MEDIA INVITE: The future of super and women’s financial security

Key Facts:

Location: Business Sydney, Level 7, Chifley Square, Sydney

(Corner of Phillip St and Hunter St - opposite Chifley Tower)

Date: Thursday 24 September 2026

Time: 8.30am – 10.30am

Federal Finance Minister to headline forum on the future of superannuation and women’s economic securityAustralia’s $4.4 trillion super system faces transition, with 2.8 million people expected to retire over the next decadeBusiness, superannuation and research leaders to examine practical action 

The future of Australia’s superannuation system will be in focus at a major business and policy forum in Sydney on Thursday September 24, headlined by Finance Minister and Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher.

Hosted by CareSuper, UNSW Sydney, Business Sydney and Women in Super, Superannuation, Gender Equity and Financial Safetywill bring together leaders from government, business and superannuation to examine how Australia can strengthen women’s financial security throughout their working lives and into retirement.

With millions of Australians expected to retire over the next decade, Australia’s superannuation system is at a pivotal moment, managing more than $4.4 trillion across 23.6-million-member accounts.

For women, the transition presents particular challenges. The gender superannuation gap can compound over a lifetime, with workforce participation, caring responsibilities and other structural factors affecting retirement outcomes. At the same time, growing recognition of financial abuse is raising questions about how Australia’s superannuation system, workplaces and other institutions can better safeguard women’s financial security.

The Minister and an expert panel will explore recent policy developments and discuss the practical role that employers, business leaders and super funds can play in improving women's financial security and retirement outcomes.

Expert panel: 

The Hon. Katy Gallagher – Minister for Finance, Minister for Women and Minister for the Public Service, and Senator for the ACT Linda Scott – Chair of CareSuperJo Kowalczyk – CEO of Women in SuperProfessor Ann Kayis-Kumar – Founding Director of UNSW Tax and Business Advisory Clinic

Chair of CareSuper Linda Scott said: “Retirement security isn’t just a superannuation policy issue - it’s a gender equality issue. Women continue to retire with significantly less superannuation than men, largely because our system doesn’t account for career breaks, part-time work and the unpaid caring load that disproportionately falls on women. Bringing together government, universities and industry - as we’re doing with Minister Gallagher, UNSW, Women in Super and Business NSW - is exactly the kind of collaboration needed to close that gap and build a system that delivers dignity in retirement for everyone.”

Women in Super CEO Jo Kowalczyk said: “Women’s retirement outcomes are shaped by structural issues, including lower pay, unpaid caring responsibilities and time out of the workforce. We need to focus on fixing the system, rather than expecting women to do more to overcome its shortcomings.”

Founding Director of UNSW Tax and Business Advisory Clinic Prof. Ann Kayis-Kumar said: “Financial security is fundamental to a dignified life. Yet unfortunately women who leave abusive relationships generally do so with sexually transmitted debts, reduced assets, insecure housing and long-term financial insecurity. We also know that superannuation, tax and social security systems are nearly impossible to navigate without specialist support, particularly for people escaping financial abuse.”

Executive Director of Business Sydney Paul Nicolaou said: “Australia’s superannuation system to fund retirement is a great success story but even a world-leading system can be improved to make it fair and equitable. The forum will focus on the challenges faced by women that results in the gender superannuation gap compounding over a lifetime. This is an opportunity to focus on solutions that can help to close the gender superannuation gap.”

Media welcome to attend.