National Spokesperson
Mavis Robertson AM – National Spokesperson, Women In Super
Mavis Robertson AM became involved in the superannuation movement in 1984 when building and construction unions, with the support of the ACTU, campaigned successfully for a retirement benefit to be paid by employers into one of two industry funds, BUSS (Building Unions Superannuation Scheme) or AUST (Allied Unions Superannuation Trust).
Mavis was appointed a trustee director of AUST by the FEDFA (Federated Engine Drivers and Firemen's Association), which later became part of the CFMEU (Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union). Mavis is a Life Member of the CFMEU.
Mavis worked full time first in Sydney in the then newly formed Superannuation Unit and later transferred to Melbourne where she became National Coordinator for Industry Superannuation at the ACTU.
Mavis was also Fund Secretary of BUSS and AUST, where she led the merger of these two funds to create Cbus, the first billion dollar industry fund.
Mavis became the CEO of Cbus and later its Chair. She became Vice President of ASFA (Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia) and later a Life Member.
Mavis has been part of a range of initiatives designed to enhance the work of industry funds and more generally the not for profit sector and the trustee system. These include participation in the founding of CMSF, AIST, IFS, ACSI, Women in Super and the others Day Classic.
Mavis was awarded membership in the Order of Australia in 1994.
National Committee
Louise Davidson
Louise works for Industry Funds Management (IFM) as Manager, Sustainability and Governance, and is responsible for the integration of Environmental, Social and Governance issues in IFM,s investment processes.
Louise has worked in the superannuation industry for 18 years. She joined Industry Funds Services in 1995. As Manager, Member and Employer Services she was responsible for establishing the member services and financial planning areas of IFS. She then worked as Manager, Trustee Services and also worked on the establishment of the Industry Superannuation Joint Marketing Campaign, co-ordinating the first phase of the 'Compare the Pair' campaign with 19 participating funds.
Louise led the establishment and growth of the Mothers Day Classic Walk/Run for Breast Cancer Research, an event that has raised over $4.4 million for the National Breast Cancer Foundation since 1998. In 2008 Louise was inducted onto the Victorian Honour Roll for Women in recognition for her work on the Mothers Day Classic.
Louise is National Chair of the Mothers Day Classic, National Secretary of Women in Super, a member of the CMSF Organising Committee and of ASI Conference Program Committee.
Louise works part-time as she has three young children
Thomay Chalkias
Having completed her university studies with a BA (Hons History) and returning from the post-university holiday to Europe, Thomay accepted a 3 month contract in superannuation administration. That was over 10 years ago!
Her career has taken her from super administration to the role of Client Service Manager with Local Super SA-NT where she has been for the past 3.5 years. Her role also encompasses the area of communications including the development of educational material for members.
She is the Chair of Women In Super (SA) and is on the Organising Committee of the SA Mothers Day Classic.
Keri Pratt
Head of Client Service and Marketing, GMO Australia
Keri joined GMO Australia Ltd in January 2001 as director of business development & client service. At GMO, she is now responsible for client relationship management and marketing. She has more than 20 years experience in the superannuation consulting and investment industry. Keri was previously employed by MLC/ Lend Lease.
During this time, she held positions in superannuation consulting and wholesale investment management marketing. Keri earned her MBA (Exec.) at the Australian Graduate School of Management (University of NSW) and has a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance through the SIA. Keri is a partner of GMO Australia Ltd.
Elisabeth Pohl
Office Manager NSW Office & Event Co-ordinator, IAS/AIST
Elisabeth was ‘introduced’ to superannuation shortly after arriving in Australia from her home country Austria.
When she was offered a job with BUS (Building Union Superannuation) and AUST (Allied Unions Superannuation Trust) – now better known as Cbus (Super for the Construction & Building Industries), she had no idea what superannuation was and had to look it up in the dictionary. The entry found was superannuation
\Su`per*an`nu*a"tion\, n. The state of being superannuated, or too old for office or business; the state of being disqualified by old age; decrepitude.
The world itself is in a state of superannuation. -- Cowper.
Well, that didn’t sound promising nor interesting or positive. So she asked around and found that superannuation is actually something GOOD. Elisabeth decided to take the job.
That’s were she met her mentor, Mavis Robertson, AM. Mavis took her under her wings and suddenly superannuation wasn’t scary anymore. Elisabeth got involved in different projects, one of them was CMSF and it was there, at the second conference, at the Women’s Breakfast where Elisabeth’s involvement with Women in Super began and still continues to date.
Alison Dixon
Client Services Manager, HESTA
Alison has been a Client Service Manager with HESTA for just on ten years and moved to Hobart from I to open HESTA’s Tasmanian office in July 2003. She holds a Diploma of Superannuation Management, an Advanced Diploma of Financial Services (Superannuation) is a Fellow of ASFA and a member of the ASFA Executive (Tasmanian Sub-Committee).
She is Chair of the Women in Super Tasmanian Forum, also representing the group at national level and Chair of the Hobart Mothers Day Classic Organising Committee. The Mothers Day Classic has just been successfully run in Hobart for the first time and Alison describes her role in heading up the local organising committee as one of the most rewarding challenges she has undertaken.
Prior to joining HESTA, Alison managed the Victorian Branch of the Australian Nursing Homes and Extended Care Association (ANHECA) for eight years and ran her own business.
She is married with one daughter and two stepdaughters and with her husband Graham is STILL building that house down at Middleton, but assures as it will definitely be finished before the next ADC!!!
Belinda Ray
Belinda Ray is the Chair of the Victorian Women in Super Management Committee. Belinda is a Chartered Accountant with over thirteen years experience in the superannuation industry and is a Principal at Watson Wyatt Australia.
Belinda commenced her career working on self-managed superannuation funds and then moved to Ernst & Young where she was an Audit Manager in the Superannuation Team. After almost six years, Belinda moved to Watson Wyatt where she is currently responsible for relationships with several clients in the Melbourne office. Belinda is also the Compliance Manager for Watson Wyatt Superannuation Pty Ltd in its capacity as an approved trustee, and Compliance Manager for Watson Wyatt Australia Pty Ltd.
Belinda holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting & Information Systems), is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and is a member of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority Extended Public Offer Liaison Group and the ASFA Compliance discussion group.
Belinda lives in Geelong and enjoys spending time with her husband and young son, snow skiing, cooking, dinner parties, shopping and reading.
Belinda is excited by her appointment to the committee, and looks forward to meeting and working with WIS members.
