HESTA Board

The Honourable Nicola Roxon

Nicola Roxon was appointed Independent Chair in 2019. She is a Non-Executive Director and Chair of a number of listed, unlisted and not-for-profit boards. Nicola’s particular expertise lies in highly regulated industries, government, health and the not-for-profit sector.

Role and responsibilities at HESTA

• Independent Chair, appointed 1 January 2019
• Investment Committee
• Governance and Remuneration Committee

Year Appointed: 2019

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Arts/Law LLB (Hons), University of Melbourne
• Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors 
  

Current positions

• Non-Executive Director, Dexus
• Non-Executive Director, Lifestyle Communities
• Non-Executive Director, Health Justice Australia Limited

Skills and experience

• Australia’s first female Attorney-General (2011-2013).
• Minister for Health and Ageing (2007-2011).
• Labor Member for Gellibrand (1998-2013).
• Previously Chair of Accounting Professional & Ethical Standards Board and The Sir Zelman Cowen Centre at Victoria University.
• Extensive experience as a Non-Executive Director and Chair of a number of listed, unlisted and not-for-profit boards.
• Previously an industrial lawyer and advocate (Maurice Blackburn and National Union of Workers) and High Court Associate to Justice Mary Gaudron.
• Inducted into Victoria’s Honour Roll of Women in 2014.
• Recognised in 2015 Australian Financial Review’s 100 Women of Influence.
• Ten national and international awards related to public health and tobacco control, including Sidney Sax Public Health Medal and WHO Special Recognition Award (2010–2017).
• Frequently speaks and presents on health, tobacco control, leadership, governance, politics and women.

Other current roles

• Patron, BreastWest Foundation
• Member, Chief Executive Women

Mark Burgess

Mark Burgess has had an extensive global career leading asset managers and owners. He is a senior adviser to the industry and holds several Non-Executive Director positions.

Role and responsibilities at HESTA

• Independent Director
• Chair, Investment Committee
• Impact Committee

Year appointed: 2017

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Commerce (Hons), University Of Melbourne

Current Position

• Senior Adviser and Managing Director, Emerging Policy Pty Ltd

Skills and experience

• An extensive global career over 30 years leading asset management and asset owners in the roles of Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer.
• He was previously Managing Director of the Future Fund, Australia’s $120b+ sovereign wealth fund. Prior to this he was CEO of Treasury Group, an Australian listed investment company with over $16bn under management.
• Has worked overseas extensively including as an Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Credit Suisse Asset Management (EMEA) in London, and a Global CIO for Equities and Multi-Assets.
• Has also held high profile Global CIO roles in London for American Express Asset Management, Colonial First State and Australia for Colonial Group and senior Portfolio Manager Bankers Trust in New York.

Other current roles

• Chair, Advisory Board, Jamieson Coote Bonds
• Executive Director, Emerging Policy Advisory Pty Ltd
• Non-Executive Director, UK Company, Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum Ltd (OMFIF)
• Chair, David Burgess Foundation
• Honorary Fellow, Faculty of Finance, University of Melbourne

Lloyd Williams

Lloyd was appointed to the Board in 2012, representing the Health Services Union. Lloyd is currently the National Secretary of the Health Services Union (HSU). 

Role and responsibilities at HESTA

• Deputy Chair
• Audit and Risk Committee
  

Year appointed: 2012 

Qualifications

• Diploma Occupational Health & Safety
• RG146 for the Superannuation Industry

Current position

• National Secretary, Health Services Union

Skills and experience

• Lloyd has been employed by HACSU since 1989 in a variety of roles including Health and Safety, Senior Organiser, Executive Officer/Assistant Secretary and has held the State Secretary position since 1999.
• Prior to his work at HACSU, Lloyd worked as an Occupational Health and Safety Manager at Mont Park Hospital.
• Lloyd directs and manages the overall strategic direction, governance, finance and operations of HACSU which represents nurses, health professionals, direct care and support staff working in Victorian mental health, disability and drug treatment services. As an Industrial Advocate, he also leads the union’s participation in industry reform, workforce development and sector bargaining campaigns.
• Past board member of the Community Services and Health Industry Training Board (CSHITB) and the Union Research Centre on Organisation and Technology (URCOT).

Other current roles

• Member, Health Services Union
• National Executive and Delegate to National Council of the Health Services Union
• Shareholder Advisory Panel, Industry Funds Management
  

Dr Deborah Cole

Deborah was appointed to the Board in 2015, representing the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association. She has a long history working in senior positions in the health and community services sector. 

Role and responsibilities at HESTA

• Deputy Chair
• Governance and Remuneration Committee
• Audit and Risk Committee

Year appointed: 2015 

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Dental Surgery
• Master of Business Administration
• Graduate Diploma Health Administration
• Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Catholic Culture
• Diploma AICD - FAICD, FIPAA 

Skills and experience

• Senior leader at CEO or second level for over twenty years, predominantly in the health sector but also local government. 
• Board experience at Dental Practice Board of Victoria and Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association. 

Other current roles

• Director, Frontier Advisors (nominated by HESTA)

Klaus Zimmermann

Klaus was appointed to the Board in 2012, representing Aged & Community Services Australia. Klaus has more than 30 years of experience at senior executive, CEO and board levels, and has worked in the aged care sector since 1991. 

Role and responsibilities at HESTA

• Director
• Audit and Risk Committee
• Investment Committee

Year appointed: 2012 

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Business (Accounting)
• Business Certificate of Accounting
• Diploma in Corporate Management
• Justice of the Peace, South Australia

Skills and experience

• Previously Deputy Chair of the HESTA Board from January 2016 to December 2020.
• Klaus has more than 30 years of experience at senior executive, CEO and board level, and has worked in the aged care sector since 1991.  
• From 2001-2013, was CEO of Eldercare Incorporated, one of the bigger South Australian-based not-for-profit aged care organisations, specialising in residential facilities and retirement villages. 
• Appointed in 2003, to the Australian Federal Government's Financial Reporting Council (FRC), as a part-time member, a position held until December 2011. The Council is responsible for the broad oversight of the accounting and auditing standard-setting process for Australia's private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Klaus also chaired the FRC's nominations committee.
• Board member of the state and national aged care industry board for many years and is a past National President and Chair of Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) (September 2007 to November 2011).
• For many years, Klaus served on the national board of the National Institute of Accountants and was National President for 3 years. 
• In the 1980s, was involved in the credit union industry, serving as a Director and Chairman of an Adelaide-based credit union, as well as sitting on a number of industry boards.

Other current roles

• Director, ISPT Pty Ltd (nominated by HESTA)
• Director, IGPT Ltd (nominated by HESTA)
• Director, Applied Professional Services Pty Ltd
• Director, Southern Cross Aged Care (SA & NT) Inc
• Non-executive Director, Commonage Association for the Ageing Ltd
• Deputy Chair, Southern Cross Care SA/NT/VIC Inc. 
• Masonic Care Tasmania Inc (Independent Chair)
  

Gary Humphrys

Gary was appointed to the Board in 2015, representing Catholic Health Australia. He has extensive experience as a professional Trustee Director to the energy and mining industries and has held board and related committee roles. 

Role and responsibilities at HESTA

• Director
• Chair, Audit and Risk Committee
• Investment Committee

Year appointed: 2015 

Qualifications

• Chartered Accountant

Current position

• Director, Mary Aikenhead Ministries
  

Skills and experience

• Extensive experience as a professional Trustee Director to the energy and mining industries, having served on Ergon Energy’s Board for more than 35 years.
• Previously held board and related committee roles in the water, energy, mining, health and superannuation industries.
• As a chartered accountant, has held senior executive roles in both private and public sectors across a range of disciplines, including finance and accounting, treasury, taxation, information and technology, procurement, risk management and audit.

Catherine (Cath) Smith

Cath was appointed to the Board in 2015, representing the Australian Council of Social Service. She has 30 years' experience in the not-for-profit social and community services sector.  

Role and responsibilities at HESTA

• Director
• Governance and Remuneration Committee
• Impact Committee

Year appointed: 2015 

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Natural Environmental Science (1983), University of Sheffield
• Master of Strategic Foresight (2013), Swinburne University

Current position

• Principal, Changesmith Consulting 

Skills and experience

• 30 years’ experience in not-for-profit social and community service sector, including CEO of Victorian Council of Social Service (2002-2012) and senior roles at Oxfam Australia (1991-2001).
• Full-time organisational and strategy consultant since 2012, with public and community services sector clients.
• Awarded Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration (IPAA Vic Branch) in 2009.

Other current roles

• Director, Australian Communities Foundation
• Chair Advisory Board, McCaughey VicHealth Community Wellbeing Unit
• Life member, VCOSS 
• Member, Australian Communities Foundation Grants Committee
• Director, The New Daily (nominated by HESTA)

Helen Gibbons

Helen was appointed to the Board in 2016, representing United Voice (now amalgamated with National Union of Workers under the name United Workers Union). She is an Executive Director at United Workers Union and has held a number of senior leadership roles at United Voice since 2004.  

Role and responsibilities at HESTA

• Director
• Chair, Governance and Remuneration Committee
• Investment Committee

Year appointed: 2016 

Qualifications

• Diploma of Teaching, University of South Australia 

Current position

• Executive Director, United Workers Union  

Skills and experience

• Helen has worked for United Voice since 2004 where she has held a number of senior leadership roles. She was elected as the Secretary of the Tasmanian branch and as a member of the National Executive in 2010. In 2015 she became the Assistant National Secretary and in 2019 under the amalgamated United Workers Union, she holds the role of Executive Director.
• In her national role at United Workers Union Helen is responsible for the direction and scope of the unions work in early education. She drives a strong research and policy base to the work and builds collaborative relationships with other stakeholders.
• Helen spearheads the campaign for quality early learning environments with well supported and respected professional staff.
• Prior to her current focus on early education Helen led the national unions work in aged care, disability care and home care. 
• Prior to working for United Voice, Helen spent twenty years working in the early education and care sector developing educational programs and environments for the youngest members of our community.
• As well as a strong understanding of key sectors, Helen has extensive experience in formulating sound strategy, good financial governance, transparent accountability and building alliances.

Other current roles

• Member of the National Executive of United Workers Union
  
• Member, United Workers Union
  

Dr Saranne Cooke

Saranne was appointed to the Board in 2018, representing Leading Aged Services Australia. Saranne has many years’ experience holding executive roles in finance and accounting, information technology, marketing and strategy disciplines. Currently she is a professional Director serving on a number of boards across a variety of industries including education, health, sport and charities.

Role and responsibilities at HESTA

• Director
• Audit and Risk Committee
• Impact Committee
• Investment Committee

Year appointed: 2018 

Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy, School of Law, University of New England
• Master of Commercial Law, Deakin University
• Master of Business (Marketing), Charles Sturt University
• Bachelor of Commerce, Australian National University
• Fellow Certified Practising Accountant (FCPA)
• Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD)
• Fellow, Australian Marketing Institute

Current position

• Professional Director

Skills and experience

• Saranne is a professional director serving on a number of boards across a variety of industries including education, health, sport and charities.
• In addition to her various board roles, she is the inaugural Chair of the Western Region NSW Committee of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
• Prior to her career as a professional director, she held a number of senior roles within the energy, banking and manufacturing industries.
• Saranne’s various executive roles spanned finance/ accounting, information technology, marketing and strategy disciplines.
• She has qualifications in Commerce, Marketing and Law and is currently completing a PhD in board governance.

Other current roles

• Board Member, Racing NSW
• Deputy Chancellor, Charles Sturt University
• Director, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
• Director, Western Health Alliance (Western NSW Primary Health Network)
• Director, Leading Age Services Australia
• Chair, Western Region NSW Committee
• Chair, Finance Council, Catholic Diocese of Bathurst
• Director, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
• Board Member, Royal Flying Doctor Service (South Eastern Section)

Lori-Anne Sharp

Lori-Anne Sharp was appointed to the Board in 2018, representing the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF). Lori-Anne has 25 years' experience in the health and community services sector.

Role and responsibilities at HESTA

• Director
• Governance and Remuneration Committee

Year appointed: 2018

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Nursing 
• Graduate, Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees

Current Position

• Assistant Federal Secretary, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF)

Skills and experience

• Lori-Anne was a member of the ANMF Victorian Branch Council from 2004 to 2018. During this time she held Executive and Vice-President positions. She also held the position of Federal Vice-President from 2017 to 2018. 
• Experience in representing members, governance and strategic planning.
• 25 years' experience as a registered nurse in various health environments, including acute, aged care and community health settings.
• Ten years' experience in community health nursing and management working for Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) Homeless Persons Program. 
• Experience in meeting health needs of those individuals experiencing homelessness, management, policy development, structural advocacy and developing strategic service planning.

Other current roles

• Board of Management member, ANMF
• Executive Member, Australian Council of Trade Unions
• Women's Committee member, Australian Council of Trade Unions
• Executive member of Finance and Risk Management Committee, ANMF
• Trade Unions for Energy Democracy (TUED) Committee member

Sophie Ismail

Sophie Ismail was appointed to the board in March 2019, representing the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU). Sophie has extensive experience in a range of roles providing legal and policy advice and representation to unions, workers and governments, including workers in the health and community services sector.

Role and responsibilities at HESTA

• Director
• Audit and Risk Committee

Year appointed: 2019 

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Arts/Law LLB, University of Queensland
• Master of Employment and Labour Relations Law LLM, University of Melbourne 

Current position

• Legal and Industrial Officer, Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)

Skills and experience

• Sophie has held a range of roles providing legal and policy advice and representation to unions, workers and governments on employment, governance and discrimination matters.
• She has represented health and community services sector workers in the capacities above.
• Sophie’s previous roles include Principal Lawyer at the Victorian Department of Education, Senior Associate at Holding Redlich Lawyers and Senior Legal Officer at the Attorney-General’s Department.
• Sophie has also worked as an Assistant Director in the Workplace Relations Policy Group in the (then) Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, and an Industrial Officer for the Queensland and Victorian Branches of the Independent Education Union of Australia.

EMELINE GASKE

Emeline Gaske was appointed to the Board in February 2020, representing the Australian Services Union. Emeline is an experienced employment and industrial relations lawyer, campaigner and union official and is also the Assistant National Secretary at Australian Services Union. 

Role and responsibilities at HESTA

• Director
• Impact Committee

Year appointed: 2020 

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Arts (Hons)
• Bachelor of Laws (Hons)

Current position

• Assistant National Secretary, Australian Services Union (ASU)

Skills and experience 

• Emeline is an experienced employment and industrial relations lawyer, with extensive experience in advising and acting for unions and employees in relation to wide range of matters, including employment law, industrial rights and entitlements, discrimination, contract and governance matters.
• She manages the work of the ASU’s national campaign and communications team, and has developed and implemented communication and campaign strategies for a range of national union campaigns.
• Emeline has extensive experience in negotiation, mediation and dispute resolution, having routinely appeared in complex mediation and conciliations in a range of jurisdictions, and now leading enterprise bargaining negotiations at many large employers.

Other current roles

• Executive Member, ACTU Executive 

ALAN MORRISON

Alan Morrison was appointed to the Board in March 2021, representing the Australian Private Hospitals Association. Alan has had a 16-year career in the health sector as Chief Financial Officer, General Manager – Corporate Services and for the past 10 years, Chief Executive Officer.

Role and responsibilities at HESTA

• Director
• Audit and Risk Committee

Year appointed: 2021

Qualifications

• Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Bachelor of Accounting (Hons), University of Dundee (UK)

Current position

• Director & Treasurer – Australian Private Hospitals Association
• Director - Novita

Skills and experience 

• Alan was a Chartered Accountant with KPMG for over 10 years in the UK and Australia.
• Alan has had significant exposures to internal audit functions (including a secondment to the Internal Audit Department of Scottish Hydro Electric plc), external audit and transaction advisory engagements for vendor and purchaser mergers and acquisitions and business integrations.
• Alan has also had Board Director exposure across the education, private hospital and disability service provider sectors.
  

Other current roles

• Chief Executive Officer – sportsmed hospital and orthopaedics.