Insurance broking and financial planning pioneer Gwen Fletcher has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List with her appointment as a member of the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM).

The award is for service to the development of the financial planning industry through the establishment of national organisations and training and education programs, and as a mentor for women in the finance industry.

Ms Fletcher was instrumental in establishing the Financial Planning Association (FPA), setting up the Investment Training College (where she lectured in financial planning) and bringing the certified financial planner designation to Australia.

She was also a founding member of the National Insurance Brokers Association's (NIBA) Life Committee in 1995 and is a member of NIBA’s Education Committee.

She began her career as an insurance broker and worked in the insurance industry for 12 years before becoming involved in financial planning.

Ms Fletcher told Sunrise Exchange News the award is “recognition for all the people I’ve worked with in the financial planning and insurance industries over the years”.

She says joining NIBA was an important step for planners.

“I joined NIBA to encourage financial planners to become more involved in insurance.”

NIBA board member and MLC National Industry Liaison Manager David Squire says Ms Fletcher is the matriarch of the financial planning industry.

“She set up the FPA in 1992 and is a fantastic link between NIBA and the FPA on education.”