The IQ Group has grown its new Brisbane team with the appointment of Katherine Forrest to senior business analyst.
Former SunGard principal consultant Ron Mullins signed on last week to head a new office in Brisbane as the principal consultant for its Queensland operations.
Mullins will lead four people on the ground including Forrest.
According to IQ Group chief executive Graham Sammells, growth in Australia's superannuation industry and broader financial services sector required the group to expand operations to provide a local presence in the sunshine state.
"We have been remotely servicing our clients in Queensland and have decided that now is the right time to invest in a local presence," he said.
"Because our core marketplace is the superannuation sector and broader financial services, all the Stronger Super reforms, the Future Of Financial Advice changes, the recent APRA expanded reporting changes and just general advances in technologies and the firms that need to take advantage of it, that all plays into our sweet spot where we help our clients," he said.
Mullins will act as the company's local contact point responsible for growing the team and direct delivery on consulting projects.
He recently left his role as principal consultant with SunGard and has had a broad experience across financial and government industries as Sunsuper's operations specialist service delivery manager, the Queensland Government's senior project manager and in leadership roles at CitiStreet (acquired by SunSuper in 2008).
He has experience in project management and has managed operational, information technology, client relationship and administration teams.
Mullins is also an active member of the Australian Superannuation Financial Association's e-commerce policy sub-committee and the Australian Taxation Office's working party groups.
Forrest also has a long history in the super industry, having worked with QSuper and CitiStreet.
The IQ Group has now built its team to 90 plus employees.
Super funds have built on early financial year momentum, as growth funds deliver strong results driven by equities and resilient bonds.
The super fund has announced that Mark Rider will step down from his position of chief investment officer (CIO) after deciding to “semi-retire” from full-time work.
Rest has joined forces with alternative asset manager Blue Owl Capital, co-investing in a real estate trust, with the aim of capitalising on systemic changes in debt financing.
The Future Fund’s CIO Ben Samild has announced his resignation, with his deputy to assume the role of interim CIO.