AustralianSuper’s Paula Benson has joined the board of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) as its newest director.
She succeeds HESTA chief executive Debby Blakey to represent industry funds on the board.
Presently the chief officer for strategy and corporate affairs at Australia’s largest super fund, Benson has over 25 years of experience across the superannuation, banking and financial services, mining and resources, infrastructure, health, education, and media sectors.
“We are delighted to welcome Paula to the ASFA Board, particularly at a time of great innovation and opportunity for our superannuation system,” said ASFA chair Gary Dransfield.
“Paula’s creative and strategic leadership skills and cross-sector experience will further strengthen the sector-wide expertise of ASFA’s Board, and we look forward to working with her.”
Prior to joining AustralianSuper in September 2023, Benson was head of global brand, marketing, and communications at IFM Investors for three and a half years.
She also spent almost five years at NAB, most recently as executive general manager for corporate affairs.
She has previously served as a director of the Victorian Funds Management Corporation and the Port of Melbourne and was chair of Ovarian Cancer Australia for eight years.
The announcement followed a number of new appointments to ASFA’s board in recent months.
Last month, ASFA appointed Bryony Hayes, chief risk officer at TelstraSuper as director to represent corporate sector funds, replacing TelstraSuper director Nadine Flood.
It also welcomed Jane Couchman, chief risk officer at Aware Super, in December last year to represent public sector funds, replacing Aware Super CEO Deanne Stewart.
The rest of ASFA’s board comprises Rest CEO Vicki Doyle, representing industry funds; WTW Australia’s head of retirement solutions Nick Callil and GROW Super deputy CEO Adam Gee, representing service providers; Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation CEO Damian Hill, representing public sector funds; AMP platforms director Edwina Maloney, representing retail funds; and Qantas Super CEO Andrew Spence representing corporate funds.
