UniSuper's chief executive Ann Byrne has won the sixth Fund Executive Association Limited (FEAL) fund executive of the year award.

Byrne was honoured at the FEAL awards dinner in Melbourne last night and will receive a $20,000 education grant to study at an internationally recognised business school.

"This award is a credit to the staff and board of UniSuper who are committed to innovation and best practice for the benefit of our members and their retirement incomes," Byrne said.

Byrne joined UniSuper in October 2000 and currently also sits on the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia board and the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors national secretariat.

The award recognises a fund executive's outstanding leadership, achievement and innovation. 

According to chair of the awards selection committee Dan Sexton, Byrne was selected because of her outstanding contribution to best practice in pension fund governance and management, as well as her dedication to the members of UniSuper.

"Ann has also been particularly active supporting and promoting the role of women in super," Sexton said.

Brian Delaney, director of client product and marketing for awards partner AMP Capital Investors, noted the importance of professional development for those in the industry in the light of changes to super legislation and the increased weight of money being managed.

"More than ever before, fund executives are charged with the great responsibility of managing hundreds of millions in super savings to provide for the future of every Australian," Delaney said.

"Sustainable investing is growing in prominence with more people demanding greater accountability of how their super is invested."