ASFA appoints Mary Delahunty as Chief Executive Officer

16 November 2023

ASFA appoints Mary Delahunty as Chief Executive Officer

The Board of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mary Delahunty as its new Chief Executive Officer.

“Mary Delahunty’s appointment marks a significant milestone for ASFA,” said ASFA Chair, Gary Dransfield.

“Her leadership qualities, industry knowledge, and demonstrated commitment to advancing the sector, align perfectly with ASFA’s 60-year-long mission to bring the whole industry together to strengthen the effectiveness of our superannuation system for all Australians.

“With a deep pipeline of consultation on critical issues ahead of us, and the planned delivery of a comprehensive professional development program to enhance skills and thought-leadership throughout the industry, we are confident that under Mary’s leadership, ASFA will continue to be the preeminent voice of the industry.”

Delahunty joins ASFA after founding Seven Advisory, a specialist ESG consultant for institutional investors and prior to that as a Senior Manager from Industry Fund HESTA where she had been instrumental in shaping strategic policies and responsible investment practices to advance member outcomes in the superannuation system. She also holds a number of board positions including in RegTech and education and was a 2015 Churchill Fellow awarded for international research on gender equity in pension systems.

On her appointment, Delahunty stated, “I am honored to join the talented ASFA team and look forward to contributing to the organisation’s ongoing success”.

“A strong peak body, combining deep technical research with the expertise of super funds and service providers, as ASFA uniquely does, plays a crucial role in progressing important conversations on matters such as the objective of super, the role of capital and enhancing member services.”

Delahunty’s appointment as CEO of ASFA is effective from 1 February 2024.

She succeeds Leeanne Turner, who will continue in an interim capacity until February to ensure a smooth transition.

“The ASFA Board would like to sincerely thank Leeanne for stepping in as interim CEO at a crucial time for the organisation,” said Mr Dransfield.

“In particular, Leeanne has played an invaluable role in contributing to an outstanding program at the ASFA Conference in Adelaide next week, which explores the enormous opportunity currently presented to the industry and tackles some of our key challenges head-on.

“Collaboration across the industry at a time of such change has never been more important and the Conference signals a bright year ahead,” concluded Mr Dransfield.