Mary Delahunty named ASFA CEO

Former HESTA impact guru Mary Delahunty is the new chief executive of The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia.

ASFA chair Gary Dransfield said Delahunty's appointment marks a significant milestone for the peak body for the superannuation funds.

Delahunty joins ASFA after founding Seven Advisory, a specialist ESG consultant for institutional investors.

She quit the  $66 billion HESTA in February 2022 explaining that it was the right time to strike out on her own and improve her work-life balance.

Seven Advisory, acts as an intermediary to bridge the yawning gap between shareholder and consumer activism.

As a senior manager with the HESTA, Delahunty had been instrumental in shaping strategic policies and responsible investment practices to advance member outcomes in the superannuation system.

She also holds a number of board positions, including in RegTech and education and was a 2015 Churchill Fellow awarded for international research on gender equity in pension systems.

The ASFA chair said her leadership qualities, industry knowledge and demonstrated commitment to advancing the sector, align perfectly with ASFA's 60-year-long mission to bring the whole industry together.

"With a deep pipeline of consultation on critical issues ahead of us, and the planned delivery of a comprehensive professional development program to enhance skills and thought-leadership throughout the industry, we are confident that under Mary's leadership, ASFA will continue to be the preeminent voice of the industry."

On her appointment, Delahunty called ASFA a strong peak body, combining deep technical research with the expertise of super funds and service providers.

"ASFA uniquely plays a crucial role in progressing important conversations on matters such as the objective of super, the role of capital and enhancing member services."

Delahunty's appointment as ASFA chief executive is effective 1 February 2024.

She succeeds Leeanne Turner, who will continue in an interim capacity until then to ensure a smooth transition.

Dransfield thanked Turner for stepping in as interim chief executive at a crucial time for the organisation.

News of Delahunty's appointment comes one week after ASFA overhauled its operations in a move that saw the departure of four staffers.
The revamp saw the rremoval of the chief policy officer role.

Consequently, ASFA's deputy chief executive Glen McCrea, who also runs policy, will leave the association in the next few weeks.