"They remember the way you made them feel": Q&A with Trish Donohue as she prepares to depart Cbus

It would be easy to continue on as I've loved working at Cbus; I love the people here and what we do. But as we all do from time to time, I've been thinking more about the 'where to next'. It's also the right time for Cbus. I have been so lucky to have been able to lead the investment area through many challenges and new approaches over nearly 18 years. We are now on a brand new exciting investment journey and it's the right time for me to pass on this leadership to others. David Atkin, our CEO, and the Cbus Board have been really supportive of me over the years and I am grateful for all that support. I'm leaving Cbus at a good time.

I'm looking forward to having the time and headspace to think about what's next. I don't want to rush into something, but I am keen to stay connected with this industry, and may consider internal options or board roles.

I was starting from scratch, so the initial challenge was knowing when to grow the team and the types of roles I needed to add at different points in time. More recently, it's also been about bringing more of the investment decision making in-house and now really expanding the in-house investment capabilities.

Kristian and I ultimately share the same values and visions in respect of Cbus, and its investment strategy - and this has driven the success of our partnership model. We have complementary skills and different approaches, however we respect each other's views and know that we are working towards the same objective.

The combined team has grown from around 35 to 60 people in a year with new people starting every month. One of the biggest challenges has been finding the right balance between skills and experience and most importantly a fit with the culture and values of Cbus. It's not always as easy as it sounds, but we have recruited a lot of very talented people over the years.

Super funds, especially funds like Cbus, have gone through substantial changes in terms of size, regulation, how they're run and the sophisticated teams they have in place across many functions especially investments. So our members can be confident their super fund really is acting in their best interest in managing their retirement funds over the long-term.

It may sound trite, but Cbus is a great place to work. I rate the people I have worked with very highly, and there is a strong level of care across the fund. I have made many friends here and those friendships will continue.

There are many people who I have had the privilege of working with over my years at Cbus who are very memorable. To name a few, I'd start with the late Phil Spathis (IFS Legal and ACSI) - inspirational, smart, kind, and fun - I miss him dearly. The late Mavis Robertson who was chair when I started at Cbus - a formidable, passionate women who deeply cared about others and who was an extremely strong advocate of women. Angela Thurstans - who I have worked with the whole time at Cbus - she is a great friend and colleague, incredibly smart and determined, and she cares deeply about the fund and the outcomes for members.

It's a frequently used quote but one I truly believe in - people don't always remember what you tell them, but they remember the way you made them feel.

While super may not seem as exciting as some other areas in the broader investments sector, in Australia we are a world leader with what we're doing especially in the unlisted infrastructure and property space over many years. Put super funds on your list of potential employers - the ability to help all workers out there look forward to a decent retirement is a humbling experience - one that I have been absolutely privileged to have been part of.

If money was no object I would have been travelling the world.