AustralianSuper appoints new Board member

From

Western Australian-based Director appointed to AustralianSuper Board

AustralianSuper has today announced the appointment of Western Australian-based Simone McGurk as a Director on the AustralianSuper Trustee Board.

Ms McGurk is currently a Director of the Westscheme superannuation fund, a Western Australian State Training Board member, the UnionsWA Secretary and a member of the ACTU executive.

Elana Rubin, Chair of AustralianSuper, said she was delighted to welcome the first West Australian-based representative to its Board.

“Simone McGurk is an outstanding appointment for AustralianSuper. She has a long history of member advocacy through her 20 years in the union movement.

“She has a strong insight into the issues facing Australian workers and an affinity with the ‘members first’ philosophy of AustralianSuper.

“Simone was a member of the Westscheme Board that demonstrated its ‘members first’ philosophy when it sought a merger with AustralianSuper, knowing our size, expertise and products would provide a positive difference to their retirement outcomes,” Ms Rubin said.

“Irrespective of the proposed merger with Westscheme, Simone is a high calibre appointment and one that reflects the growing geographic diversity of AustralianSuper.

“Simone’s appointment ensures the interests of West Australian members will be well represented and demonstrates AustralianSuper’s commitment to the successful finalisation of the merger,” Ms Rubin said.

Of the thirteen representatives on the Australian Board, seven are from New South Wales, five from Victoria and one from Western Australia.

Ms McGurk replaces Cath Bowtell, who is retiring after being a Director of AustralianSuper since June 2007. Ms Bowtell was an alternate Director from March 2006 and Director from 2007.

“We thank Cath Bowtell for her invaluable contribution to the AustralianSuper Board and wish her well in her future endeavours,” Ms Rubin said.