Fernando Diaz serves as the Chief People & Financial Product Officer for Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs. Under this role, he leads the following programs: Financial Education, IL ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience), Illinois Secure Choice, and the IL
529 College Savings Plans: Bright Start and Bright Directions. He is the Treasurer’s designee as Chair of the IL Secure Choice Board. He also oversees the Human Resources Division where he leads the Office’s human capital development.

Fernando is an active member with the College Savings Plan Network (CSPN). He lends his strategic expertise in various 529 industry public forums on a variety of topics, including: behavioral finance, due diligence, operations, data analytics and marketing, and compliance.

Prior to joining the Office of the Illinois State Treasurer, Fernando spent over 10 years in higher education; focusing on change management, diversity & inclusion, enrollment management, student affairs, and strategic initiatives.

He earned a bachelor’s in Political Science and master’s in Higher Education Administration from Chicago State University. He also earned an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.