Ms Berends has worked in the financial services industry for over 35 years and possesses extensive experience in both investment management and superannuation. Before moving to a non-executive career in 2014 she worked for 15 years with US based investment manager Marvin & Palmer Associates. Ms Berends contributed extensively to industry associations throughout her executive career, serving on the boards of the Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA australia) for 13 years (7 as Chair) and the Association of Superannuation Funds Australia (ASFA) for 12 years (3 as Chair). Ms Berends has been awarded Life Membership of both IMCA Australia and ASFA. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Monash University, is a Fellow of the Actuaries Institute and a Fellow of ASFA.  

Ms Berends is an independent non-executive director of ASX listed Pinnacle Investment Management Group Limited and of listed investment companies Antipodes Global Investment Company Limited, Plato Income Maximiser Limited and Spheria Emerging Companies Limited. She is also an independent non-executive director of BT Funds Management Limited, BT Funds Management No. 2 Limited and Westpac Securities Administration Limited (collectively the BTFG Superannuation Board). She is a director of MDC Foundation Limited (a not for profit company) and a member of the QSuper Investment Committee.