They are Professor Deborah Ralston, a former Chair of the Association who stepped down in September 2019 on being appointed by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg to the three-member Retirement Income Review panel, and Bryan Ashenden, Head of Financial Literacy & Advocacy at BT, Westpac’s wealth management arm.

SMSF Association Chair Andrew Hamilton says: “We are delighted to be able to announce these two appointments. Deborah proved an invaluable Board member during her last stint, playing an important role in the public debate on a broad range of retirement incomes policy issues.

“Her many years of being involved in key public policy debates in the financial services industry, with a focus on innovation and retirement issues, is a resource that the Association will be able to tap again, and we look forward to hearing her wise counsel.

“Deborah is a Professorial Fellow at Monash University and is a member of the Steering Committee for the Mercer CPA Global Pension Index. Aside from past academic roles, Deborah is a member of the Reserve Bank Payments System Board, and a non-executive director of Kaplan Business School, Kaplan Higher Education and SuperEd. Deborah was also the inaugural Chair of ASIC’s Digital Finance Advisory Board.

“Bryan’s primary focus at BT is to interpret legislative and regulatory change and distil this into meaningful actions for advisers, advice businesses, clients and consumers.

“A principal focus in this role is to assist building consumer trust in the advice process and supporting advisers in raising professional standards, a role that makes him eminently suitable for our Board at a point of time when the advice industry is undergoing major change.

“Aside from his BT role, Bryan is a lecturer on ethics and professionalism in financial advice and the economic and legal context for financial planning and is a member of various working groups at the Financial Services Council.”

Ralston says: “I found my previous time on the SMSF Association Board to be extremely fulfilling, so I was delighted to accept when asked to join again. As our work on the Retirement Income Review highlighted, we have many challenges ahead and I look forward to contributing to the debate, particularly as it affects the SMSF sector.”

Ashenden says: “I am honoured to be asked to join the Association’s Board. Having been a specialist member for the past decade, I am confident my experiences, especially my current role at BT interpreting legislative and regulatory change, equips me to make a meaningful contribution to the Association and the SMSF sector more broadly.”

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Houlihan, who joined the Board in June 2019, will replace Robin Bowerman, who retired from the Board yesterday after joining in 2011.

SMSF Association Chair Andrew Hamilton says: “Although it’s sad to farewell Robin after nine years, it’s a tribute to the calibre of the Association’s Board that Michael can step into this role.

“Michael has a very impressive CV, having spent 30 years in senior leadership roles in superannuation and financial services, including Head of Product and Technical Services at JBWere Investment Management and Vanguard Australia and his current role as Joint Managing Director of Strategic Wealth Services.

“Since joining the Board Michael has played a very constructive and diligent role in all our deliberations, making him an ideal choice to fill the Vice Chair position.”

Hamilton paid a strong tribute to Bowerman’s long service to the Association, especially the past three years as Vice Chair that included four months as Chair.

“There have been some challenging issues for the Association over this period, and the Board has always benefited from Robin’s sage advice, policy knowledge, and media background. His ability to see issues germane to the SMSF sector in the broader context of the superannuation industry has been particularly helpful over the journey.”

Houlihan says: “It’s an honour to be asked by my fellow directors to follow Robin who has served the Association with such distinction. I am excited by the challenges that await our vibrant sector of the superannuation industry and comforted by the fact that the Association is well positioned to resolve them.”

Bowerman, who is Head of Corporate Affairs at the fund manager Vanguard, says: “It’s been a privilege and a pleasure to serve the Association. Over this time there have been many positives changes in the SMSF sector, and the Association can take pride in its significant role in bringing them about.”

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Peter Burgess

The SMSF Association is pleased to announce it has appointed Peter Burgess as Deputy CEO and Director of Policy and Education, effective from 1 June 2020.

Burgess worked at the Association as Technical Director for three years before joining the SMSF administrator SuperConcepts in 2013 as General Manager, Technical Services & Education. He also served on the Association’s Board from 2007-09.

Association Chair Andrew Hamilton said: “The Board is delighted to be able to employ someone of the calibre of Peter, a sentiment I know that will be widely shared among the membership where he is highly respected and well regarded.

Association CEO John Maroney added: “Peter has built up a well-deserved reputation across SMSF policy and technical issues over many years, so to have him back in the Association fold will be a boost for our members and for the SMSF sector in general.

“His presentations at National Conference are always a highlight of that event, with Peter holding the rare honour of having addressed every conference.”

Burgess said he was excited to be re-joining the Association at a time of enormous change in the industry. Apart from COVID-19 and the enormous economic fallout from this pandemic, the SMSF sector is still coming to terms with recent superannuation and advice reforms, including those sparked by FASEA, the Productivity Commission report and the Financial Services Royal Commission.

“At such an important and pivotal time for the SMSF sector, I am looking forward to bringing the experience and technical knowledge I have accumulated over many years to the table and making a positive contribution to the growth of the Association and the sector.”

Burgess says he is grateful and indebted to SuperConcepts for giving him the opportunity to further his career by being able to lead a team of outstanding technical experts and SMSF educators.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at SuperConcepts. It’s not every day you get the opportunity to assemble and then lead a team with the collective experience and expertise of the SuperConcepts technical team. It was a very difficult decision to leave but the decision was made easier by the calibre of the team I am leaving behind. It means SuperConcepts is well placed to continue to provide the technical support that its clients need and have come to expect.

I wish SuperConcepts every success in the future and fortunately for me it’s not goodbye. As the largest administration business in the SMSF sector, SuperConcepts is an important stakeholder and I look forward to now working with SuperConcepts in my new role with the Association.” Lara Bourguignon, Chief Executive Officer at SuperConcepts, is proud of the achievements Peter has had during his time at SuperConcepts, which will serve him well in his new role at the Association.

“Peter has played an instrumental role in mentoring our team and leaves behind a legacy of technical expertise and client focus that will continue to benefit our clients. He has focused on building our brand and developing processes and offerings tailored to client needs. We wish Peter all the best in his new role and look forward to continuing our close relationship with him and the Association in the future.

“Having established our business in the market over the past few years we are now looking to the next chapter to continue the great work of our Technical team in training and industry advocacy, strengthening our relationships with industry partners and continuing to lead in industry opportunities,” she explains.

“We sincerely thank Peter for his enormous contribution to our company and also our clients and industry as a whole,” Ms Bourguignon adds.

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Hamilton, who joined the board in February 2011 and was Chair from February 2012 to February 2014, takes over from Robin Bowerman, who will remain on the board as Deputy Chair.

Bowerman assumed the Chair in September 2019 after Professor Deborah Ralston stood down (her term was due to end at this conference) to avoid any perceived conflicts of interest after being appointed to the Retirement Income Review panel.

From 21 February, the board will comprise Andrew Hamilton – Chair, Robin Bowerman – Vice Chair, Robyn FitzRoy, Liam Shorte, Bernie Ripoll, Tracey Scotchbrook, Michael Houlihan and Scott Hay-Bartlem.

Bowerman says the Chair could not be in better hands with Andrew stepping into the role.

“He brings enormous knowledge of the industry, a wide experience about the Association, and a deep understanding of the issues facing our members.

“I also want to acknowledge the enormous contribution of my predecessor, Professor Ralston, in what was a challenging period for our Association, as well as the full support I received from the staff under the leadership of our CEO, John Maroney.”

Hamilton says it’s an honour to again be asked to chair the organisation. “Although our industry is in a period of enormous change, I remain confident that the new regulatory, legislative, and educational framework, which aims to raise the standards across the industry, will be conducive to a business environment in which the SMSF specialist can flourish.”

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Bowerman, who is Head of Corporate Affairs at Vanguard Investments, has been Vice Chair for the past three years and a Board member since 2011.

He replaces Dr. Deborah Ralston, who resigned as Chair last Friday and has stepped down as a Director yesterday, following her appointment to the threemember Retirement Income Review panel that was announced by the Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, last Friday.

Andrew Hamilton, a former Chair of the Association, has been appointed Vice Chair. Bowerman says: “I am very honored that my fellow directors have asked me to succeed Deborah as Chair.

Although we are all greatly disappointed at losing Deborah before the end of her term, we totally appreciate why she has chosen to resign and wish her all the best in this new important role.

“She has provided the Association with sound leadership at a difficult time for the industry, and I know I speak for all members when I say her contribution has been greatly valued.”

Ralston says: “Unfortunately I find myself in a position where I feel I must tender my resignation as Chair and a Director of the SMSF Association. It has been a privilege to work with my fellow directors, the executive, and the members, all of whom are dedicated to ensuring Australians enjoy a secure retirement.”

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