history.

Michelle Lusty
Senior Manager, Midwinter Advice Products, Bravura Solutions

Michelle has been with Bravura Solutions since August 2006. In her role she is responsible for the strategic direction and product Management of Midwinter solutions.
With over 29 years of experience in the financial services industry across Australia, New Zealand and London, the majority of those have been spent serving the Superannuation industry with a focus on advice in recent years.

Shaun McKenna
CEO, Head of Global Investor Distribution Solutions Australia, SS&C Technologies

In this role, Shaun leads the organisation responsible for providing leading technology and services to the Superannuation, Retail Wealth, Life Insurance and Asset Management markets, managing the day-to-day operations to achieve optimum outcomes. This includes ensuring high quality and innovative product and service delivery that meets all quality, operational and financial targets.

Shaun has a degree in Business Information Technology, from which he began his career as a software developer before moving into consulting, sales and relationship management which has provided great foundations for a successful career at SS&C. Shaun have been with the organisation for the past 13 years, starting his tenure running the business process management business unit, before progressing into leading product, client relationships and new business sales, growing the business through strategic acquisitions and lift outs.

Shaun has more than 23 years of experience in the industry, with extensive experience across superannuation and asset management within EMEA and APAC.

Prior to SS&C, Shaun worked for technology companies delivering process automation solutions, helping companies successfully enable digital operations.

Jennifer McSpadden
Head of Retirement, Brighter Super

Jennifer McSpadden is the Head of Retirement at Brighter Super and is passionately committed to transforming financial wellbeing and retirement outcomes for all members. With 25+ years in the superannuation and retirement sectors, Jennifer excels in understanding member needs, providing simple retirement propositions and delivering impactful financial education and guidance.

Jennifer's journey with Brighter Super began in 2022 as the Head of Marketing. Her dedication led to her promotion to the newly established role of Head of Retirement in November 2023. In this pivotal, cross-functional role, she spearheads the implementation of the Fund’s Retirement Income Strategy, driving growth for both the Fund and its members.

A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Jennifer also holds an MBA and a BA in Marketing, underscoring her experience and dedication to the field.

Aaron Minney
Head of Retirement Income, Challenger

Aaron is the Head of Retirement Income for Challenger where he is responsible for research and advocacy for retirement income for Australian retirees. For 13 years he has been researching ways to generate income from investments in retirement. He has worked with super funds on developing retirement solutions, has published academic research in the area and is a sought-after spokesperson on retirement income.

Aaron has 30 years’ experience as an investment strategist and researcher, across a wide range of asset classes. Prior to Challenger, Aaron has held roles managing investment portfolios, led investment product innovations, and worked with clients to develop bespoke investment solutions.

Aaron is also an Honorary Fellow at the Macquarie Business School’s Applied Finance Centre where he is an adjunct lecturer in Advanced Investment Management.

Shannon O'Shea
General Manager - Retirement, HESTA

Shannon O’Shea is the General Manager of Retirement for HESTA. With a proud 20+ years in the superannuation sector, Shannon’s passion is making superannuation a benefit everyday Australian’s can easily engage with and value, through to a dignified retirement. Shannon has worked across multiple funds and organisations in Leadership, Strategy and Growth roles. Completing her MBA in 2017 and her Women on Boards program in 2018. Achieving Partner at a Global consultancy firm in 2020 and into her most meaningful role at HESTA since 2022.

Shannon has a breadth of experience and is energised every day to work on improving how Australians experience their superannuation and look forward to retiring with confidence. Representing many organisations through her career as an industry leader, featured on panels and hosting conferences.

Jon Sedawie
Principal, Retirement Product, AustralianSuper

Jon is Principal Retirement Product at AustralianSuper, responsible for leading the management and development of their decumulation products. To enable their members to reach their best possible financial position in retirement they are focussed on an integrated income stream product offer that is simple, effective and value for money.

Jon has worked in superannuation or product related roles for more than 30 years including roles with NAB/MLC, Aviva, and ESSSuper. Most recently he was Head of Product and Head of Retirement at Cbus.

Kelly Shay
Retirement & Partnerships Leader, Mercer Super

Kelly Shay is passionate about financially empowering people throughout their working lives and into retirement. Kelly spent the first 20 years of her working life organising workers in the aged care, early childhood education and care and disability sectors in Australia and North America. During this time Kelly was a Trustee Director on the HESTA Board for 6 years which lead to a career change into superannuation.

After 5 years at AustralianSuper, Kelly joined the Mercer Super leadership team where she is currently the Retirement & Partnerships Leader helping over 1 million members on their journey to and through retirement.

Kelly is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and is a Board Director on FvREE the lead specialist family violence service in the eastern metropolitan region of Melbourne.

Melanie Slade
Head of Retirement, Product & CX Risk, TelstraSuper

Melanie Slade is the Head of Retirement, Product & CX Risk at leading profit-to-member fund, TelstraSuper. Once run exclusively for Telstra employees, today anyone can join TelstraSuper.

Mel has over 20 years’ experience in financial services, working across a range of leadership roles in financial planning, member education, product, and member servicing. She is passionate about helping members access the information they need to make empowered decisions.

In her current role, Mel is responsible for leading the Fund's retirement offering and product development, as well as helping members understand how to build a better financial future through education and guidance.

Giacomo Tarantolo
Manager, Retirement Solutions, UniSuper

Giacomo joined UniSuper in the role of Manager, Retirement Solutions in 2023 and is responsible for leading a cross-functional team that maintains and implements UniSuper’s Retirement Income Strategy across the Fund, ensuring that UniSuper's Retirement Income Covenant obligations to its members are met.

Giacomo is a qualified Actuary having completed a Bachelor of Actuarial Studies with a Bachelor of Applied Finance at Macquarie University. Giacomo is approaching ten years' experience in financial services in roles spanning retirement product development, institutional business development, actuarial and investment consulting at Allianz and Mercer.

Rosalyn Teskey
Partner, Regulatory, Risk and Forensics, Deloitte

Rosalyn is a Partner in Deloitte’s Risk and Regulatory practice and leads the firm’s Financial Services accountability offering. She has led numerous engagements to implement the BEAR and FAR regimes for banking, insurance and superannuation clients. Rosalyn’s accountability work has included working with organisations to understand the implications of accountability regimes and to support them to not only meet the requirements of FAR but to embed a culture of accountability.

Catherine van der Veen
Head of Group Retirement Solutions, Allianz Retire+

Catherine is the Head of Group Retirement Solutions for Allianz Retire+. Catherine is accountable for partnering with superannuation funds to deliver sustainable, member-first retirement propositions to help Australians secure their best retirement possible. Catherine has a demonstrated track record of developing successful strategies for client-focused outcomes and has a deep understanding of the retirement landscape and the challenges facing retirees. Catherine has more than 20 years of financial services experience in product and channel development, distribution, marketing, strategy, and execution for institutional, retail, and direct clients. Catherine job shares this role with Lucy Foster.

Bec Wilson
Columnist, Speaker & Author

Bec Wilson is a columnist, speaker and bestselling author of How to Have an Epic Retirement.

Her first book became Australia’s #1 retirement guide and is now preparing for release worldwide. Her new book, Prime Time: 27 Lessons for the New Midlife, will be released on 30 July. She is the founder of the Epic Retirement Institute, which provides scaled pre-retirement courses online to help people navigate the choices ahead, and she hosts the Prime Time podcast, helping people explore the second half of life with clarity, confidence and purpose.

Bec writes a weekly syndicated column for the money section of The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and other major newspapers, leads The Epic Retirement Club on Facebook and is a regular guest speaker for super funds, the finance industry and workplace education programs.

Sarah Yu
Partner, King & Wood Mallesons

Sarah Yu is a Partner at KWM and specialises in financial services, superannuation and insurance. Sarah has an extensive legal practice with over 25 years’ experience that spans regulatory, advisory, transactional and disputes work. Sarah advises retail, industry and corporate superannuation funds, administrators and promoters, banks and wealth management institutions, life and general insurance companies.