Ms Birks has 19 years’ experience working in senior roles across the superannuation industry, AIST said in a statement.
Her most recent role at ASIC was as senior specialist in the superannuation team where she provided technical analysis and strategic advice on consumer issues in relation to superannuation.
Ms Birks started her career in superannuation at the ATO, before moving to work with industry super funds in 2004 across stakeholder relations, strategy, marketing and communications, with stints at Link Group, HESTA and Hostplus.
AIST chief executive Eva Scheerlinck said Ms Birks’ depth of experience working with regulators and across the profit-to-member superannuation sector would ensure that AIST’s advocacy continued to be effective and targeted to improving the retirement incomes of all Australians.
“Melissa’s broad skill set and her deep understanding of policy and regulatory landscape will be critical in this time of increased regulatory and public scrutiny of superannuation,” Ms Scheerlinck said.
Ms Birks replaces AIST’s former head of advocacy, Ailsa Goodwin, who has joined AIST-member fund, Cbus, as the fund’s strategic public policy adviser.
Ms Scheerlinck thanked Ms Goodwin for her valuable contribution to AIST’s advocacy, noting that AIST looked forward to working with Ms Goodwin in her new role at Cbus, particularly through her ongoing involvement with the AIST policy committee.
