AustralianSuper has appointed Simone Stella as Principal, Leadership Communications, strengthening its strategic communications capabilities as Australia's largest superannuation fund continues to expand its global footprint and member-focused initiatives.
Stella joins AustralianSuper after serving as Head of Corporate Affairs, Oceania at EY, where she led corporate affairs and communications strategies across the professional services firm's regional operations. During her tenure at EY, she played a key role in advancing the organisation's reputation, stakeholder engagement and leadership communications agenda across Australia and New Zealand.
Prior to EY, Stella built an extensive career spanning in-house and agency communications roles across the financial services, manufacturing and automotive sectors. Her experience also includes a stint at Baldwin Boyle Group, one of Australia's leading corporate communications and investor relations consultancies, where she advised organisations on reputation management, strategic communications and stakeholder engagement.
Her appointment comes at a time when AustralianSuper is investing heavily in strengthening its leadership and communications functions as it scales its operations across international markets. The fund manages more than A$400 billion in retirement savings on behalf of over 3.6 million members and has been expanding its global investment capabilities through offices in Melbourne, Sydney, London, New York and Beijing.
“I’ve just ticked over one month in a new role at AustralianSuper and I’m looking forward to playing a role in contributing to member outcomes to help people like mum and dad get the kind of retirement they deserve. Thank you to my new colleagues for the warm welcome, and to my previous team at EY for the many laughs and lessons during the past year,” she wrote on her LinkedIN page.
Leadership communications has emerged as an increasingly strategic function within large financial institutions, driven by growing stakeholder expectations around transparency, corporate purpose and executive visibility. AustralianSuper's Strategy and Corporate Affairs division includes dedicated leadership communications capabilities designed to support executive engagement, organisational culture and strategic priorities.
Stella's cross-sector communications expertise is expected to support AustralianSuper's continued focus on member engagement and organisational leadership as the fund advances its long-term growth strategy.
AustralianSuper remains Australia's largest superannuation fund and ranks among the world's largest pension funds by assets under management, with a significant proportion of its portfolio invested across global markets.
Australia's superannuation industry has always sparked my curiosity, and the importance of a strong super industry has become much more obvious as I watch my parents in retirement. They’re humble and worked incredibly hard to give me and my siblings every opportunity to succeed. Through their super, they're enjoying a well deserved, stress free retirement. Pictured in front of their caravan, they’re currently surrounded by the beauty of South Australia's Flinders Ranges.
