Leeanne Turner

With more than 260,000 members and over $7 billion in funds under management, MTAA Super is the national industry-based superannuation fund for the motor trades and allied industries. The fund is open to all Australians, and celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary this year.

Leeanne Turner, CEO and Secretary of MTAA Super, has decades of experience within the superannuation industry across a broad spectrum of complex super funds. She discusses her history in the industry, plus her vision and hopes for the future of MTAA Super.

"“I’'ve been working in the superannuation industry at various levels since 1981,"” Leeanne explains. "“I’'ve worked ‘at the coalface’, so to speak, in a vast array of administration roles including a few years assessing invalidity and death claims. That was one experience that cemented for me just how important superannuation and insurance really is to a person’s life."

"“My experience has seen me work at different types of funds with different fund designs— defined benefit as well as accumulation. Having worked for a long time with the now-closed Commonwealth public sector schemes, I have a very healthy appreciation for the importance of retirement income streams. This is a concept that is becoming more and more important to consider as our population ages."

“"I’'ve worked in large organisations, mid-size organisations, and small organisations. When I started at AvSuper in 2001, there were four of us running a $1-billion fund— that’s lean in anyone’s language, but it afforded me an enormous opportunity. Working as a team was essential; having a supportive and effective board was critical; forging trusted relationships with service providers was critical.”"