The Industry Super Network (ISN) has changed its name to Industry Super Australia (ISA), with chief executive David Whiteley saying the change reflected the growing role of industry superannuation in the nation’s economy.
The announcement comes after ISA formed a strategic partnership with the Financial Services Council, with the two associations to work together on the critical issues for superannuation in Australia.
“We’ve been successful advocates for making the system fairer - including the reforms to financial advice and the banning of commissions,” Whiteley said.
“And most importantly, our outperformance has meant better average returns to our members,” he added. “We’ve achieved this with a governance model that sees an equal representation of employers and employees who work together and act only in members’ interests.”
ISA represents five million members across the industry super fund sector who work for 600,000 Australian employers.
The two funds have announced the signing of a non-binding MOU to explore a potential merger.
The board must shift its focus from managing inflation to stimulating the economy with the trimmed mean inflation figure edging closer to the 2.5 per cent target, economists have said.
ASIC chair Joe Longo says superannuation trustees must do more to protect members from misconduct and high-risk schemes.
Super fund mergers are rising, but poor planning during successor fund transfers has left members and employers exposed to serious risks.