Our new Board director outlines the value of super for all members.

Executive President of the Australian Services Union (ASU) Jennifer Thomas joined the ART Board as a director in February this year and brings with her a wealth of experience in governance and the financial services sector. That includes more than 20 years with the ASU and 7 years on the Brighter Super board. We caught up with Jennifer to find out why she has joined our Board and why super is so important.

Why did you decide to join ART’s board?

I’m passionate about ensuring financial security for members, both during their careers and as they transition to retirement. I have worked in partnership with QSuper (prior to the merger to form ART), and now ART for many years and the fund has always operated in our members’ best interests. With my experience I believe I can contribute to making the right decisions that will continue to put ART members first.

What do you hope to achieve?

I’ve witnessed a remarkable journey of transformation at ART, and I’m committed to continuing that momentum as we grow and deliver on our shared vision as one of Australia’s largest superannuation providers.

Fostering confidence in super is essential to strengthening long-term trust in the fund. It is about ensuring members feel supported, particularly as they navigate their transition to retirement.

How do you represent the interests of all members?

The ART Board represents the interests of all members, and is structured with a balanced composition of member and employer representatives and independent directors. This ensures decisions are made in the best interests of all 2.4 million members.

As a member representative director, it means I’m engaging directly with members and unions who represent many of our members. I’m listening to their views and any concerns they might have and advocating on their behalf. This connection provides the board with valuable insights on the needs, concerns, and expectations of ART’s members more broadly.

In my role it’s important to advocate for strong protections and meaningful improvements so all Australians can retire well with confidence. I’m proud to bring that voice to the board table.

What role does super play in the lives of ASU members?

Superannuation plays a crucial role in the lives of union members by providing financial security and stability in retirement. Australia’s universal super makes a significant difference to retirement outcomes for millions of workers. For many ASU members, super may be their largest asset, which means the decisions that are made today will directly impact their quality of life in the future.

The ASU has proudly campaigned for key reforms to protect and grow our members’ retirement savings including:

• Legislating to ensure super is paid on every dollar earned by eliminating the $450 minimum threshold for compulsory employer contributions
• Keeping the promised Superannuation Contribution Guarantee rate increase to 12%
• Closing the gender super gap by pushing for super to be paid on government funded parental leave and other government carer payments
• Introducing payday super, to ensure employers pay their employees super at the same time as their salary and wages
• Improving super outcomes through local workplace bargaining.

And I know ART has also been advocating and working with government to address many of these important issues. These changes would make the super system fairer and more accessible for all Australians.

Why is ART a good fund for ASU members?

ASU members work in a wide range of industries – government, local government, energy, water, public transport, airlines, shipping, travel, ports, social and community services, IT, and the private sector clerical and administrative areas. This makes ART a strong fit for ASU members as it reflects that same diversity, proudly serving workers across government, large government organisations, small businesses and many more as one of Australian’s largest super funds.

In my perspective, ASU members are committed to their work and communities, and they connect with ART because it shares those same values as a profit- for-members fund. ART puts members first. That means a commitment to lower fees, strong long-term performance, quality retirement products and a clear focus on member outcomes. It’s no surprise that ART was rated #1 for customer satisfaction¹ – a priority for many ASU members.

ART has a long-standing commitment to helping members engage with and better understand their super. Whether it’s through workplace visits, member events or seminars, ART consistently supports members to access quality financial advice and build confidence in retirement planning.

What areas of super are you passionate about?

I’m passionate about ensuring super is a fair and inclusive system that delivers security and dignity in retirement for all workers. Super is a vital component of financial planning for retirement – it provides peace of mind and long-term stability.

It is also important that members can seek financial advice about their super and obtain guidance and education through ART which can help them prepare for their retirement.

I’m especially focused on making sure the system works for those who need it most: low-income earners, part-time workers, and people with broken or interrupted work histories – particularly women who are often disadvantaged by the current system.

How do you see this applying in real life?

From 1 July this year, super will be paid on government-funded parental leave—a significant and long-overdue step toward improving retirement outcomes for parents, especially women. As a new Board director, it was pleasing to learn about ART’s continuous advocacy and support for this change.

Another practical example is Payday Super, which takes effect from 1 July 2026 (subject to legislation). This reform will require employers to pay super at the same time as wages, rather than quarterly. For members, this means better real-time tracking of super payments, reduced risk of unpaid super, and faster growth of their retirement savings.

These are real, tangible improvements that make the super system fairer, more responsive, and better aligned with the needs of working Australians.

It is more results like this that I aim to continue advocating for our members.