The Fund Executives Association Limited (FEAL) has awarded REST general manager for investments Jo Townsend the 2012 Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) scholarship.
The scholarship, delivered in partnership with Fidelity Worldwide Investment, will give Townsend the opportunity to undertake the five-day CIMA course, which is the internationally recognised core accreditation of the Investment Management Consultants Association.
Fidelity head of institutional business Gary Bailey said the scholarship was designed to help investment specialists improve their knowledge "at a time when investment practices [are] becoming increasing sophisticated".
"We received over twice the usual number of scholarship applications this year, demonstrating that this is clearly an area of increasing interest and concern for super funds," Bailey said.
The CIMA program will be held in Sydney in September, and will address issues including due diligence and manager selection; performance measurement and attribution; investment policy; asset allocation; risk management; and international financial markets and diversification.
As the Australian financial landscape faces increasing scrutiny from regulators, superannuation fund leaders are doubling down on their support for private markets, arguing these investments are not just necessary but critical for long-term financial stability.
Australian Retirement Trust (ART) is leaning on its private asset allocation to help shield members from ongoing market volatility, as its chief economist stresses the importance of long-term thinking and diversification.
AustralianSuper is poised to cement its leadership in the superannuation landscape over the next five years, with fresh research forecasting a sharp shift in the sector’s power dynamics.
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has warned that significant liquidity pressures could arise in the superannuation sector if multiple risks materialise at once, potentially amplifying shocks in the financial system.