Our people

At AustralianSuper we want all Australians to live well in retirement.

Capable, experienced and committed to members

With colleagues across Australia as well as in New York, London and Beijing, we work together to make a meaningful difference to members’ financial position in retirement and to improve the super system for all Australians.

Our diverse workforce of highly-competent and highly-motivated colleagues is led by our Executive Team and Board of Directors.

Paul Schroder

Our Executive Team

Led by Paul Schroder, the Executive Team ensures our business strategy is appropriate, ambitious and is implemented effectively for members.

Meet our Executive Team

Our Board

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

Meet our Board of Directors
  • Board of Directors

    Dr Don Russell

    Independent Chair

    Dr Don Russell was jointly appointed by ACTU Super Shareholding Pty Ltd and the Ai Group as an Independent Director of the Board on 2 May 2019. He was appointed Chair of the AustralianSuper Board on 26 September 2019. Dr Russell is a director of Super Members Council of Australia (SMCA). Previous directorships include Centre for Policy Development, the CSIRO, and Chair of State Super. Until 2018, Dr Russell was the Chief Executive of the South Australian Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Prior to that he was the Chief Executive of the Department of State Development, a role he commenced in 2014. Previous roles include Secretary of the Federal Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education, senior roles at BNY Mellon Asset Management Australia and Sanford C Bernstein, as well as a consultant to the World Bank, Bankers Trust, Westpac and as a Counsellor in the Australian delegation to the OECD in Paris. Between 1993 and 1995, Don served as Australia’s Ambassador to the USA in Washington, and between 1985 and 1993, and again in 1996, he was Principal Adviser to the Hon Paul Keating both during his time as Treasurer and Prime Minister. Don has a PhD from the London School of Economics, a MEc from ANU and a BEc (Hons) (First) from Flinders University as well as the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. Don has completed a Technological Disruption certificate course from the London School of Economics.

     

    Michele O'NeilMichele O'Neil

    Deputy Chair, Director

    Michele O’Neil was appointed by ACTU Super Shareholding Pty Ltd as a Member Director on 10 September 2021 and as Deputy Chair on 1 July 2025. Michele is President of the ACTU and is a member of the ACTU Executive. Current directorships include ACTU Super Shareholding and the Centre for Workers’ Capital. She is Vice President of the International Trade Union Confederation and a member of the Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration. She was previously National Secretary of the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia, Executive Member of Industrial Global Union Federation and Director of Manufacturing Skills Australia. Michele was previously an AustralianSuper Alternate Director and was a Member of the Member and Employer Services Committee.

     

    Gabrielle Coyne

    Director

    Gabrielle Coyne is an Employer Director appointed by the Ai Group on 31 August 2017. Current directorships include Melbourne University Publishing Limited, and Ai Group Training Services. Previous directorships include the Aēsop Foundation, Cool Australia, the Wheeler Centre, Australian Publishers Association, and Pearson Education Australia. Gabrielle was formerly the Chief Executive of Penguin Random House Asia Pacific. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from RMIT University Melbourne, and has completed a Trustee Director Course with AIST.

     

    Ben Davison

    Director

    Ben Davison is a Member Director appointed by ACTU Super Shareholding Pty Ltd on 25 April 2025. Ben is the Chair for BGT Jobs and Training, a not-for-profit group training provider, and a Director of Western Health. Previously, Ben was a Director of HESTA, where he contributed to the Finance, Audit and Compliance Committee, and the Investment Committee. Ben was also a Director of the Ballarat General Cemetery Trust and CEO of Southport Uniting Care. He has held several positions at the ACTU over seven years, including Director of Communications and Marketing and Chief of Staff. Ben holds a Master of Business Administration from Melbourne Business School, a Bachelor of Arts in Politics, Policy and Journalism from Deakin University, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

     

    John Dixon

    Director

    John Dixon is an Employer Director appointed on 26 September 2019. John has more than 35 years’ experience as CEO or executive and non-executive director, predominantly within the logistics and services sector. John is a non-executive director of the Ai Group, Frontier Advisors, and Bird Dog Technology. His previous experience includes Executive Director/COO Linfox, Executive Director/COO Skilled Engineering, Managing Director Westgate Logistics, and Managing Director Silk Logistics Group. John is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (GAIST/Adv). John has completed a Technological Disruption certificate course from the London School of Economics, and holds an Asset & Portfolio Management Certificate from Wharton University of Pennsylvania.

     

    Paul Farrow

    Director

    Paul Farrow is a Member Director appointed by ACTU Super Shareholding Pty Ltd on 25 April 2025. Paul is the National Secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) where he has held various roles for over 20 years. Paul is currently Vice President of the ACTU and is a Director of ACTU Super Shareholding and Chifley Services Pty Ltd. Previously Paul held the role of Councillor of Camden Council NSW from 2015 to 2023, Deputy Mayor from 2021 to 2023, and was also a member of the Audit Risk and Improvement Committee.

     

    Claire Keating

    Director

    Claire Keating is an Employer Director appointed by the Ai Group on 1 January 2020. Claire is a chartered accountant with over thirty years’ experience specialising in superannuation and funds management and was previously a partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers. Current directorships include Victorian Managed Insurance Authority and Charter Hall Direct Property Management Limited. Claire is a board member of the Judicial Commission of Victoria and was previously a Director of CareSuper and SAS Trustee Corporation. She holds a Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) from RMIT, a Diploma of Superannuation Management from ASFA & Macquarie University, and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).

     

    Philippa Kelly

    Director

    Philippa Kelly was jointly appointed by ACTU Super Shareholding Pty Ltd and the Ai Group as an Independent Director and Investment Committee Chair on 5 November 2021. Prior to her appointment Philippa was a consultant to AustralianSuper and member of the Fund’s Direct Investment Group. Philippa has more than 25 years' experience in property, investment management and finance, with a background in law and investment banking. Prior executive experience in the property industry included COO with Juilliard Group and Head of Institutional Funds Management at Centro Properties. Current directorships include Hub Australia, oOh!media Ltd and River Capital Pty Ltd. Philippa was formerly the Deputy Chancellor of Deakin University, and a former director of Assemble Communities Pty Ltd and Lifestyle Communities Ltd. Philippa holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Australia, a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance & Investment from FinSIA and an Honorary Doctorate from Deakin University. She is a fellow of both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Financial Services Institute of Australasia. Philippa has completed a Business of AI course with the London Business School.

     

    Jo-anne Schofield

    Director

    Jo-anne Schofield was appointed by ACTU Super Shareholding Pty Ltd as a Member Director on 9 September 2022. She was formerly an Alternate Director has been a member of the Member and Employer Services Committee since 2020. Jo-anne is currently the National President of the United Workers Union and ACTU Vice President, having previously held a number of roles at the United Voice Union (and its predecessor union, the LHMU) including the positions of National Secretary and President. Prior to joining United Voice Jo-anne was Executive Director of Catalyst Australia, and was Manager Superannuation Legal and Executive Services in the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet. Jo-anne is currently a Director of ACTU Member Connect, ACTU Super Shareholding, and Poll Printing Limited. Previous directorships include a Ministerial appointment on the NSW TAFE Advisory Board, the Australian Retirement Fund, and was Deputy Chair of the Property Services Industry Training Board. Jo-anne holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of NSW. She has completed an RG 146 Foundations of Super course with AIST, and a Company Directors Course with AICD.

     

    Glenn Thompson

    Director

    Glenn Thompson is a Member Director appointed by ACTU Super Shareholding Pty Ltd on 31 January 2020. Glenn is the National President of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), having previously held the role of Assistant National Secretary since 2003. Current directorships include the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC), National Entitlement Security Trust (NEST), and UCOVER Pty Ltd. Glenn holds an RG 146 certificate and is a graduate of the AIST Trustee Director Course (GAIST/Adv). He has completed the AICD Foundations of Directorship Program, the AICD Risk Analysis, Investigation and Oversight Course, and holds a Certificate in Governance and Risk Management from the Governance Institute of Australia.

     

    Janice van Reyk

    Director

    Janice van Reyk is an Employer Director appointed by the Ai Group on 1 April 2022. Janice is currently a Director at National Intermodal Corporation Limited, Lochard Energy Group, NSW Ports and Repurpose It. With a background in commercial law, finance and environmental management Janice is an experienced non-executive director, primarily in infrastructure and capital-intensive asset businesses, with a specialisation in chairing audit, risk and sustainability committees. Previous directorships include Australian Naval Infrastructure, Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NTEPA), Tennis Australia Limited, Ports Victoria, Citywide, Port of Melbourne Corporation and Melbourne Water Corporation. Janice is a Fellow of Certified Practising Accountants (FCPA) and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD). She holds a Bachelor of Laws, a Bachelor of Arts, and a Master of Environment from the University of Melbourne, and a Master of Commerce from the University of NSW. She has completed an RG 146 course with ASFA, a Cyber Security Foundations Practitioner course with the ALC Group, a Trustee Directors Course and Advanced Trustee Directors Course with AIST (GAIST/Adv), an Introduction to Climate Governance with AICD and an Introduction to IFRS Sustainability Standards with CPA.

     

    Innes Willox

    Director

    Innes Willox was appointed by the Ai Group as an Employer Director on 9 December 2014. In May 2012 Innes became the Chief Executive of the Ai Group, a leading industry organisation, representing businesses in a broad range of sectors including manufacturing, construction and transport. 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. His current board appointments include Chair of the Social Policy Group, and of the RMIT College of Business Industry Advisory Board. Innes is a Member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Skilled Migration. Innes holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Politics from Monash University, and a Graduate in Economics and Organisational Change from Edinburgh Business School. He has completed a Digital Disruption course at Cambridge University Judge Business School and an AI Course at MIT Sloan School of Management.

     

    Pippa Downes

    Committee Member

    Pippa Downes is a Member of the Investment Committee appointed by ACTU Super Shareholding Pty Ltd and the Ai Group on 12 February 2021. Pippa brings to the Committee more than 25 years’ executive and non-executive experience in leading global financial services organisations including Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley and UBS. Pippa is currently a director of Australian Technology Innovators (ATI Global Ltd) and Ingenia Communities. Previous directorships include ALE Property Group, Zip Co Limited, Windlab, Sydney Olympic Park Authority, ASX Clearing and Settlement Corporation, the Pinnacle Foundation, Swimming Australia and the Swimming Australia Foundation. Pippa also formerly served as a Commissioner of Sport Australia. Pippa holds a Master of Applied Finance from Macquarie University, a Bachelor of Science (Business Administration, Finance and Accounting) from the University of California and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

     

    Russell Maddox

    Committee Member

    Russell Maddox is a member the Investment Committee appointed by the Ai Group on 15 July 2014. Russell is an experienced investor across a range of asset classes, and has a long involvement with the design, specification, testing and usage of technology for fund management applications. 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.

     

    Richard Price

    Committee Member

    Richard Price is a member of the Investment Committee appointed by the Ai Group on 15 February 2023. Richard brings to the Committee almost 25 years’ executive experience at investment bank Macquarie Group, six years as Executive Chair at Aligned Resources Group, and a long career providing strategic, financial, investment and corporate advice to many leading companies in Australia and globally. Richard currently serves as an Investment Committee member of impact investment fund Conscious Investment Management, Chair of the Advisory Boards at Smarter SMSF and Magellan Stem Cells, and as a Council Member at the National Library of Australia. Richard holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) (Honours) from the University of Melbourne.

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