Category: Media Release

• FEAL launches new scholarship in memory of co-founder and industry journalist Greg Bright
• Honner named inaugural sponsor of scholarship recognising excellence in superannuation communications

SYDNEY, 18 June 2025: Superannuation industry body FEAL has launched a new educational scholarship in memory of its co-founder and leading industry journalist Greg Bright, who passed away in 2024.

A pioneering voice in the Australian superannuation industry, Greg conceived FEAL in 1999 with the goal of bringing together super fund executives of a rapidly growing sector to collaborate, share insights and strengthen leadership. His vision was to cultivate a generation of world-class professionals who would steward the growing retirement outcomes of working Australians.

Greg’s influence extended across both media and industry, and he always knew how to back a winner. He established industry magazine Super Review in 1986 following the Prices and Incomes Accord Mark II where the ACTU agreed to forgo a national 3% wage increase in exchange for employer-funded superannuation. It would be another six years before the Keating Government’s introduction of Australia’s Superannuation Guarantee in 1992.

It was the beginnings of a lifelong passion to support, promote and investigate an industry that today delivers meaningful retirement outcomes for millions of Australians.

A financial journalist and publisher for more than 30 years, Greg was known for his passion for communication as well as for supporting and nurturing emerging talent in the industry, acting as a mentor to many journalists and communicators who have gone on to have significant roles in the investment, super and financial services sector.

One of these was Super Review editor Philippa Honner who, with Greg’s encouragement, established financial communications and marketing firm Honner in 1997. It is fitting that Honner is the inaugural sponsor of the FEAL scholarship in Greg’s name.

About the Scholarship

Aligning with Greg’s passions the Greg Bright Scholarship for Excellence in Member Communications is focused on emerging leaders in the FEAL member funds and organisations who work in a role that involves member communications and who are passionate about making a tangible difference to how their fund / the industry communications with members.

The winner of the Scholarship will attend the highly regarded FEAL Emerging Leaders Program run by the Melbourne Business School (MBS). The program encompasses topics around leadership, taught be some of MBS’ senior faculty, and provides the opportunity to build connections with peers across the FEAL member funds and organisations. The scholarship winner will also have the opportunity to speak about member communications at a FEAL event.

FEAL Chair, Brian Delaney, spoke of the importance to FEAL of honouring Greg Bright’s role in establishing FEAL and the appropriateness of Honner as the inaugural sponsor of the Scholarship in his name.

“Greg’s vision for the superannuation funds to come together and collaborate to deliver leadership development to their executives and senior leaders has driven FEAL’s purpose for the last 26 years. The Scholarship recognises the critical importance of member communications and will provide the opportunity for an emerging fund executive to develop their leadership skills and build their profile in the industry.

“We are delighted that Honner has chosen to take up this sponsorship and join the organisations who support leadership of the superannuation industry through their sponsorship of FEAL,” he said.

Honner founder Philippa Honner said the decision to support the scholarship was both professional and personal.

“Greg was a huge influence on my early career. He backed me when I was starting out as a financial journalist and his steady mentoring and networking support helped give me the confidence to launch Honner at a time when being a young ‘entrepreneur’ wasn’t so fashionable.

“This scholarship reflects Greg’s joy in nurturing aspiring talent, his gift for telling great stories, and his hope that more people will get engaged and understand the value of their super. We’re incredibly proud to support this scholarship in his name.”

• EXCO team to drive APAC expansion strategy
• New agency hires reinforce firm’s established global network
• Clients represent more than AUD 10 trillion in investment capital

SYDNEY, 27 May 2025: Leading financial PR, marketing and communications firm Honner today announced the formation of a new Executive Committee (EXCO) as well as two new global agency hires as part of its strategy to extend operations across the Asia-Pacific region.

Longstanding Honner Senior Consultants Craig Morris and Samantha Rockliff have been appointed Partners and will join Founder Philippa Honner and Managing Partner Susie Bell on a newly formed Executive Committee. EXCO will focus on driving Honner’s expansion into key APAC markets including Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan.

In addition, Honner today confirmed the appointment of two new Account Managers, Ambika Gogna and Amelia Beale, who bring valuable international experience and further strengthen the firm’s cross-border capabilities.

The appointments follow Honner’s 2024 expansion to Melbourne which continues to be the home base for some of Australia’s largest banks, asset managers, wealth firms and superannuation funds.

Investment juggernaut driving regional opportunity

Australia’s retirement savings pool is projected to surpass the UK and Canada* by 2031, making it the second largest in the world after the US – and this wall of money is spilling across all regions of the world. Approximately 60 cents in every new dollar Australians contribute to their retirement savings is currently invested offshore – with a growing demand for private markets, impact strategies and energy transition investments.

Founder Philippa Honner said the focus on Asia was driven by increasing demand from both local and global financial clients – many of which have built substantial local operations on the back of Australia’s supersized savings and investment sector.

“Australia is a hotbed of global firms looking to service a growing pool of private wealth and retirement savings and many are seeking a more regional approach,” Ms Honner said.

In addition to hosting three of the world’s five largest economies, Asia is also home to the five fastest-growing economies globally – led by India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and China**.

“We’re looking to partner with the banks, private wealth firms, asset managers and asset owners who are digging in for the long term to drive capital and investment opportunities across the region,” Ms Honner added.

Supporting 50+ financial organisations managing over AUD$10 trillion

As at May 2025, Honner supports more than 50 clients across the financial services ecosystem in the Asia-Pacific region – including global and Australian asset managers, superannuation funds, leading investment consultants, renewable energy infrastructure specialists, global real estate players, ETF providers, financial advice firms, banks and private markets specialists.

Over the past five years the agency has also built a leading practice in the fast-growing digital assets and digital payments space, working with some of the world’s most prominent crypto platforms. Collectively, Honner’s clients represent over AUD$10 trillion in global investment capital across listed and unlisted markets.

Strengthening regional bench and integrated delivery across Asia

As part of its Asia growth strategy, Honner is expanding its regional delivery model by establishing a network of integrated agency partners across key Asia markets. These partnerships complement the deep skills and sector expertise already embedded within the Honner team, providing clients with enhanced access to local insights, cultural nuance, language capability and strong media relationships across financial centres including Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo.

This strengthened regional platform is further supported by the appointment of two new Account Managers – Ambika Gogna, who joins from Prosek Partners in New York, and Amelia Beale, formerly of SEC Newgate in London.

Ambika brings specialist experience in financial communications across banking, insurance and wealth in the US market, while Amelia offers strong credentials in ESG, corporate affairs and Australian government campaigns.

“We are excited to welcome such strong new talent, and to build on the international opportunities we can offer our clients,” Ms Honner said. “At our core, we believe great financial brands deserve great storytelling. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the real impact our work has – helping clients cut through complexity, build credibility and connect with the audiences that matter most. The industry has changed a lot over the years, but that purpose has stayed the same,” Ms Honner said.