About us

Led by Ian Silk, the Executive team ensures that our business strategy is implemented effectively so we can achieve our goal of providing the best possible outcome for members.

Ian Silk

Chief Executive

'Providing members with the best possible retirement is all that matters.'

Ian Silk was appointed Chief Executive of AustralianSuper on 1 July 2006 and is responsible for the leadership and strategic direction of the fund and the provision of advice to the board.  Ian is a Director and President of the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI), a Director of Industry Super Australia and a Director of Basketball Australia.  He holds a Bachelor of Economics, a Diploma of Financial Services (Financial Planning) and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Labour Relations Law.

Mark Delaney

Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Investment Officer

'Making sure we deliver strong long term returns to members is our goal.'

Mark is the Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Investments Officer of AustralianSuper, acting as an advisor to the board, developing and implementing investment strategies, and managing the work of AustralianSuper's investment advisers. Mark was the Chief Executive of the Superannuation Trust of Australia (STA) for three years before the merger with ARF to form AustralianSuper. Prior to AustralianSuper, Mark worked for 14 years at National Mutual/AXA, moving his way through the company from Economist to Senior Manager of Investment Services. He previously spent four years working as an economist in the Federal Department of Treasury. He is currently a Director on the IFM Investor Advisory Board. Mark has a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. Mark started in the role of Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Investment Officer of AustralianSuper on 1 July 2006.

Katie Le Cras

Acting Group Executive Member Experience and Advice

''We care about our members and employers and we’re here to help and make things easy for them."

In this role, Katie oversees the provision of super, retirement and insurance services to members and employers with the aim of delivering the highest quality member experience. Katie brings a significant breadth and depth of experience in the financial services industry to this important function. Her positions prior to this role included Head of Operations, Product Manager Membership and Insurance and Transition Manager. Her responsibilities as Head of Operations at AustralianSuper have included the delivery of the fund’s Insurance Service strategy, the delivery of the Operational Risk Management Framework’s policies and procedures, the delivery of the internal audit program customer facing activities as well as Chair of the Insurance Claims Committee. Her qualifications in Accounting and Superannuation Management are complemented by extensive professional development in superannuation, insurance, strategy development, leadership and investments.

Shawn Blackmore

Acting Group Executive of Technology Services

'A seamless technology service helps our people deliver great outcomes for members.’

Shawn is responsible for ensuring that the technology function effectively supports and facilitates the business strategy of AustralianSuper. Prior to acting in this role he was the Group Executive of Member Experience and Advice where he was responsible for the provision of super, retirement and insurance services to members and employers. He was charged with providing a quality member experience from administration through to advice and communication services across all channels. His previous role was General Manager of Operations and he started that role in March 2011. Shawn has more than 15 years financial services experience with roles in operations, product, administration and sales for companies including BT Financial Group, Perpetual and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. Shawn holds a Bachelor of Economics, and a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance & Investment. He also sits on the Industry Funds Forum, and the Association of Superannuation Funds, ecommerce committees. Shawn was appointed a Group Executive on 1 July 2013.

Tony Cavanagh

Group Executive of Corporate Services

'The right checks and balances are the solid foundations for us to build trust.'

Tony is responsible for all legal, compliance risk, financial and accounting matters for AustralianSuper covering statutory lodgements, budgetary and expense control, and policies and procedures. He is also responsible for all external and internal audit matters, and tax lodgement and compliance. He is responsible for relationships with key regulators (e.g. APRA and ASIC) as well as risk and compliance matters. He has responsibility for the fund’s risk framework and approach including the Funds Risk Appetite, Risk Management Plan and Strategy and ongoing maintenance and compliance. He is also responsible for legislated compliance of the fund. Tony has a Bachelor of Economics and is a qualified Chartered Accountant with more than 30 years’ experience in accounting and finance. He has been involved in providing consulting services to superannuation funds for more than 20 years when he held senior positions with PricewaterhouseCoopers and Arthur Andersen. He has previously been a director of a financial services software company and a financial planning licensee. Tony started at AustralianSuper in January 2007 as the General Manager - Finance and Risk. He was appointed to the role of Group Executive Corporate Services on 1 July 2013.

Paul Schroder

Group Executive, Product, Brand & Reputation

'We're focused on meeting member needs and building community confidence.'

Paul is responsible for understanding and meeting member needs, delivering value and building confidence. He leads a team of reputation, product, research, engagement, marketing, public policy and external relations professionals. His team use data and insights to deliver the best possible outcome for members and the businesses and advisers who support them. Paul joined AustralianSuper in 2007 and was Group Executive - Membership from July 2013. He was appointed to this current role on 5 December 2016. Prior to joining AustralianSuper he was the National Secretary of the Finance Sector Union of Australia. He is a Director of SuperFriend – the industry fund Mental Health Foundation. Paul holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne and was awarded the Shell exhibition prize for Labour economics. He also holds a diploma in Financial Planning.

Rose Kerlin

Group Executive of Membership

'We're leveraging our size and scale to deliver a future that really matters to members.'

Rose is responsible for AustralianSuper's Membership group, which manages relationships with businesses and unions and develops the right strategies to effectively attract members today and into the future. Rose is also responsible for ensuring members have access to the most cost effective life insurance possible to help them secure their futures. Rose joined AustralianSuper in 2010 and became the State Manager of Western Australia, managing the merger with Westscheme in 2011. She was then appointed to the position of General Manager Growth in August 2013 before moving to her current role on 5 December 2016. She was previously a National Director at the Finance Sector Union of Australia. Rose holds a Bachelor of Economics (Social Sciences) from the University of Sydney, a Diploma of Financial Planning and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (Company Directors CourseTM). Rose has also completed an Executive Leadership course at the University of Melbourne.

Our Board is responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of AustralianSuper. It’s their role to ensure that we meet our obligations to members, employers and shareholders – and comply with super legislation.

Heather Ridout

Chair, Employer Director

Heather Ridout is an Employer Director appointed by the Ai Group. She joined the AustralianSuper Board on 1 July 2007 and was appointed Chair in April 2013. Heather is a company director with a long history as a leading figure in the public policy debate in Australia. She is a Director of Sims Metal Management and ASX Ltd. Other appointments include member of the Boards of: the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Asialink and Advance Australia Advisory Board. Heather has been a delegate to the B20, the key business advisory body to the international economic forum which includes business leaders from all G20 economies. Her previous appointments include: board member of the Reserve Bank of Australia, member of the Henry Tax Review panel, board member of Infrastructure Australia, Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency, Climate Change Authority, member of the National Workplace Relations Consultative Committee, and the Prime Minister’s Taskforce on Manufacturing. In 2014, Heather was made an Officer in the general division of the Order of Australia. She holds a Bachelor of Economics (honours) from the University of Sydney and has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Business from Macquarie University and the University of Ballarat.

Dave Oliver

Deputy Chair, Member Director

Dave Oliver is a Member Director appointed by ACTU Super Shareholding Pty Ltd. He joined the AustralianSuper Board on 1 July 2007 and was appointed Deputy Chair in August 2014. Previous roles include Secretary of the ACTU from 2012-2017, after serving the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) for more than 20 years, including holding the position of National Secretary. Dave established, and is Chair of the National Entitlement Security Trust (NEST). He has been a director of Industry Super Australia Pty Ltd, Union Education Foundation Limited and is a past member of the Defence Industry Innovation Board, the Future Manufacturing Industry Innovation Council, the National Economic Reform Panel, the National Resource Sector Employment Taskforce, the National Workplace Relations Consultative Council and the Resources Sector Skills Taskforce Sub Committee.

Julia Angrisano

Member Director

Julia Angrisano is a Member Director appointed by ACTU Super Shareholding Pty Ltd as a Director of the Board on 30 August 2017. Julia had previously been appointed as an Alternate Director in December 2016. Julia is the National Secretary of the Finance Sector Union, where she has held various roles for over 15 years, and is a member of the ACTU Executive. Other directorships that Julia currently holds include FSU Property Trust Pty Ltd, ACTU Member Connect and is a member of the Industry Reference Committee for Financial Services. Julia holds a Bachelor of Arts, Political Economy, from the University of Sydney.

Paul Bastian

Member Director

Paul Bastian is a Member Director appointed by ACTU Super Shareholding Pty Ltd. He joined the AustralianSuper Board on 5 April 2013. Paul was elected to the position of National Secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) in 2012, having previously held the position of National President since 2009. From 1997 to 2009 Paul was State Secretary of the AMWU NSW Branch. Paul is a shipwright by trade and holds a Bachelor of Law (Honours) from the University of Technology, Sydney.

Gabrielle Coyne

Employer Director

Gabrielle Coyne is an Employer Director appointed by the Ai Group as a Director of the Board on 30 August 2017. Gabrielle was most recently the Chief Executive of Penguin Random House Asia Pacific. Other directorships that Gabrielle currently holds include Cool Australia and the Aēsop Foundation and consults in the Policy and Impact team at RMIT University.  Previous directorships include the Wheeler Centre, Pearson Education Australia, Australian Industry Group Graduate Employment Service, Australian Publishers Association, Melbourne Writers Festival and the Australian Book Review. Gabrielle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from RMIT University, Melbourne.

Jim Craig

Independent Director

Jim Craig was jointly appointed by ACTU Super Shareholding Pty Ltd and the Ai Group as Independent Director of the Board, and Chair of the Investment Committee, on 2 March 2017. Jim has been a member of the Investment Committee since 15 June 2016. Previously, Jim has held a number of senior roles within Macquarie Group Limited in the resources, infrastructure and fund management areas, including leading Macquarie’s businesses in Europe from 2003–2008. He was Chairman of Macquarie Capital (Melbourne) from 2008-2014. Since retiring from Macquarie, Jim has taken up a number of directorships including Australian United Investment Company Limited, Cellcare Australia Pty Ltd and River Capital Pty. Jim holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from Adelaide University and a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne.

Brian Daley

Member Director

Brian Daley is a Member Director appointed by ACTU Super Shareholding Pty Ltd. He joined AustralianSuper’s Board on 1 July 2006 and was previously a Director of one of AustralianSuper’s predecessor funds, the Australian Retirement Fund (ARF), from 1991-2006. Brian has served as an Official for United Voice from 1985-2015 including in capacities of the Union’s Victorian Secretary, National President and National Officer (Superannuation). United Voice is a long-term supporter of AustralianSuper and many of its members, including in industries like the cleaning and security, are members of AustralianSuper. Brian has been actively involved in industry superannuation since the recognition of superannuation as an industrial issue in the 1980’s. Brian is a Director of ISPT and is on the Industry Superannuation Australia Advisory Council. His industry involvement has included service as a former Director of Host Plus (1990-2015), IFS (1996-2006), AIST and ASFA. Brian holds a Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Newcastle.

Lucio Di Bartolomeo

Employer Director

Lucio Di Bartolomeo is an Employer Director appointed by the Ai Group. He joined the AustralianSuper Board on 31 March 2008. Lucio is currently Chair of Australian Naval Infrastructure Pty Ltd, Chair of Northwest Rapid Transit, Chair of Health Infrastructure NSW and is a director of Frontier Advisors and the Moorebank Intermodal Company. His previous experience includes Chair of Macquarie Generation, Managing Director of ADI Limited and Country Director of Thales Australia. Lucio has held several senior positions within the transport industry including Managing Director of FreightCorp and President of the Australasian Railway Association. Lucio is a qualified civil engineer and has a Master's degree in Engineering Science from the University of NSW.

Daniel Walton

Member Director

Daniel Walton is a Member Director appointed by ACTU Super Shareholding Pty Ltd as a Director of the Board on 15 December 2016. Daniel was elected to the position of National Secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) in November 2016, having previously held the positions of Assistant National Secretary, National Vice President and the National Campaigns and Organising Coordinator. The AWU is Australia’s oldest and largest blue-collar trade union representing over 85,000 working men and women and their families. He is currently a director of Chifley Financial Services and The McKell Institute. Daniel is currently studying for an MBA at the AGSM, UNSW Business School.

Grahame Willis

Employer Director

Grahame Willis is an Employer Director appointed by the Ai Group. He joined the AustralianSuper Board on 1 July 2006 and was previously an Employer Director of STA from 1988 and ARF from 2002. Grahame has extensive experience in general management, financial management, legal issues and superannuation. He was the Executive Director of Finance, Administration and Superannuation at Ai Group with whom he was employed for 42 years. In 1997 Grahame received the Trustee of the Year Award at the Conference of Major Superannuation Funds (CMSF) and is a foundation Fellow of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees. Grahame holds a bachelor of Commerce degree from Melbourne University and has completed a PS146 for the Superannuation Industry course.

Innes Willox

Employer Director

Innes Willox is an Employer Director appointed by the Ai Group as a Director of the Board on 9 December 2014.  Innes is Chief Executive of the Ai Group, a leading industry organisation, representing businesses in a broad range of sectors including manufacturing, construction and transport. Innes was appointed Chief Executive in May 2012. His current board appointments include - Director of Australian Super, Director of the Innovative Manufacturing Co-operative Research Centre, Chair of the Migration Council of Australia, Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Skilled Migration and Chair of the RMIT College of Business Industry Advisory Board. Innes served as the Australian Consul General to Los Angeles from 2006 to 2008. He was Chief of Staff to the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, from 2004 to 2006. Earlier, Innes held a number of private sector and government positions including Manager of Global Public Affairs for Singapore Airlines based in Singapore (2000-04). Innes began his working career as a journalist. His positions included Chief of Staff at The Age newspaper in Melbourne and Chief Political Correspondent for The Age in the Canberra Parliamentary Press Gallery. Innes was educated at Melbourne High School; Monash University (BA History and Politics); and Edinburgh Business School.

Nixon Apple

Alternate Director

Nixon Apple was appointed by ACTU Super Shareholding Pty Ltd as Alternate Director to Paul Bastian on 27 August 2013 and has been a Member of the Investment Committee since 1 July 2006. Nixon has served on the AustralianSuper Board as a Director and Alternate Director since 1 July 2006. Prior to that he served on the Board of STA and its Investment Committee from 1998. He brings a wealth of experience to the Investment Committee having worked as a Director at the Australian Trade Commission and the National Institute of Economic and Industry Research, along with a depth of experience with the ACTU including roles as the Industry and Investment Policy Adviser and as a research officer. Nixon is a strong advocate of industry superannuation funds. He has also been published widely on economic and industry development issues. Nixon holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (with Honours) and a Masters in Arts both from Carleton University Ottawa Ontario Canada.

Peter Burn

Alternate Director

Peter Burn was appointed by the Ai Group as Alternate Director for Innes Willox on 23 February 2015 and has been a member of AustralianSuper's Investment Committee since 29 May 2009.  Peter is Director – Public Policy at the Ai Group. His responsibilities range across Ai Group’s public policy interests including environment and climate policy; taxation; innovation; infrastructure; industry policy and business regulation. Prior to joining Ai Group Peter was a Policy Director at the Business Council of Australia. He has also held a number of academic posts after beginning his professional career in the Commonwealth Treasury. Peter has a Bachelor of Economics from the University of New England and completed a PhD in Economics at the University of New South Wales.

Brad Crofts

Alternate Director

Brad Crofts was appointed by ACTU Super Shareholding Pty Ltd as an Alternate Director for Daniel Walton on 26 August 2014.  He is a member of AustralianSuper's Investment Committee and Audit, Compliance and Risk Management Committee. He served as AWU’s nominee to the board of Prime Super between 2010 and 2013 as both deputy chairman and chair of its Investment Committee. Prior to this Brad spent many years as a policy maker with both the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments and as economist with the AWU. Brad completed a first class honours degree in economics at the University of Queensland. Brad has an established consultancy practice. In 2015 Brad became a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Anne Flanagan

Alternate Director

Anne Flanagan was appointed by the Ai Group as an Alternate Director for Lucio Di Bartolomeo on 26 October 2015. She is a member of the Audit Compliance & Risk Management Committee. Anne is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years’ experience in accounting and financial and general management both in the UK with KPMG and Price Waterhouse, and in Australia with ANZ Banking Group and RACV. Anne is the Chief Financial Officer of RACV. Previously Anne was a Superpartners Director and Chair of the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee from 2006 to 2010, and a Trustee Director of the RACV Superannuation Fund from 2006 to 2009. Anne is a member of the National Executive of the GlOO, the peak body for CFO's. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the London School of Economics.

Sheena Kay

Alternate Director

Sheena was appointed by the Ai Group as Alternate Director for Gabrielle Coyne and member of the Audit, Compliance & Risk Management Committee on 25 January 2018. Sheena is a chartered accountant and chartered tax advisor with almost 30 years’ experience in the financial services industry with a particular focus on the superannuation and funds management sectors. Her expertise includes financial governance and risk management and an understanding of superannuation member engagement and international investment. She was previously a senior partner of KPMG Australia until 2014 and is currently a Director of MannaCare Inc. Sheena holds a Bachelor of Accountancy and a Higher Diploma in Tax Law, both from the University of the Witwatersrand. Sheena is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees and holds an RG146 for the Superannuation Industry.

Warren Kensett-Smith

Alternate Director

Warren Kensett-Smith was appointed by ACTU Super Shareholding Pty Ltd as Alternate Director for Daniel Walton 22 February 2016 and is a member of the AustralianSuper Audit, Compliance and Risk Management Committee.  He is the Financial Controller, National, for the Australian Workers’ Union, Australia’s oldest and largest blue-collar trade union, and has over 25 years’ experience in senior finance and management roles within a number of large global corporations, as well as smaller locally owned companies. Warren has been a member of the Governance Institute of Australia (formerly Chartered Secretaries Australia) since 1985, a Fellow since 2011, and has been a member of CPA Australia since 1994, a Fellow since 2011. He holds a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology, Sydney.

Robert (Bob) Lewtas

Alternate Director

Bob Lewtas was appointed by ACTU Super Shareholding Pty Ltd as Alternate Director for Brian Daley on 15 December 2016 and is a member of the Budget Review Committee. Bob is the former Finance and Administration Manager of United Voice in Western Australia, having held this role from 2005 to 2018. Bob’s former directorships on superannuation fund boards include HESTA from February to December 2015 and GESB from 2006 to 2015. Other former directorships include the South Coast Business Development Organisation and Rockingham Community Bank – a Bendigo Bank franchise. Previous memberships include the Polytechnic West Governing Council and Rockingham & South Coast Regional Chambers of Commerce. Bob has completed an AICD directors’ course.

Michele O'Neil

Alternate Director

Michele O’Neil was appointed by ACTU Super Shareholding Pty Ltd as Alternate Director for Dave Oliver on 27 August 2013.  She is currently the CFMEU Vice President and TCF National Secretary of the CFMEU Manufacturing Division. Michele is an Executive Member of the Global Union Federation IndustriALL. She is Co-chair of IndustriALL's Asia Pacific Region and the Global Women's Committee. Michele is a Director of Manufacturing Skills Australia and the Secretary and committee member of the national joint Union/Industry body, Ethical Clothing Australia. Previously, Michele was appointed by Government to represent the industry and Union on a variety of Government bodies including the National TCF Innovation Council and the Victorian Industry Manufacturing Council which advise Government on manufacturing policy.

Carmen Pace

Alternate Director

Carmen Pace was appointed by ACTU Super Shareholding Pty Ltd as Alternate Director for Julia Angrisano on 30 August 2017. Carmen is currently the Operations Director at the Australian Council of Trade Unions. She is currently a Councillor on the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council Adult & Community Further Education Advisory Board. Previous board positions include Melbourne Organisation for Business and Enterprise. Carmen holds a Masters of Business Administration from Swinburne University.

George Stamas

Alternate Director

George Stamas was appointed by the Ai Group as Alternate Director for Grahame Willis on 11 February 2012.  He has over 40 years’ experience in corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, financial management, large scale business development and expansion. He has held senior corporate roles with Mayne Nickless, Electrolux & Tempo services. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management, Board Director of Facility Management Association of Australia, National President of Building Service Contractors Association of Australia and Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Since 1987 George has held the position of Managing Director at GJK Facility Services and Director of GJK Indigenous Solutions. He is also a member of numerous community and charitable organisations. George holds a Diploma of Marketing from the Australian Institute of Management.

Russell Maddox

Committee Member

Russell Maddox has been a member of AustralianSuper’s Investment Committee since 15 July 2014. Russell is an experienced investor who has experience across a range of asset classes. Russell was the Chief Investment Officer at Merrill Lynch/BlackRock Investment Management (Australia) Ltd from 2004 to 2012 responsible for managing multi-asset portfolios within BlackRock. He joined BlackRock in 2000 as the Head of Australian Fixed Income and moved to London in 2001 to head up the Global Fixed Income team for Merrill Lynch. Prior to this Russell worked at Macquarie Investment Management in various investment roles and Credit Suisse First Boston as the Head of Fixed Interest Research. He also worked as an economist for various banking institutions before moving into investment related roles with fund managers. Russell began his career with the Australian Commonwealth Treasury in Canberra after obtaining an Honours Degree in Economics from Monash University.

Mike Nicolaides

Committee Member

Stephanie Weston

Committee Member

Stephanie Weston was appointed as a member of the Investment Committee on 19 May 2015. Stephanie has wide ranging experience in the Australian financial market, with a career spanning central banking, investment consulting and the financial services sector. Stephanie has held senior roles at AMP Financial Services and Mercer. A large part of her early career was spent at the Reserve Bank of Australia, where, among other roles, she was the Deputy Chief Representative of the Bank’s European Office managing the foreign currency reserves portfolio. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) and a Graduate Diploma in Accounting.