INDUSTRY RECOGNITION AND AWARDS
The Institute of Retirement Funds (IRF) is a non political body which represents and
promotes the interests of the retirement industry in Southern Africa, to the ultimate benefit of the members of retirement funds. The most important function of the IRF is to represent the retirement industry in negotiations with government authorities and the Financial Services Board (FSB), which would include commenting on legislation and tax matters affecting retirement funds/pensioners and all stakeholders.
In order to encourage retirement funds to communicate with their members the IRF instituted an annual communication competition to recognise and reward excellence in retirement fund communication. The competition was started in the 80s and since then the emphasis has moved from recognition of communication to rewarding funds for world-class communication efforts that empower members to truly understand the workings of their retirement fund.
Funds compete in different categories i.e. Large, Medium, Small and Umbrella.
The judges comprise a mixture of industry experts, academics and communication
specialists.
62 Awards won over career of 35 years
In a career spanning 35 years Estie van Coller, first in her personal capacity, and from 2007 as owner and Managing Director of RetirementWise, has won 62 Industry Best Practice Awards for 16 different funds she so passionately assist and advises on member communication strategies.
Her ISASA and TSRF clients have won awards at the IRFA for 10 years in a row (from 2014 to 2024).
In fact for the last ten years her industry experience and in-depth knowledge of the funds she collaborates with has resulted in her writing entries for the funds on infrastructure development, empowerment and investments and not only on member communication.
We would love the opportunity to work with your Fund to:
improve on and develop communication strategies that will help the Fund members to really understand and engage with their Fund;
assist the Fund to grow its membership through excellence in member communication;
improve the reputation of the Funds and that of the employer/sponsor.
PRIZES WON OVER THE YEARS AT THE IRFA AWARDS
Estie van Coller was employed at Eskom Pension and Provident Fund (from 1989 to 1999) and responsible for member communication.
| 1991, 1994, 1996 | First Place for the Eskom Pension and Provident Funds (EPPF). |
| 1997 | Eskom EPPF receives Special Award for arguably having the most extensive and effective communication programme in the country. |
| 1998 | Second place in Large Fund category for EPPF. |
| 1996 |  |
| 2004 |  |
| Predikante Pensioenfonds receive their Award |
Estie van Coller employed at Coris Capital (from 1999 to 2007). I was General Manager responsible for member communication for all Coris Capital clients.
| 2000 | Third Place for Iscor Selector Funds in IRF Communication Challenge. |
| 2001 | Third Place for Iscor Selector Fund (IRF Communication Challenge), second place for website and another third place for the research (special projects). |
| 2002 | First Place for Iscor Selector Umbrella Funds in Umbrella Fund Category. |
| 2003 | First Place for Iscor Selector Umbrella Funds. |
| First Place for Predikante Pensioenfonds in Small Fund Category. | |
| 2004 | First Place for Predikante Pensioenfonds in Small Fund Category. |
| Second place for AST Fund in Medium Fund category. | |
| Third place for Iscor in the Large Fund category. | |
| 2005 | First place for my Municipal Gratuity Fund client in Umbrella Category. |
| Second place for my Kumba Fund in Medium Fund Category. | |
| Third place for Amplats Retirement Funds in the Large Fund Category. | |
| 2006 | No communication competition was held in 2006. |
Started RetirementWise in 2007
In the same year Sappi, Mondi and Amplats (AGPF) became clients of RetirementWise
| 2007 | Second place for Sappi Provident Fund in Medium Fund Category in IRF Challenge. |
| 2008 | Won four Special Awards at IRF for Best Practice: |
| One for Sappi Provident Fund | |
| Two for Anglo Platinum (Amplats Retirement Funds) | |
| One for Mondi Provident Fund | |
| 2009 | Won Special Award for Anglo Platinum (AGPF) |
| 2010 | Won 1ste Prize for my Billiton client in the Medium Fund Category. |
No clients were entered in the IRF Challenge in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The Road Freight and ISASA became clients of RetirementWise in 2012 and communication was non-existent in these Funds – so we developed communication strategies and waited to enter them for the first time in 2014.
In 2014 the following RetirementWise clients received awards:
1) ISASA – Independent Schools Association of South Africa Pension Scheme and Provident Fund
- Gold Standard Award: Stakeholder Communication Strategy
- Merit Certificate for innovative and leading edge communication: Sustainable Pensioner Communication
2) Road Freight and Logistics Industry Provident Fund
- Gold Standard Award: Stakeholder Communication Strategy
3) Mineworkers Provident Fund
- Gold Standard Award: Stakeholder Communication Strategy
- Merit Certificate for innovative and leading edge communication: Use of Regional Structures in educating community and Workers
- Merit Certificate for innovative and leading edge communication: Community and Beneficiary inclusion in communication
In 2015 the following RetirementWise clients received awards:
1) ISASA – Independent Schools Association of South Africa Pension Scheme and Provident Fund
- Won the Umbrella Fund Category: Stakeholder Communication Strategy
- Merit Certificate for communication to minority groups
2) Road Freight and Logistics Industry Provident Fund
- Won the Large Fund Category: Stakeholder Communication Strategy
3) Mineworkers Provident Fund
- Received two Merit Certificates
In 2016 the following RetirementWise clients received awards:
1) ISASA – Independent Schools Association of South Africa Pension Scheme and
Provident Fund
- Won the Umbrella Fund Category: Stakeholder Communication Strategy
- Gold Standard Award for Financial Reporting Category
2) Road Freight and Logistics Industry Provident Fund
- Won the Large Fund Category: Stakeholder Communication Strategy
- Special Merit Award for the use of SMS technology to communicate to members
3) Municipal Employees Pension Fund
- Won the Award for Trustee Development for Large Funds
- Gold Standard Award for Communication Project: Research
- Special Merit Award for rigorous research methods
- Special Merit Award for trustee assessment
In 2017 the following RetirementWise clients won prizes:
1) Road Freight and Logistics Industry Provident Fund (Now Transport Sector Retirement Fund)
RFLIPF won the Large Fund Category for Communication for the third year in a row.
They won 6 prizes in total as can be seen below:
The Other awards included:
- Best Practice Certificate: Communication
- Best Practice Certificate: Transformation
- Special Achievement Certificate: SMS engagement initiative and scribble videos
- Special Achievement Certificate: Policy and Implementation of Black investment
2) ISASA Pension Scheme and Provident Fund won the Umbrella Fund Category for Communication Strategy for the 4th year in a row.
3) Contract Cleaning National Provident Fund won the Umbrella Category for Communication Project – this is the first time ever they have entered – after RetirementWise was appointed in 2016 to assist them with Communication.
4) Mineworkers Provident Fund received a Gold Standard Certificate for Communication Strategy in the Large Fund Category.
5) Total SA Provident Fund won the Small Fund Category for Communication Project.
In 2018 the following RetirementWise clients won prizes:
1) Transport Sector Retirement Fund ( previously the RFLIPF) received the Gold Standard Award for achieving excellence in all areas including governance, transformation, stakeholder engagement, trustee training, investment, transformation, financial management and reporting.
Plus a Best Practice award for Investments and Transformation.
2) ISASA Pension Scheme and Provident Fund received a Best Practice Award for Stakeholder Engagement and Education for Umbrella Funds.
In 2019 the following RetirementWise clients won prizes:
1) Transport Sector Retirement Fund (TSRF) received the Gold Standard Award for achieving excellence in all areas including governance, transformation, stakeholder engagement, trustee training, investment, transformation, financial management and reporting.
And a Best Practice Certificate for Stakeholder Engagement x 2
2) ISASA Pension Scheme and Provident Fund
Won a Best Practice Award for Stakeholder Engagement for an Umbrella Fund.
Principal Officer: Mr John Rollason ( middle) receiving the award during the Gala Event in 2019.
The 2020 Awards Ceremony was held via Webinar on 22 July 2021.
1) Once again our TSRF client proved to be a force to be reckoned with.
- Gold Standard Award: The Fund was recognised as overall runner- up for meeting all the criteria in the following areas of excellence: governance: transformation; stakeholder engagement and education; investment practice; trustee development and financial management and reporting.
- Best Practice Certificate: This year saw the Fund win its 7th, consecutive Award for best practice in Stakeholder Engagement and Education.
2021
In 2021 ISASA Pension Scheme and Provident Fund once again won a Best Practice ward for Stakeholder Engagement & Education.
2022
In 2022 our ISASA client won the new look IRFA Lwela Ukwenza Kahle Awards – Joint Gold Trophy for Member Engagement and excellence in all areas of measurement.
2023
In 2023 our TSRF client was the overall Gold winner of the IRFA Awards.
