Women in Super

In addition to the advocacy work WIS does, it also provides members with various professional-development, networking and career-progression opportunities, including events, scholarship programmes and training sessions.

It is important to WIS that it continues strongly to support and encourage the appointment of women to superannuation fund boards, and the association works with other organisations and stakeholders to achieve this.

WIS has five core objectives:

• Provide opportunities for members to develop personal and professional networks.
• Foster access to professional development for members, including education and training.
• Promote equal participation of women at all levels within the superannuation industry.
• Improve retirement outcomes for women through awareness and advocating policy change.
• Strengthen the WIS network through leveraging the Mother’s Day Classic – now Australia’s largest walk-run – to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

The WIS network began at the Conference of Major Superannuation Funds when the association’s founder, Mavis Robertson, noted the lack of opportunity for women to network. She and the handful of other women in attendance decided to meet for breakfast, a tradition that continued after the conference. Each time, all attendees were asked to bring a female colleague with them to the following breakfast. Thus, WIS was born.

From here, the WIS network was formally established as a member-based organisation in 1994 and the scope of its objectives grew. No longer just an annual networking opportunity for women to meet and share experiences, WIS realised its potential to offer women the opportunity to grow and develop, as well as to use their voice to advocate for women and women’s rights. In the early days, many WIS members found themselves participating in education campaigns and expos to increase awareness of the importance of including women in superannuation benefits.

Nowadays, in addition to holding more than 100 professional-development events annually across the country, WIS is a highly respected voice and authority whose opinion on matters relating to women’s superannuation is regularly sought by media, academics, government and other policymakers.

Members are predominantly women who work in the superannuation or financial-services industry. Membership is open to anyone who has an interest in the work WIS does. People can support WIS by becoming a member or attending the association’s events.

Key benefits of membership include:

• Be part of a movement of positive change.
• Unique and regular networking events.
• Professional- and personal-development opportunities, including access to exclusive scholarship programmes.
• Helping achieve a superannuation system with gender equality.

WIS arranges a range of events including:

• Annual Mavis Robertson International Women’s Day Luncheon (with Jane Caro in 2020).
• National roadshow.

A schedule of upcoming events is available on the WIS website.