The board of directors of industry superannuation fund AustralianSuper has appointed Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) president, Michele O’Neil, as a director.
O’Neil was previously an alternate director at AustralianSuper and was a member of the ACTU Executive.
She was previously National Secretary of the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia.
O’Neil replaced outgoing director, Dave Oliver, who joined the AustralianSuper board in 2007.
AustralianSuper chair, Dr Don Russell, said O’Neil was well placed to help the fund to continue to grow as a global investor.
“Ms O’Neil has vast experience with member-based organisations and has a deep understanding of the importance of putting members’ interests at the centre of the decision-making process,” Russell said.
O’Neil said she was looking forward to joining the board and contributing to the fund’s mission of helping members achieve their best financial position in retirement.
“Superannuation is essential to Australian workers’ long-term financial security and also a major contributor to the nation’s economic prosperity,” O’Neil said.
“It’s an important time to be joining AustralianSuper and I’m looking forward to contributing to members achieving the best financial position possible in their retirement.”
Russell said outgoing director Oliver had made an important contribution to the super system on behalf of working Australians during his tenure.
“Mr Oliver has been a tremendous advocate of the superannuation system in Australia and he has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to ensuring members have been at the heart of every decision that the AustralianSuper board has made,” Russell said.
