SuperFriend shifts goal from awareness to workplace action

Deanne Wilden, general counsel at the Australian Retirement Trust, has been appointed the new board director at SuperFriend, with Rose Kerlin, chief member officer of AustralianSuper, promoted to deputy chair. 

SuperFriend chair, Nicholas Vamvakas, said these additions would be a “significant step” in the evolution of the organisation. 

“The addition of Deanne Wilden to the SuperFriend board of directors, along with Rose Kerlin’s promotion to deputy chair, is a significant step in the evolution of our organisation,” he said. 

“Their collective expertise will play a crucial role in our continued efforts to dive deeper into workplace mental health and provide Australian workplaces and industries with more practical and contemporary insights.”

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Wilden’s vast strategic and legal experience across the superannuation and insurance industries would include associate general positions at QSuper and QIC. She had also been with ANZ for over seven years. 

Meanwhile, current SuperFriend board member Kerlin would take up the role of deputy chair following the resignation of Teifi Whatley, effective 18 April 2023. Whatley had been with the workplace mental health not-for-profit for 16 years. 

Kerlin had been with Australia’s largest superannuation fund since 2010, where she had held several growth roles and managed multiple industry fund mergers and corporate transitions.

In addition to the new appointments, chief executive, Darren Black, unveiled a new strategic direction for the organisation. It would move from awareness-raising to implementing tangible mental health and wellbeing interventions that drive positive outcomes for employees and businesses.

“SuperFriend’s new strategic direction marks a significant shift from raising awareness to driving meaningful action on workplace mental health. It’s time for action and workplaces to realise they need to do more and move beyond compliance,” Black said.

“SuperFriend is reinvesting in our research to understand better what makes a thriving workplace across different industries. Our Five Domains framework and industry-specific insights will be customised to support workplace leaders and teams responsible for people & culture, health & safety, and wellbeing. 

“As part of this new direction, SuperFriend is committed to working directly with high-risk industries and businesses ready to take a proactive approach. Our goal is to equip them with actionable information that they can use to shift the dial on workplace mental health and wellbeing and boost business outcomes.”