Mel Birks, General Manager, Advocacy, AIST

Mel started her career in superannuation in the ATO, moving to work with industry super funds in 2004.  Her roles have included senior roles in stakeholder relations, strategy, marketing and communications in Link Group/ Superpartners, HESTA, Hostplus, AUSfund, Industry Fund Services and ME Bank. Prior to joining AIST in September 2019, Mel was at  ASIC as a Senior Specialist in the Superannuation team.

As General Manager, Advocacy at AIST Mel works closely with AIST member funds, regulators and government on policy and implementation issues. Mel is passionate about delivering benefits to members, with a particular focus on improving women’s retirement outcomes.

Mel recently finished a six year stint on the Victorian Committee of Women in Super as Chair and Deputy Chair and joined the Mother’s Day Classic Foundation board in late 2020 as a director. She has been volunteering for the event since 2004.

She has Bachelor of Science from the University of Melbourne, a Graduate Diploma in Educational Psychology from Monash University and a MBA from Deakin University and has successfully completed the Advanced Leadership Program run by Women & Leadership Australia