Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) has named Katrina Shanks as the organisation’s next CEO. She’ll be leaving New Zealand to take up her new role in Melbourne.
Ben Bessell, ANZIIF President said: “Katrina has a fantastic background and is experienced in a range of industries and environments.
“Her tenure in politics and a range of industry associations will provide ANZIIF with the leadership and capability to continue to grow and deliver the strategic objectives of the Board and members in Australia, New Zealand, and Asia.”
Shanks said: “We know insurance and finance play a pivotal role in people’s lives to ensure they have financial resilience and freedom at every life stage.
“ANZIIF plays an important role in ensuring that their members are inspired to continue on a journey of lifelong learning to stay relevant and up to date so they can continue to make a difference in people’s lives.
“I am looking forward to being part of this journey with the members.”
Shanks has spent much of her career in financial services. A Chartered Accountant by trade, she started her career in audit, spent time at Newton Fund Management in London, and then joined Westpac Trust.
She has owned her own small accountancy business for seven years, after which she was the Financial Controller for the New Zealand National Party.
Shanks has been the CEO of Financial Advice NZ for five years, and was its inaugural CEO which merged three industry bodies into one professional body.
Shanks will be relocating to Melbourne in the coming months and will be working with outgoing CEO Prue Willsford on transition plans into the New Year. Shanks will officially begin her role with ANZIIF on 8 January 2024.