Rest Board

Nominating Organisation:

n/a

Director Since:

1 January 2023
Appointed Independent Chair on 1 January 2023

Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts (BA Hons)

James has more than 20 years’ experience in government, politics and public administration at both the state and local level, including eight years as the Deputy Premier of Victoria in the Labor Government from 2014 to 2022. During his time in government, he oversaw multi-billion dollar projects and was responsible for the biggest school building program in Victoria’s history via the Victorian School Building Authority. He was also Acting Premier of Victoria for four months in 2021, managing the state’s ongoing response to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

James represented the electoral division of Monbulk in the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 2002 to 2022, and held a number of Ministerial portfolios, cabinet positions and parliamentary appointments during his tenure, including Minister for Education from 2014 to 2022 and Minister for Mental Health from 2020 to 2022, and Minister for Emergency Services from 2016 to 2018.

Current Directorships

• Chair and Director of Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Limited
• Director of Hawthorn Football Club Limited
• Chair of Suburban Rail Loop Authority (Victoria)
• Chair of Victorian Catholic Education Authority
• Director of Super Members Council of Australia
• Director of Greater South East Melbourne

Rest Committee Membership

• People, Culture and Remuneration Committee
• Member and Employer Services Committee
• Risk Committee

Director Since:

26 June 2019

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Arts, Business Studies (BA Hons)
• Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD)

Vaughn is the former CEO of ING DIRECT Australia and CEO Challenger and Growth Countries – Asia, ING Group. Vaughn joined ING in London in 1991 and was Deputy General Manager UK and Ireland, establishing the ING Dublin branch. Vaughn was then assigned to start banking operations in Australia in 1995, which ultimately became ING DIRECT. He held this role until January 2006, helping to establish the brand and building a profitable business. Vaughn was then appointed CEO and MD of ING Vysya Bank in India where he spent more than three years on the successful turnaround of a loss-making bank. He then worked as CEO – Banking Asia, covering Retail Banking and Commercial activities in the region for three years, before returning to Australia in 2012. Vaughn retired from his roles as CEO of ING Retail Banking Asia and CEO ING Direct Australia in June 2016.

He is an advisor to Rhizome Advisory and Spriggy (a Fintech company providing children’s e-pocket money). Vaughn was previously Chairman of Ratesetter Australia from 2017 to 2019; Non-executive Director of TMB Bank in Thailand from 2008 to 2019; Non-executive Director of ING Vysya Bank in India from 2009 until its merger with Kotak Mahindra Bank in 2015; and Non-executive Director of Kookmin Group in Korea from 2010 to 2012. Vaughn was named Australian Financial Services Executive of the Year in 2015. He has written and spoken extensively on leadership, corporate culture, customer centricity and digital banking.

Current Directorships

• Director of Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Ltd
• Director of TPT Wealth Ltd
• Director of Auswide Bank
• Director of MyState Foundation, MyState Limited and MyState Bank

Current Appointments

• Member of Advisory Council to Rhizome
• Advisor to Spriggy

Rest Committee Membership

• Chair of the Member and Employer Services Committee
• Risk Committee
• Board Investment Committee

Director Since: 

1 January 2020
Appointed as an alternate director on 28 November 2018

Qualifications 

• Bachelor of Arts, Politics (BA)
• Bachelor of Business, Banking and Finance (BBus)
• Master of Applied Finance and Investment (MAppFin)
• Doctor of Philosophy, Financial Economics (PhD)
• Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD)
• Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia (FGIA)
• Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst (AIFA) designee
• Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designee
• Qualified Risk Director (QRD)

 
Adam Walk is a financial economist with around 25 years’ experience in investment, governance, and risk management appointments at organisations such as Myer Family Company (now part of Mutual Trust), QIC, QSuper (now part of Australian Retirement Trust), and Bank of Queensland. Adam is a Co-Founder and Director at Drew, Walk & Co., in which capacity he assists family office, foundation, and fiduciary clients in the areas of investment consulting and counsel. He also has over 15 years' experience as a company director of for-purpose organisations.His research has been published in journals such as the Journal of Portfolio Management and the Journal of Retirement, and he co-authored (with Dr Michael Drew) a monograph entitled ‘Investment Governance for Fiduciaries’, which was published by the CFA Institute Research Foundation in 2019.

Current Directorships

• Director of Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Limited
• Director of St John Henry Newman College Limited
• Director of Power Group of Companies
• Chair of Campion College Australia
• Director of The Investment Committee Pty Limited
• Director of De Colmar Pty Limited
• Director of Drew, Walk & Co
• Director of Walk Group of Companies

​Current Appointments

• Chair of the Investment Committee, RSL Queensland
• Member of the Advisory Board, Hamilton12 Pty Limited
• Board Member, Archdiocesan Development Fund, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane
• Member, Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, Mary Aikenhead Ministries

Rest Committee Membership

• Board Investment Committee
• Chair of the Risk Committee
• Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee

Director Since:

30 September 2020

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Arts (BA (Hons))
• Master of Government and Commercial Law (MGCL)
• Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD)
• Graduate of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (GAIST)
• Super Members Council of Australia Trustee Director Course - Advanced
• Associate Certified Coach (ACC), International Coaching Federation

Helen is the National Assistant Secretary at the SDA, the Union for workers in retail, fast food and warehousing. Helen has been a policy, strategy and governance adviser in state and federal governments on the topics of early childhood, school education and workplace relations, and for a group-of-eight Australian university in the private office of the Vice- Chancellor and President. She put the theory into practice for a decade as a President and CEO in the community sector serving expectant and new mothers and ran a private practice as a coach of strategy and governance professionals.

Current Directorships

• Director of Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Ltd

Current Appointments

• National Assistant Secretary of the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association
• Member of the Executive of the Australian Council of Trade Unions
• Member of Personal Services Strategic Workforce Advisory Group (SWAG)

Rest Committee Membership

• People, Culture and Remuneration Committee
• Member and Employer Services Committee

Director Since: 

6 April 2022
Appointed as an alternate director on 28 July 2016

Qualifications 

• Bachelor of Psychology (BPsych)
• Graduate Diploma of Business (Professional Accounting (Grad Dip Bus Prof Acc)
• Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD)
• Graduate of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (GAIST)

 
Jo has more than 30 years’ experience in corporate superannuation within ASX listed environments, predominately with Wesfarmers Limited. This has included supporting superannuation structural changes following corporate acquisitions and divestments. Having operated within broader Human Resource environments in a range of remuneration capacities, Jo appreciates how superannuation relates to broader HR and remuneration strategies. Jo also has a keen interest in supporting families impacted by Type 1 diabetes and sits as a Consumer Representative on the Telethon Kids Institute DiabHQ Steering Committee. 

Current Directorships

• Director of Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Ltd
• Director of TAAJL Pty Ltd
• Director of JAATL Pt Ltd
• Director of Landkara Holdings Pty Ltd

 
Rest Committee Membership

• Chair of the People, Culture and Remuneration Committee
• Risk Committee
• Audit and Finance Committee

Director Since: 

1 October 2022

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Economics (Honours)
• Chartered Financial Analyst, CFA Institute
• GAICD, Australian Institute of Company Directors

 
Michael has more than 35 years of experience across public sector, private and listed companies. His industry experience includes investment management, superannuation, and life insurance sectors.  Prior to joining Rest, Michael was the Australian CEO for the global investment management business Pendal Group from 2016 to 2018 (formerly BT Investment Management Australia). He previously held a number of executive positions as Managing Director for Australia at Fidelity International, and as CEO and Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand at AllianceBernstein.
 
His earliest leadership role was as Managing Director of Investment Management at AXA New Zealand. He became a Trustee of the Australian Church of Christ Evangelistic Trust in 2007 and was appointed Chairman in 2009. Since 2018 he has acted as a Group Chairman for the CEO Circle, a leading Australian membership organisation for executives and CEOs. Before being appointed Chair of the Rest Board Investment Committee, Michael served on the Committee as a non-voting member from 1 September 2020.
 
Michael is an economist and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) by training.  

Current Directorships

• Director of Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Ltd
• Chair and Trustee Director of Australian Church of Christ Evangelistic Trust
• Director of Holt Oxley Pty Limited
• Chair and Director of Acocet Nominees Pty Ltd

Rest Committee Membership

• Chair of the Board Investment Committee
• Audit and Finance Committee

Director Since:

1 April 2024

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD)
• Master of Labour Law and Relations (MLLR)
• Bachelor of Commerce (Hons), Economics (BCom)
• Bachelor of Arts, Politics (BA)
• Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) 
• Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice

Mitchell has 20 years of experience advocating for working Australians. He is currently an Industrial Officer with the SDA where he uses his deep legal, economic and policy knowledge to support member outcomes through advocacy and advice. 

Throughout his experience with the SDA, Mitchell has advocated for dignified, just and fair outcomes for workers, particularly those in low-paid work. Mitchell frequently advocates for members in enterprise bargaining, alternative dispute resolution and in tribunals and courts.

Mitchell has extensive expertise in labour market economics, employment law and industrial relations. He has a deep experience with the retail industry. He is also a qualified solicitor and is admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW. 

Current Directorships

• Director of Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Limited

Current Appointments

• Wholesale, Retail and Personal Services Industry Advisory Committee (NSW)

Rest Committee Membership

• Board Investment Committee
• Member and Employer Services Committee 

Director Since: 

7 August 2024

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Economics
• Master of Labour Law and Relations
• Super Springboard Level 1, Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees
• Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).

 
Catherine has extensive experience as a professional trustee director, having served on a range of industry fund and related boards for the past 20 years.
 
Catherine is actively involved in helping shape superannuation policy to improve outcomes for working Australians. A former president of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST), she played an important role in the creation of the Super Members Council of Australia, the collective body for profit-to-member super funds created through the merger of AIST and Industry Super Australia.
 
Catherine brings financial, governance, member experience and advocacy skills to the Rest Board. She is experienced at integrating environmental, social and governance risks into the effective management of superannuation. She also chaired the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) group responsible for developing guidance for investors and asset managers on supporting a just transition for workers.
 
Current Directorships

• Director of Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Ltd
• Director of State Super
• Director of the Centre for Workers Capital
• Trustee of Unions NSW

Rest Committee Membership

• People, Culture and Remuneration Committee
• Audit and Finance Committee
• Risk Committee

Director Since:

14 October 2024

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Business (Marketing), University of Western Sydney
• Member of the Australian Insitute of Company Directors (MAICD)

Over the course of an executive career spanning 25 years, Inese has earned a reputation as a growth-focused and customer-oriented business leader of digital transformation, cultural change and customer experience.

Inese’s prior roles include Chief Marketing and Digital Officer at Virgin Australia, Marketing Director at Telstra and Marketing, Commercial & Channel Director roles at Microsoft. 

Inese is currently the Chair of Sonder and Hipages Group. She serves as a Non-Executive Director on the boards of NobleOak and Bigtincan and is a past chair of the Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA).

With a personal interest in fostering innovation in Australian business, Inese is director of Breakfast Epiphanies Consulting, advising other organisations to navigate their own growth and transformation agendas.

Current Directorships/Appointments:

• Director of Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Ltd
• Chair, Sonder Holdings
• Chair, Hipages Group Holdings
• Director, NobleOak Life
• Director, NobleOak Aspire Pty Limited
• Director, NobleOak Corporate Beneficiary Pty Ltd
• Director, Breakfast Epiphanies Consulting Pty Ltd
• Director, Really Quite Good Investments
• Director, Kingsmill Family Investments Pty Ltd
• Director, Genus Life Insurance Services Pty Ltd
• Director of Kinetic IT

Rest Committee Membership:

• People, Culture and Remuneration Committee
• Member, Employer and Services Committee