‘Learn, Earn and Return’
The 2025 National Conference will be held at Pier One in Sydney on Thursday 7 August under the theme ‘Learn, Earn and Return’. With the 100-year life a reality for younger generations, and working life and life in retirement very different to when the Superannuation Guarantee was introduced, the Conference will delve into what our members’ needs and expectations are and how funds are responding to meet them.
Social researcher Mark McCrindle will open the program describing the past and future trends in the key life stages and the challenges that this presents for the super funds. The remaining sessions will include speakers who will bring their research and insights into member engagement, financial decision making and the realities of the retired life and we will end with a panel of CEOs reflecting on the day.
At the Members’ Dinner following the Conference we will be announcing the 2025 Fund Executive of the Year as well as winners of the Michael Dwyer Leadership Scholarship and MBS Masters Program Scholarship. We will also be announcing the inaugural winner of the Greg Bright Scholarship for Excellence in Member Communications.
A 10% Early Bird discount on registration is available until 30 June 2025. Early bird code: 2025FEALNC
Keynote speaker
Mark McCrindle, Social researcher, demographer and principal of the advisory firm, McCrindle
Mark is a social researcher, best-selling author, influential thought leader and TEDx speaker. He is recognised globally as coining the name for the emerging generation, Generation Alpha. Mark's advisory, communications and research company, McCrindle, counts among its clients more than 100 of the nation's largest companies and leading international brands.
Mark's highly valued social commentary is presented through his engaging keynotes, research, reports, infographics, videos and media input. He is a trusted advisor and sits on the board of a number of different organisations, after having developed his reputation as an expert demographer, futurist and social commentator.
Mark McCrindle, BSc (Psychology), MA, is the author of five books on emerging trends and social change. Generation Alpha, Work Wellbeing: Leading Thriving Teams in Rapidly Changing Times, The ABC of XYZ: Understanding the Global Generations, Word Up: A Lexicon and Guide to Communication in the 21st Century and The Power of Good.
Guest speakers
Anne Lester, author ‘Your Best Financial Life’
Anne Lester is the Money Mentor for Gen Z and Millennials. She is helping a generation of young adults, and those who serve and employ them, turn money shame into money power – so they can live their best life and do their best work now.
Her research for the award-winning Your Best Financial Life: Save Smart Now for the Future You Want revealed only 17% of adults are confident in their money plan. The difference? They had a money mentor growing up.
Anne earned the 2020 Lillywhite Award for lifetime contributions to Americans’ economic security. During three decades at J.P. Morgan Chase, she launched and ran the SmartRetirement Target Date funds and Income Builder fund, and was named Morningstar’s Asset Allocator of the Year in 2014.
She’s a trusted keynote speaker, emcee, and media guest for audiences ranging from employees and professionals to Bloomberg TV, Barron’s, CNBC, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times.
Caroline Stewart, CEO of the Ecstra Foundation
Caroline is the CEO of Ecstra, and a philanthropic leader with over 25 years of corporate, legal, financial services, governance and not-for-profit experience.
Caroline works to improve genuine collaboration across sectors, to address the widening financial literacy gap and improve the financial wellbeing of Australians across all life stages. This includes engaging with communities, educators, consumer organisations, corporate, government and charity sectors.
She led the UBS Australia Foundation and is a board member of charities including WAGEC (Women and Girls Emergency Centre, Redfern) and The Achieve Foundation. Previously she was a board member of Philanthropy Australia, chair of the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee and on the board of Lenity Australia. She is a member of the ACNC Sector Forum and works on a pro bono basis with a range of community organisations. She started her professional career as a banking and finance lawyer.
Rose Kerlin, Chief Member Officer, AustralianSuper
Rose is the CMO at the 16th largest pension fund globally, focussed on understanding and meeting members needs across all life stages. She is accountable for ensuring that all members enjoy best-in-class member engagement and experience, and access to leading products and services. She is passionate about financial literacy and engaging members in trustworthy guidance to uplift their financial confidence and retirement outcomes.
Rose joined AustralianSuper in 2010 and was appointed to the Group Executive in 2016. She has held several member growth roles and managed multiple industry fund mergers and corporate transitions for the Fund. Rose is a Director of the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI). She holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney, a Diploma of Financial Planning and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Philip Moffitt, Director and Chair of the Investment Committee, Aware Super
Philip’s experience is in financial markets. His career began as a Cadet Economist in the Reserve Bank of Australia. Philip spent more than 35 years working as a fund manager in Australia, Asia and the UK. Prior to joining the Aware Super board, Philip was a Partner at Goldman Sachs in London and Sydney for 10 years. He was also Chair of Goldman Sachs Australia Managed Fund Board. And he was a member of the Goldman Sachs Australia and New Zealand Operating Committee.
Philip is passionate about helping people make better financial decisions. In 2018, Philip completed a Psychology degree focussed on behavioural finance decision making. Philip is currently completing a PhD on Decision making with uncertainty at the University of Sydney. Outside of Aware Super, Philip holds many leadership roles. He is a Director for Green Road Consulting – helping businesses with decision-making science. Philip is also a patrol member of the South Narrabeen Surf Lifesaving club in NSW.
Susan Thorp, University of Sydney
Susan is Professor of Finance at the University of Sydney Business School. She studies consumer financial decision making, focusing on retirement finance. Her research has been published in leading international academic journals including Management Science, the Review of Finance, and the Economic Journal. She has won nationally competitive research grants amounting to over four million dollars in public and industry funding. Susan’s has served on the Research Committee of the OECD/International Network on Financial Education, the Steering Committee of the Mercer CFA Institute Global Pensions Index, and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Consultative Panel. She was a founding director of Super Consumers Australia, the first independent consumer advocacy organisation for Australian retirement fund members.
Susan Bell, Susan Bell Research
Susan Bell runs the boutique research and insights agency Susan Bell Research, specialising in communications research, with a particular focus on the older market, especially for the financial services and aged care industries.
Her recent clients have included Aware Super, REST, Mercer Super and Benetas.
Susan Bell Research has also conducted many research projects for ASIC including research with super fund members on insurance in super and IDR.
She is a Fellow of The Research Society in Australia, past Research Society Board member, and past Conference Chair, and has presented papers at conferences in Australia and Asia.
Susan’s academic qualifications are: BA (Hons) English Literature and Linguistics (University of Reading), Graduate Diploma Psychology (Monash University), occasional courses in anthropology (Macquarie University) and the Advanced Certificate in Semiotics from the MRS UK.
Jon Glass, Retirement Coach
Jon is the founder of 64 PLUS where he guides his clients to retire with purpose and passion. Starting life with a PhD in Pure Mathematics from Cambridge University, Jon worked in leadership roles at Media Super, AMP and BT before making the transition from full-time work to semi-retirement a decade ago. He has since studied counselling and coaching at both the Australian College of Applied Psychology and the IECL Academy, and his personal experience has provided deep insights into how to make a successful retirement transition.
Jon’s views on how to make an effective retirement transition have featured in a range of media outlets including ABC Radio, SBS Insights, The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Australian Financial Review. Jon has dedicated this last phase of his career to helping others navigate the complexities of the retirement transition by helping them identify sources of meaning and purpose in post-work life. Jon’s mission is to empower individuals to embrace retirement with confidence and joy.
Sarah Forman, Chief Retirement Officer, Team Super
Sarah is a senior executive with over 25 years’ experience in financial services across the superannuation and wealth management sectors, have led strategy, product, sales, member experience and operational teams. Sarah has extensive experience in the management and delivery of 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 gain access to the help, guidance and advice they need to feel confident and have a great retirement.
Sarah 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.
John Livanas, CEO of State Super
John leads a team of experienced senior executives in managing the provision of member services and the investment of approximately $37 billion of assets (as at 30 June 2024). John has over 30 years’ industry experience, having worked in organisations including Deloitte South Africa, the South African Government Employees Pension Fund – the precursor to the country’s sovereign fund – and several Australian superannuation funds.
Prior to his appointment in October 2011, John was the Chief Executive Officer of AMIST Super (2008–11) and the General Manager of FuturePlus Financial Services (2002–08). He was a Director of ISPT and ISPT Grosvenor International Property Trust from 2010–12 and in August 2013 was appointed to the Board of the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors. John holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and an MBA from the University of Witwatersrand and a Graduate Diploma of Finance and Investments from the Financial Services Institute of Australia. He is an ASFA-accredited Investment Fiduciary and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Natalie Previtera, CEO of NGS Super
Natalie is the Chief Executive Officer of NGS Super. With a career grounded in governance, legal, and strategic leadership, Natalie brings a forward-thinking and purpose driven approach to superannuation. She is responsible for steering the fund through a dynamic regulatory landscape, ensuring operational excellence, and delivering long-term value to members. Natalie also served as Chief Risk and Governance officer having deep institutional knowledge and a strong track record in executive oversight and regulatory engagement. She is known for her collaborative leadership style and her ability to drive transformation while maintaining a strong member-first ethos. Prior to joining NGS in 2019 Natalie held senior governance roles at AMP, Suncorp and Perpetual.
CONFERENCE (open to all)
DATE: Thursday 7th August
VENUE: Pier one Sydney harbour
ADDRESS: 11 Hickson Rd, Dawes Point, Sydney
TIME: 9.30am (tea & coffee) for a 10.00am start - 6.00pm (AEST)
COST: FEAL Members $1,180, FEAL Sponsors & Non-members $1,470
MEMBERS' DINNER (FEAL Members & sponsors only)
DATE: Thursday 7th August
VENUE: Pier one Sydney harbour
ADDRESS: 11 Hickson Rd, Dawes Point, Sydney
TIME: 6.00pm (pre-dinner drinks) for a 7.00pm start - 9.30pm (AEST)
COST: FEAL Members $320 & FEAL Sponsors $400
A discount is available for members & sponsors attending both events as set out below:
FEAL Members - Conference & Dinner: $1,360
FEAL Sponsors - Conference & Dinner: $1,690
*Prices above are GST inclusive
**Please note only FEAL members & sponsors are eligible to attend the dinner, the conference is open to all
A 10% Early Bird discount on registration is available until 30 June 2025. Early bird code: 2025FEALNC
Dress code for conference & dinner: business attire
Sponsored in partnership with
