Award Winners
At the 2019 Financial Services Council Summit Gala Dinner, eight financial services executives were recognised for their sustained professional support for and leadership of the financial services industry..
FSC CEO Sally Loane said the FSC Industry Excellence Awards are designed to honour individuals in member companies for their outstanding contributions to our industry’s future.
'They have demonstrated professionalism and leadership in our industry in support of policy development, regulatory balance, research programs and industry initiatives,” Ms Loane said.
The 2019 winners are:
- Austin Bell - Johnson Winter & Slattery
- Fiona Smedley - Herbert Smith Freehills
- Michelle Segaert - Ernst & Young
- Cathy Duloy - Metlife Insurance
- Jesse Krncevic - Financial Services Council
- Glenda Hanson - King & Wood Mallesons
- Robin Bowerman - Vanguard
In addition, Lucas McKay of the Westpac group was awarded the Outstanding Industry Contribution award for his active participation on special projects, working groups and his dedicated support of the industry. Their photos and citations appear below.
Austin Bell – Johnson Winter & Slattery
Austin has been a valued member of a number of technical working groups addressing Corporations Act reforms.
In particular Austin has contributed, at a very high level, to the DDO and PIPs working group, the RG97 working group, as well as the Foreign Financial Service Providers working group. Austin has co-chaired the latter working group.
In these highly technical areas, Austin has shared his encyclopaedic knowledge of the law, at the same time being able to identify the many practical issues which can arise.
Austin’s contribution to each of the working groups he participates in as been invaluable and of great benefit for the industry as a whole.
Fiona Smedley – Herbert Smith Freehills
Fiona has been a valued member of the DDO and PIPs working group and has chaired that working group. In a highly technical area, she has cut through many of the issues and provided outstanding direction and input to the group.
Fiona also has been a member of the Foreign Financial Service Providers working group. Again, she has provided valuable input and practical comments in a highly technical area.
Fiona has been very open and willing in making her time available in these areas for the benefit of all members.
Michelle Segaert – Ernst & Young
Michelle was a major contributor to our work on the CCIV legislation in 2017 to early 2019, including contributing large parts of FSC submissions, participating in many discussions with Treasury, and commenting on various drafts of submissions.
Her work was invaluable to the development of the CCIV regime, which is a major policy reform for FSC.
Without her assistance, our submission would have been much less substantial, less well argued, and lacking key points.
Michelle is a very professional operator, knowledgeable and operates with good humour. She presents clearly and persuasively – most clearly, her work was instrumental in obtaining one of FSC’s largest policy wins of 2019, with major improvements in the CCIV regime announced. It is unlikely that these major changes would have occurred without Michelle’s work.
Cathy Duloy – Metlife Insurance
Cathy Duloy is the MetLife Head of Public Policy and has been an active leader in the life insurance industry for more than two decades years, working at MetLife, TAL, St George and the ACCC. Cathy joined MetLife in February 2017 after serving as General Counsel at TAL for over 10 years. She has been an active participant of the FSC for all that period.
In the past 12 months alone she’s played an integral role in many working groups and committees across the life insurance space.
Through this industry involvement she’s helped shape and evolve key results across those policy areas. Cathy was deeply involved with the FSC's work on early intervention - a regulatory reform sought by the FSC to enable life insurers to fund targeted medical services to customers to help them return to health earlier. Cathy was involved in research, authored Metlife's submission to the PJC, and helped stakeholders understand why the reform is so important to help life insurers provide truly customer-centric services.
Jesse Krncevic – Financial Services Council
Jesse Krncevic, currently of the FSC but soon to be APRA. Jesse was nominated for his work across a broad range of policy and strategic issues handled by the FSC including the landmark life insurance data project which will enable life insurance companies to better demonstrate their abilities and how they help Australians.
Glenda Hanson – King & Wood Mallesons
Glenda was a major contributor to our work on the CCIV legislation in 2017 to early 2019, including contributing large parts of FSC submissions, participating in many discussions with Treasury, and commenting on various drafts of submissions.
Her work was invaluable to the development of the CCIV regime, which is a major policy reform for FSC.
Without her assistance, our submission would have been much less substantial, less well argued, and lacking key points.
Glenda is a very professional operator, knowledgeable and operates with good humour. She presents clearly and persuasively – most clearly, her work was instrumental in obtaining one of FSC’s largest policy wins of 2019, with major improvements in the CCIV regime announced. It is unlikely that these major changes would have occurred without Glenda’s work.
Robin Bowerman – Vanguard
Robin was nominated for his ongoing contribution to the ETF working group and role of Chair to the working group. Robin has been undertaking this role for many years.
Not only is he generous with his time he also makes the time to fly to Sydney from Melbourne as often as possible to chair the meetings.
His leadership across the industry is also appreciated.
Lucas McKay – Westpac Group
Lucas is the only Outstanding Industry Contribution Award winner this year.
Lucas has long been the face of BT within the FSC, in particular championing the long running BT Political Series. (This partnership would not have been renewed for the last two years if it were not for Lucas’ championing of the FSC).
Lucas is not only happy to take time out to discuss the various politicians who might feature as speaker in the series, he regularly pursues interest from the business to ensure FSC events are well attended by BT Financial Group.
His ability to be across multiple portfolios has seen him prove invaluable to the policy team as both parties seek to implement long term successful policy outcomes.
Lucas works tirelessly with the FSC not just for the Westpac group but across a range of industry issues and has been a strong advocate for the industry, the FSC - and the work our members and the FSC do - for more than a decade.