Peter Lunt, Head of Investment Research & Governance, VicSuper

I was very excited to receive the AIST educational scholarship as it will allow me to pursue a formal course of study in governance law and to participate in the Global Dialogue 2010. These two experiences will increase my knowledge of governance, allow international travel, expand my networks and, most important, to hear from investment professionals working within the emerging markets, a market that the majority of investors are researching for investment opportunities. My thank you goes to the AIST and Tyndall/Suncorp Investment Management for providing this wonderful opportunity.

Cristina Cifuentes, Trustee Director, First State Superannuation Scheme

"Asia is rightly acknowledged as a major source of growth and investment for the Asia Pacific region for many years to come. With those opportunities however, comes the need to be aware of the challenges posed by investing in developing countries and markets. This year's AIST Global Dialogue conference in Hong Kong, will provide me with an excellent opportunity to develop not only my knowledge of Asia but also the practical issues relating to investments. The conference is timely in that trustees of super funds are increasingly looking at a range of international investments within an environment where governance and due diligence are all important. I am very appreciative of the support of AIST and Tyndall/Suncorp Investment Management inproviding this opportunity."

Tony Coleman , Trustee, IAG & NRMA Superannuation

"I greatly valued the opportunity made possible by the AIST Scholarship program to study environmental sustainability issues relevant to the investment of superannuation funds at Stanford University in September 2008. Both the subject material of the course and the interaction with fellow participants, who came from a diverse background of businesses, NGOs and the public sector around the world, proved to be interesting and informative and provided many implementable ideas."

Talieh Williams , UniSuper

Talieh Williams, one of our staff recipients from UniSuper completed an executive education course at Harvard Business School (HBS) on Corporate Social Responsibility:Strategies to Create Business and Social Value. Talieh said that "the scholarship provided a great learning opportunity" and highly recommends that others apply for the scholarship. The corporate social responsibility (CSR) course at HBS was excellent in terms of teaching method, breadth of topics covered and the diversity in course participants. "The value in generalist CSR courses such as the one at HBS is that one obtains a strategic view of the range of issues facing investee companies. In a time of complex interrelationships it is critical to take a multidisciplinary view, rather than applying a pure investment approach".

Peter Gebert , Cbus

Peter Gebert from Cbus, will be attending his business leadership course in May 2009 at Macquarie Business School in North Sydney. Peter has told us that he is very grateful that as a member of AIST and with the support of Tyndall/Suncorp Investment Management he has been given the opportunity to undertake these studies. He also feels that this course will greatly assist him in his new role at Cbus as Executive Manager Business Development.

Robin Jervis-Read, Trustee, Equipsuper

Robin Jervis-Read, our Trustee recipient, completed the Australian Instititute of Company Director's (AICD) course. He was thrilled to be given the opportunity so soon after being appointed as a new Trustee of the Board of Equipsuper, and recommends the scholarship program to other Trustees.

Robin has now completed his Company Directors course, together with the thirty hour assignment that was due six weeks after course examinations.

Rob Fowler, HESTA

Rob Fowler, our Fund Staff recipient from HESTA, completed The Prince of Wales' Business and the Environment Programme.

Rob notes that it was "an excellent course, with a mixture of attendees from corporate and business environments enabling discussion on a variety of issues. It certainly assisted in meeting the objectives and goals that were set for having applied for the Program".