The SMSF Association (SMSFA) has appointed Heffron managing director, and sitting board member, Meg Heffron as its deputy chair for the coming two years.
“I’m very excited that we have a new vice-chair. The vice-chair is important to provide another perspective and our vice-chair starting now for two years is Meg Heffron,” SMSFA chair Scott Hay-Bartlem told delegates at the sector body’s National Conference 2026 in Adelaide today.
The news comes as the event marks a significant milestone for Hay-Bartlem as well.
“On a personal note this [conference] brings to the end my second term as chair because chairs [hold office from] SMSFA National Conference two years to SMSFA National Conference,” he explained.
“It has been a genuine pleasure and an honour to lead the association in what has been a very interesting time.”
However, he revealed his time as chair would not be ending today.
“But the interesting times are not over yet. I’m very pleased to say the board has asked me to continue, so I’ll be the chair for the next two years as well,” he confirmed.
The two announcements continue the changes to the structure of the industry body in recent months.
“We’re [undergoing] this process of renewal. In November we had two board members finish with us, which is sad, but a great opportunity for new directors. So I thank Michael Houlihan and Bernie Ripoll for their contribution to the board,” Hay-Bartlem said.
“Michael was the king of all things finances and kept us on the straight and narrow and was vice-chair for a couple of years, and Bernie was fantastic in explaining what to do and not to do in Canberra.
“[That included] what stands to take and who to talk to, which, as you can appreciate in the past 12 months, has been really important as we navigate the government and things like Division 296.”
Hay-Bartlem also took the opportunity to welcome the four recent appointees to the SMSFA board in Heffron, Brett Griffiths, Lachlan Sue and Ben Taylor.
He indicated all of them have already made a difference to operation of the organisation.
