Awards showcase excellence across the spectrum
The IRFA’s Best Practices Industry Awards (BPIA) and recognition programme has grown from strength to strength since its initial inception as a communication challenge some 29 years ago.
According to programme moderator and judge Stephanie Griffiths, the programme was extensively reviewed three years ago by a panel of industry experts and benchmarked both locally and internationally against similar programmes of achievement.
“The result of this exercise was the addition of a number of awards categories to the BPIA awards to include fund governance, stakeholder engagement, investment practice, trustee development and transformation.
“The awards also make provision for special mention of innovative and sustainable practices,” says Griffiths.
The programme attracts entrants from retirement funds and service providers across the spectrum. Griffiths notes that the standard of entries has improved exponentially over the years.
“One of the core objectives of the programme has always been to identify best practices, which set the standard for the industry and by bringing these into the public domain IRFA strongly believes they are adding to learning and the body of knowledge,” says Wayne Hiller van Rensburg, president of the industry body.
“Today’s retirement space is a rapidly transforming one, with fluid work environments, exciting new membership bases and many transformational imperatives to keep abreast of the needs of all stakeholders,” he adds.
“This has been aptly reflected in the entries, solutions and content presented by entrants in this year’s BPIA programme. Solutions in addressing a mobile membership base, not only engaging stakeholders but partnering for member wellbeing, innovative development programmes, and highly effective stakeholder engagement, show that the African retirement industry ranks amongst the best in the world for innovative and dynamic transformation.”
Hiller van Rensburg says that for the first time this year the IRFA attracted programme sponsors committed to the sustainable development of the industry.
“We would like to thank our programme sponsor the SABC Pension Fund and our category sponsor Legae Investments for partnering with us in this initiative.”