Finsia’s Pinnacle Award Winners Announced

Finsia’s Pinnacle Award Winners Announced

26 October 2011

Five pre-eminent financial services professionals were awarded the Finsia (Financial Services Institute of Australasia) Pinnacle Awards at a gala dinner last night (Tuesday 25 October) to celebrate 125 years for the peak industry body.

The winners included:

• Finsia Pinnacle Award for Most Outstanding Industry Contribution — Dr Maurice Newman AC (former chair of Deutsche Bank Australia and the ASX)
• Finsia Pinnacle Award for Most Outstanding Woman in Financial Services — Helen Lynch AM (non-executive director Westpac and chair of The Russell Australasia Advisory Board)
• Finsia Pinnacle Award for Most Outstanding Thought Leader — Professor Michael E Drew (managing director, Lifecycle Strategies at QIC and Professor of Finance at the Business School, Griffith University)
• Finsia Pinnacle Award for Most Outstanding Future Leader — Stephanie Charles (director, Credit Suisse)
• Finsia Pinnacle Award for Most Outstanding Young Professional — Matt Baxby (managing director, Virgin Money Australia)
• A special posthumous award was given to David Clarke, former head of Macquarie Bank, for his outstanding contribution to the industry.

Two New Zealanders were shortlisted for the Awards: Michael Milne, an investment adviser with Craigs Investment Partners in Dunedin, and Janine Starks, the co-managing director of Liontamer Investments from Christchurch. Janine Starks for the ‘Most Outstanding Thought Leader’ category and Michael Milne for the ‘Most Outstanding Young Professional category’.

Finsia CEO Russell Thomas commented: ‘Finsia has operated as the leading financial services organisation in Australasia for 125 years and these awards recognise industry leaders, visionaries and role models who have made outstanding contributions.

‘From a shortlist nominated by peers in the industry a panel of some of Australasia’s most distinguished financial services leaders selected the winners.’

The selection panel included: Jill Segal AM; Annabel Spring; Sir John Anderson SF Fin; James Strong AO; Cassandra Kelly F Fin; John M Green SF Fin; Tony Howarth SF Fin; and Brian Schwartz.’

Special guest Dr Anil K. Gupta addressed the Finsia 125th Anniversary Gala dinner. Dr Gupta is one of the world’s leading experts on strategy and globalisation. He is the Michael Dingman Chair in Global Strategy and Entrepreneurship at the Smith School of Business, The University of Maryland at College Park.

About The Finsia Pinnacle Award Categories

The award nomination categories are:

• Most Outstanding Industry Contribution — professionals who have substantially shaped or transformed the Australasian financial services environment. They are visionaries and innovators without whom Australasia's financial services industry would not be the same.
• Most Outstanding Thought Leader — professionals who have demonstrated exceptional originality, innovation or vision. They have shifted paradigms and stimulated innovation in the industry.
• Most Outstanding Woman in Financial Services — professionals who have delivered exceptional industry and leadership contributions to the financial services industry. They are role models, inspiring other women to overcome gender barriers and build opportunities to excel in the financial services industry.
• Most Outstanding Young Professional (up to 35 years) — young professionals who are exceptional achievers or performers in their field and just as exceptional in their contribution to the broader community.
• Most Outstanding Future Leader — professionals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership capabilities within their professional roles and in the broader community. They are ambassadors and role models for the financial services industry.

About Finsia

Finsia — the Financial Services Institute of Australasia — has a combined wealth of experience in the financial services industry dating back to 1886.

Finsia is connected to a deep, rich history that can be traced back to the establishment of the Australasian Institute of Banking and Finance (AIBF) in 1886 and later the Securities Institute of Australia (SIA) in 1966. The merger of these two leading industry bodies in 2005 signaled a new era for the financial services: one industry represented by a single professional association.

As the only professional association representing the entire spectrum of financial services throughout Australia and New Zealand, its reach extends to more than 17,000 individual professionals working across the broad categories of banking, wealth management and capital markets.

Finsia plays a vital role in protecting the industry’s strength and competitiveness in today’s evolving global marketplace through its core purpose of helping members succeed in their careers and supporting the growth and development of the financial services industry.

This is achieved through the provision of relevant and high quality professional development programs, a comprehensive suite of career support services and an extensive range of industry-leading information resources and publications. Finsia’s leadership, research and policy-setting initiatives also play a critical role in promoting industry growth both regionally and around the world.

ENDS

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