Independent Director joins newly-merged Equip Board

Equip has announced its merger with the Rio Tinto Staff Superannuation Fund, to form a $14 billion fund under the Equip name. As part of the merger, Equip's board has undergone a restructure with the appointment of three additional directors that will bring the board to the one third/one third/one third governance model.

Justine Hickey joins the board as an independent director, effective 1 July 2017. Hickey has over 24 years' experience in investment and funds management as an equities portfolio manager. She joins from the board of Rio Tinto Staff Super Fund and is also a director at GPT Metropolitan Office Fund and DNR Capital.

Previously, Hickey was head of equities at Suncorp Investment Management in Brisbane until 2004 and prior to that a portfolio manager at Flemings Investment Management (now JP Morgan) in London.

Also joining Hickey on the board is independent director, Wayne Walker and employer director, Mark Cerche.

Commenting on the merger, Equip chair, Andrew Fairley, said: "We have established a clear and unique position in the corporate superannuation marketplace, which bridges the gap between profit-for-member industry funds and retail master trusts."

"This is a strong signal to other major corporate funds that we are a superannuation provider with which they can confidently do business, whether by merging into Equip, or participating in the fund's Extended Public Offer structure, which provides shared trusteeship and flexible options for investment management and member administration."