Jane Eccleston, Senior Executive Leader, Superannuation, ASIC

Jane Eccleston is the Senior Executive Leader of the Investment Managers and Superannuation team at ASIC. This team is responsible for ASIC's oversight of superannuation, managed funds and custodians.

In Jane's previous role as Senior Executive Leader, Corporations she was responsible for operational and project-based work at ASIC relating to corporations, including mergers & acquisitions, schemes of arrangement, fundraisings, disclosure and corporate governance. Prior to this Jane held a senior role in the ASIC team responsible for supervising ASX and other licensed financial markets.

Before joining ASIC, Jane was a Senior Associate with Mallesons Stephen Jaques and has also worked as in house counsel for Westpac. Jane holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Sydney.

Mel Birks, Head of 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 she was at ASIC as a Senior Specialist in the Superannuation team where she provided technical analysis and strategic advice on consumer issues in relation to superannuation.

Mel is passionate about delivering benefits to members, with a particular focus on improving women’s retirement outcomes.

Mel is also the current deputy chair of the Victorian Committee of Women in Super.

She has a 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.