HESTA Board
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 regulated industries, government, health, property and the not-for-profit sector.
Nicola was Australia’s first female Attorney-General (2011-2013), Minister for Health and Ageing (2007-2011) and Labor Member for Gellibrand (1998-2013). Nicola was previously Chair of the Accounting Professional & Ethical Standards Board and The Sir Zelman Cowen Centre at Victoria University. She has 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.
Nicola was inducted into Victoria’s Honour Roll of Women in 2014 and recognised in 2015 Australian Financial Review’s 100 Women of Influence. She has also been a recipient of 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). Nicola frequently speaks and presents on health, tobacco control, leadership, governance, politics and women.
HESTA Roles and Responsibilities
- Independent Chair
- Member, Governance and Remuneration Committee
- Member, Investment Committee
- Member, Risk Committee
Other Roles and Responsibilities
- Chair, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
- Chair, Victorian Health Promotion Foundation
- Director, Super Members Council of Australia Limited
- Non-Executive Director, Dexus Fund Management Limited (and Chair of ESG Committee)
- Non-Executive Director, Dexus Holdings Limited
- Non-Executive Director, Murdoch Children's Research Institute
- Patron, BreastWest Foundation
- Member, Chief Executive Women
- Member, QANTAS Chairman’s Lounge
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts/Law LLB (Hons), University of Melbourne
- Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors
Sue Dahn was appointed as an Independent Director in 2023. Sue has over 20 years of experience as a superannuation trustee and as Chair of Investment Committees. She was also founder and principal of the independent investment advisory practice at Pitcher Partners Melbourne. Sue has chaired investment committees at ESS Super, AGEST Super, MTAA Super and Spirit Super.
In 2019 Sue was named the Barron’s Financial Adviser of the year and in 2021 she was awarded the AIST Trustee of the Year. Sue is a Fellow of AIST and the AICD and holds both B Com and MBA degrees from the University of Melbourne. She also holds qualifications in applied finance and investment and in risk management and corporate governance. Sue also serves as a Director of Breakthrough Victoria, Victorian Traditional Owners Funds Limited, Australian Communities Foundation, RMIT Council and is an advisor to the Investment Committees of numerous educational, charitable, industry and membership bodies.
HESTA Roles and Responsibilities
- Independent Director
- Chair, Investment Committee
Other Roles and Responsibilities
- Non-Executive Director of Victorian Traditional Owners Funds Limited
- Council Member, RMIT
- Consultant, Pitcher Partners
Qualifications
- B.Com, University of Melbourne
- MBA, University of Melbourne
- Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment
- Company Directors Diploma
- Graduate Certificate in Applied Corporate Governance and Risk Management
- Fellow, Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD)
- Fellow Finsia (former Securities Institute Australia) (F Fin)
- Fellow Australian Super Funds Association (FASFA)
- Fellow CPA Australia (FCPA)
Deborah Cole 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 having held senior leadership roles at CEO or second level for over twenty years, predominantly in the health sector but also local government. Deborah also has board experience at Dental Practice Board of Victoria and Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association.
HESTA Roles and Responsibilities
- Deputy Chair
- Chair, Risk Committee
- Member, Finance Audit and Compliance Committee
Other Roles and Responsibilities
- Director, Frontier Advisors (nominated by HESTA)
- Director, Western Health
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery
- Master of Business Administration
- Graduate Diploma Health Administration
- Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Catholic Culture
- Fellow of the AICD – FAICD
- Graduate AIST (Adv) (GAIST)
Helen Gibbons 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 (UWU) and has held a number of senior leadership roles at United Voice since 2004.
Helen 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 UWU, she holds the role of Executive Director. In her national role at UWU, Helen's primary responsibility has been for the direction and scope of the unions work in early education. She drives a strong research and policy base to her work and builds collaborative relationships with other stakeholders. Helen has been instrumental in the campaign for quality early learning environments with well supported and respected professional staff.
Prior to her focus on early education, Helen led the national unions work in aged care, disability care, and home care. Before 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 strategies, ensuring good financial governance, promoting transparent accountability, and building alliances.
HESTA Roles and Responsibilities
- Director and Deputy Chair
- Chair, Governance and Remuneration Committee
- Member, Investment Committee
Other Roles and Responsibilities
- Executive Director, United Workers Union
- Director, South Australia Skills Commission
- Director, HumanAbility Ltd
- Member, IFM Shareholder Advisory Panel
- Member Council, United Workers Union
- Member, Education and Early Childhood Services Registration and Standards Board of SA
Qualifications
- Diploma of Teaching, University of South Australia
- Graduate of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees Directors’ Course
Gary Humphrys was appointed to the Board in 2015, representing Catholic Health Australia. He has extensive experience as a professional Director in the energy, health, water and mining industries where he also held related committee roles.
A chartered accountant, he 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.
HESTA Roles and Responsibilities
- Director
- Member, Finance Audit and Compliance Committee
- Member, Investment Committee
Other Roles and Responsibilities
- Trustee Director, Mary Aikenhead Ministries
Qualifications
- Post-graduate Diploma of Business Administration, University of Queensland
- Chartered Accountant
- Member and Graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors
- Graduate of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees Directors’ Course
- Diploma of Commerce, NSW Institute of Technology (now University of Technology
Cath Smith was appointed to the Board in 2015, representing the Australian Council of Social Service. She has over 30 years’ experience in the not-for-profit social and community services sector including CEO of Victorian Council of Social Service (2002-2012) and senior roles at Oxfam Australia (1991-2001). Cath has been a full-time organisational and strategy consultant since 2012, with public and community services sector clients, and was awarded Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration (IPAA Vic Branch) in 2009. She is also the Independent Chair for the End Users Consultative Group, which works towards better outcomes for Australian energy consumers through industry-wide collaboration and accountability initiatives undertaken by signatories to the Energy Charter.
HESTA Roles and Responsibilities
- Director
- Member, Governance and Remuneration Committee
- Member, Risk Committee
Other Roles and Responsibilities
- Principal, Changesmith Consulting
- Director, Utilities of Australia Pty Ltd
- Advisor, Australian Communities Foundation Philanthropy and Impact Committee
- Life Member, Victorian Council of Social Services
- Member, Country Needs People
- Chair, Energy Charter End Users Consultative Group
Qualifications
- Master of Strategic Foresight
- Bachelor of Natural Environmental Science
- Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia IPAA (Vic Branch)
- Graduate of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees Directors’ Course (GAIST) followed by advanced training in 2021
- RG 146 Financial Advice in Superannuation
Emeline Gaske was appointed to the Board in February 2020, nominated by the Australian Services Union. Emeline is the National Secretary at the Australian Services Union and is also an experienced employment and industrial relations lawyer, advocate and campaigner.
As an employment and industrial relations lawyer, Emeline has advised and acted for unions and employees in relation to matters including employment law, industrial rights and entitlements, discrimination, contract and governance matters. She directs the ASU's national industrial and campaign strategies.
HESTA Roles and Responsibilities
- Director
- Member, Risk Committee
- Member, Governance and Remuneration Committee
Other Roles and Responsibilities
- National Secretary, Australian Services Union (ASU)
- Executive Member, ACTU
- Member, Respect at Work Council
- Member, UNI APRO Executive Committee
- Member, Australian Labor Party (ALP), National Executive Finance, Risk and Audit Committee
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts (Hons)
- Bachelor of Laws (Hons)
- Graduate of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees Directors’ Course
- Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course (GAICD)
Alan Morrison was appointed to the Board in March 2021, representing the Australian Private Hospitals Association. Alan has over 20 years' experience in the health sector as Chief Financial Officer, General Manager – Corporate Services and for the past 14 years, Chief Executive Officer.
Alan was a Chartered Accountant with KPMG for over 10 years in the UK and Australia. This includes 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 services sectors.
HESTA Roles and Responsibilities
- Director
- Chair, Finance Audit and Compliance Committee
- Member, Governance and Remuneration Committee
Other Roles and Responsibilities
- CEO, The Burnside War Memorial Hospital Inc
- Director and Treasurer, Australian Private Hospitals Association
- State President, Australian Private Hospitals Association SA Branch
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Accounting (Hons), University of Dundee (UK)
- Chartered Accountant - Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland - Non-member
- Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors
- Graduate of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees Directors’ Course (GAIST)
Ben Davison was appointed to the Board in 2021. Ben has two decades of experience in leadership roles across the not-for-profit, education and industrial relations sectors, which he now applies to providing consulting services for and serving on the boards of values aligned organisations. He is currently Chair of BGT; Jobs and Training and serves on the boards of Western Health and the Ballarat General Cemeteries Trust.
Ben was formerly the Chief of Staff at the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU). He held executive level roles in that organisation in communications, operations and member engagement. Ben has been involved in a broad range of activities representing the Australian Trade Union movement. This has included forums such as the Paris Climate Conference, advocacy for the improvement of worker’s wages, job security and retirement outcomes, the execution of multi-channel and multi-platform member engagement, recruitment and retention campaigns, policy development processes involving a broad diversity of stakeholders and the leadership of internal finance, operational and governance processes.
Ben currently focuses on using his MBA, GAICD and workplace experience on non-executive director duties and providing management consulting services to the community, trade union, education and disability sectors. Ben was previously the CEO of Southport UnitingCare and Director of Membership and Community Engagement at Diabetes Australia-Vic.
HESTA Roles and Responsibilities
- Director
- Member, Finance Audit & Compliance Committee
- Member, Investment Committee
Other Roles and Responsibilities
- Founder & CEO, Ben Davison Consulting
- Board Member, Western Health and member of Finance Committee and community advisory committee
- Board Member, Ballarat General Cemeteries Trust and Chair of Organisational Capacity and Remuneration Committee
- Chair, Central Highlands Group Training Inc. trading as Ballarat Group Training (BGT) and Chair of policy Committee
- Board Member ACTU Member Connect
- Life Member Deakin University Student Association (DUSA)
- Member ASU Victorian Private Sector Branch
- Member, The New Daily Stakeholder Forum
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts
- Master of Business Administration (Professional)
- Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD)
Kate Marshall was appointed to the Board in 2022. Kate is the Senior National Assistant Secretary of the Health Services Union.
Kate was the Assistant State Secretary at the Health and Community Services Union (HSU, Victorian No 2 Branch) and the Senior Industrial Officer prior to that appointment. She headed the industrial department to run matters before the Fair Work Commission, the Federal Court and the Federal Circuit Court. Kate was an associate in the Federal Court of Australia and completed her legal traineeship at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers.
Kate also served on the board of the Portable Long Service Leave Authority.
HESTA Roles and Responsibilities
- Director
- Member, Finance Audit & Compliance Committee
Other Roles and Responsibilities
- Senior National Assistant Secretary of the Health Services Union
- Member, HSU National Executive, National Council and National Finance
- Member, Australian Labor Party (ALP)
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts (Journalism), Monash
- Bachelor of Laws, Monash
- Graduate of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees Directors’ Course (GAIST)
Jackie Bennett was appointed to the Board in 2023. Jackie is a Kamilaroi/Bigambul woman from St George in Southwest Queensland. Jackie is currently the Director of her own business, Connecting 2 Culture, and a Director and partner of Connecting the Dots through Culture. These businesses provide support to Early Childhood Services, Schools, Government, and Not for Profit Organisations that would like to improve or build on the services that they provide to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families coming into their programs.
Jackie has worked for Government and Not for Profit Organisations in remote, rural, and urban areas in the Education and Community sectors. She has many years of life experience and professional expertise from working in these sectors.
Jackie was previously employed by Melbourne University as the Regional Implementation Manager for the Moreton Bay Region in South East Queensland. Her role was to Implement the First 1000 Days Australia program in the Moreton Bay Region. Jackie’s other past employment history includes being employed as the Cultural Diversity Advisor for C&K in Brisbane and as Site Coordinator in Townsville for Good Beginnings Australia. Other Boards that Jackie has been a Director include the Nungeena Women of the Mountain Board at Glass House Mountains and Early Childhood Australia, Brisbane Queensland.
HESTA Roles and Responsibilities
- Director
- Member, Risk Committe
Other Roles and Responsibilities
- Director on the Koobara Kindergarten and Pre-Prep Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation Board, since 2016
Qualifications
- Certificate IV – Community Services
Emma Maiden was appointed to the Board in 2023, representing the Aged and Community Care Providers Association. Her working life has been dedicated to for-purpose roles, currently as the General Manager of Advocacy & External Relations at Uniting NSW.ACT, one of Australia’s largest not-for-profit organisations with services that cover every stage of life. At Uniting NSW.ACT, Emma is a member of the Executive co-managing the Social Impact & Advocacy Directorate, central to Uniting’s 10 year goal of disrupting entrenched disadvantage. Emma’s responsibilities include social justice campaigning, government relations, media, social media, partnerships, thought leadership and philanthropy.
Emma was a Director of legalsuper for 12 years, serving on the Investment Committee for many of those years. Prior to joining Uniting, Emma was Assistant Secretary of Unions NSW and also worked as an employment lawyer and at WorkCover NSW.
HESTA Roles and Responsibilities
- Director
- Member, Investment Committee
Other Roles and Responsibilities
- Director, NSW Council of Social Service
- Director, Sydney Community Forum
- Director, EGM trust (testamentary trust)
- Executive member, Uniting NSW.ACT
- Member, Uniting Financial Services, Ethical Investment Monitoring Committee
- Member, Australian Services Union, NSW Branch
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Economic, Hons 1
- Diploma of Law
- Admitted as a lawyer by the Supreme Court of NSW
- Graduate AICD
Angela van Vorst was appointed to the Board in 2023, representing the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF). Angela has over 30 years’ experience in the health and aged care sector and is currently a senior member of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association’s (NSWNMA) Professional Services Team.
Angela’s clinical background is mental health and since becoming an Appointed Officer has been engaged in a wide range of discussions relevant to the sector, including policy development, clinical practice, education, accreditation, research, workforce, regulation and governance. Angela was also a Member of the NSW Nursing and Midwifery Council for 6 years.
HESTA Roles and Responsibilities
- Director
- Member, Risk Committee
Other Roles and Responsibilities
- Professional Officer, Superannuation - NSW Nurses and Midwives Association
- Member, NSW Nurses and Midwives Association
Qualifications
- Registered Nurse
- Bachelor of Nursing
- Bachelor of Arts (Govt and Industrial Relations)
Robert (Rob) Bonner was appointed to the Board in 2024. Until July 2023, Rob was the Executive Director, Operations for the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) South Australian Branch, having worked with the union for approximately 38 years. From December 2022 until October 2023, Rob was also the Interim CEO of HumanAbility - the Early Educators, Health, Human Services and Recreation & Sports Jobs and Skills Council (JSC) and is now Chair of the Board of that organisation, HumanAbility Ltd.
Rob is an experienced leader and manager, having served on boards and governance committees at state and national levels over many years. In his current work and in governance committees, Rob has also played an active role in compliance, finance and risk committees as well as general board governance deliberations. Until August 2023, he was Secretary of the South Australian Government Superannuation Federation.
In November 2022, Rob’s work in the vocational educations and skills field was recognised by the receipt of the Outstanding Achievement in VET and Skills Award at the Australian Training Awards.
HESTA Roles and Responsibilities
- Director
- Member, Risk Committee
Other Roles and Responsibilities
- Chair, HumanAbility Ltd
- Deputy Chair, Steering Committee, Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre of the University of South Australia
- Director, Rosemary Bryant Foundation
- Principal, Bonner Consulting
- Member, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation
- Member, National Careers Institute Advisory Board
- Member, Australian Institute of Company Directors
Qualifications
- MAICD
External advisers to board committees
- Susan Darroch, Investment Committee
- Lin Lu, Risk Committee
Governance disclosures
Key governance disclosures on our Board and the way it operates can be found in Governance Disclosures (pdf).