The former managing director and chief executive of the SMSF Association (SMSFA) Andrea Slattery, has ended her 16 year connection with the body after stepping down as a non-executive director.
Slattery held the latter role since April 2017 after resigning from her previous roles, having held the role of chief executive from 2003 when she helped to co-found the Association.
A statement released by the SMSFA noted that Slattery made the decision to step down from the board to focus on companies where she also holds non-executive directorships. At present, she holds non-executive directorships with AMP, Clean Energy Finance Corporation, Argo Global Listed Infrastructure and the South Australian Cricket Association.
Slattery said her departure follows a time of growth and success for the SMSF sector which has grown from 130,000 SMSFs with $109 billion in funds under management in 2003 to 596,000 fund’s with $755 billion in funds under management.
“From a starting position of where the SMSF sector’s future was in question, we have overseen the emergence of the multi-skilled SMSF specialist to service the 1.1 million people who have opted to take personal control of their retirement savings, whether it be in the accumulation or pension phase,” Slattery said.
“I am proud of what we have achieved, and leave the organisation knowing it is well positioned for its next growth phase,” she added.
Association Chair Professor Deborah Ralston highlighted Slattery’s commitment to the Association and the SMSF sector, adding its success was due in part to her efforts to promote and improve the sector.
“The fact every major inquiry into superannuation, starting with the Cooper Review in 2010, has largely given the SMSF sector a clean bill of health is a testimony to what she helped achieve over this period,” Ralston said.
“We will not only sorely miss her experience, knowledge and breadth of industry and government relationships, but the unbounded enthusiasm and energy she brought to the task, whether it was as the CEO or non-executive director.”
