Back to About Rest

Rest Board

Our board is made up of both employer and employee representatives, as well as an independent Chair.

Back to About Rest

Read more

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 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

Rest Committee Membership

People, Culture and Remuneration Committee
Member and Employer Services Committee
Audit and Finance Committee
Risk Committee
Board Investment Committee

Read more

Director Since:

2 May 2018

Qualifications
Bachelor of Applied Science (BHSc)
Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD)
Graduate of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (GAIST)

Sally is an experienced Board director with a commitment to delivering sustainable financial and social outcomes. Sally’s early professional career as a public sector clinical dietitian, led to her undertaking executive roles in health services, investment management and wealth management working across both the public and private sector within Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Hong Kong with broader responsibilities across the Asia Pacific region. She received the Telstra Australian Businesswoman of the Year award (private sector) in 2002 and was recognised as an AFR Westpac Woman of Influence in 2013.

Her non-executive director experience spans internationally across private, social enterprise and government advisory boards as well as board committees in the areas of risk, audit and remuneration. Previously, Sally was a member of the Consumer and Industry Advisory Group on the development of a retirement income framework and covenant, and an inaugural member of the Australian Federal Government’s Aged Care Financing Authority, Chair of LifeCircle and an inaugural member of the EveryAge Counts Advisory Group.

Current Directorships

Non-executive of Director of Allianz Australia Life Insurance Holdings Limited
Non-executive Director of Allianz Australia Life Policy Services Pty Limited
Director of Ingenia Communities RE Limited
Director of Ingenia Communities Holdings Limited
Non-executive Director of Allianz Australia Life Insurance Limited
Director of Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Limited
Non-executive Director of Oceania Healthcare Limited
Non-executive Director of Healius

Current Appointments

Member of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Advisory Council

Rest Committee Membership

Board Investment Committee
Risk Committee

Read more

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, Spriggy (a Fintech company providing children’s e-pocket money) and Wyvern Health. 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
Chair of MyState Limited and MyState Bank

Current Appointments

Member of Advisory Council to Rhizome
Advisor to Spriggy
Member Advisory Council Wyvern Health

Rest Committee Membership

Chair of the Member and Employer Services Committee
People, Culture and Remuneration Committee
Audit and Finance Committee

Read more

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)
Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designee

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, QIC, QSuper, and Bank of Queensland. Adam is a Director at Drew, Walk & Co., in which capacity he assists family office, foundation, and fiduciary clients in the areas of investment consulting and counsel. 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 St John Henry Newman College Limited
Director of Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Ltd
Director of Power Group of Companies
Chairman 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

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

Rest Committee Membership

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

Read more

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)
Associate Certified Coach (ACC), International Coaching Federation

Helen is the Principal Policy Officer (Superannuation and Industry Training) 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 now runs a private practice as a coach of strategy and governance professionals.

Current Directorships

Director of Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Ltd
Director Australian Catholic University Limited
Alternate Director of Service Skills Victoria

Rest Committee Membership

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

Read more

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.

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
Member and Employer Services Committee
Risk Committee

Read more

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
Trustee Director of Australian Church of Christ Evangelistic Trust
Chair of Australian Church of Christ Evangelistic Trust
Director of Holt Oxley Pty Limited
Director of Acocet Nominees Pty Ltd
Chair of Acocet Nominees Pty Ltd

Rest Committee Membership

Chair of the Board Investment Committee
Audit and Finance Committee

Read more

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 (since 2024)

Current Appointments

Wholesale, Retail and Personal Services Industry Advisory Committee (NSW) (since 2021)

Rest Committee Membership

Board Investment Committee
Member and Employer Services Committee

Read more

Date of current appointment as an Alternate Director:

4 March 2020

Qualifications
Bachelor of Education – History and English (BEd)
Master of Business – (Employment Relations) (MBus)
Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD)

Gerard Dwyer is the National Secretary-Treasurer of the Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees' Association. Gerard has been the Secretary-Treasurer of the SDA-NSW Branch (2005-2014), National President of the Union (2008-2014) and SDA National Secretary‑Treasurer since 2014. The SDA is one of Australia's largest trade unions and represents employees working in retail, warehousing and fast food.

Gerard grew up in regional NSW and moved to Sydney at the age of 18 to pursue tertiary studies. He has a Bachelor of Education (History and English (1989)), a Masters of Business in Employment Relations (UTS, 2002) and is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Gerard's working life has seen him employed as a shop assistant, classroom teacher, social worker and as a Trade Union Official for more than 20 years.

Current Directorships

Alternate Director to Dr Adam Walk in Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Ltd (from March 2020 onwards)
Director of The Trade Union Education Foundation Limited (from September 2015 onwards)
Director of ACTU Member Connect (from November 2022 onwards)

Current Appointments

Commerce President of the Union of Network International: UNI Apro
Member of the ALP National Executive
Member of National Workplace Relations Consultative Council
Member of Ministerial Advisor Council on Skilled Migration
Member of Union Network International: UNI Work Management Committee
National Secretary-Treasurer of the SDA
Senior Vice President of the ACTU
World President of the Union Network International: UNI
World Executive Member of the UNI Global Union

Rest Committee Membership
Nil – however, in addition to acting as Alternate Director for Dr Adam Walk at Board meetings, Gerard may take Adam’s place at Committee meetings if Adam is unable to attend.

Previous Directorships

Alternate Director of Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Limited (April 2014 to December 2019)
Alternate Director of Super Investment Management Pty Limited (June 2014 to December 2019)

Read more

Date of current appointment as an Alternate Director:

25 November 2020

Qualifications
Bachelor of Science – Chemistry and Mathematics (BSc(MathSc))

Michael had experience as a Research Officer and subsequently as a Senior Research Officer for the SDA from 1977 to 1992 including research, advocacy, negotiation, member advice, delegate education and some government liaison. Michael was advocate for the SDA in the major case which established industry-wide superannuation for retail workers in 1987-1988.

Michael became Assistant Secretary of the Victorian Branch of the SDA in 1992 and Secretary in 1996. Michael is responsible for the supervision of the employees of the Branch, for the financial management of the Branch and for the strategic director of the Branch, in association with other elected Officers. Michael became the National Vice-President of the SDA in 2014, and the National President in 2018.

Current Directorships

Alternate Director to Helen Cooney in Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Ltd
Chair of FEDSDA Pty Ltd
Chair of Industrial Printing and Publishing Pty Ltd
Chair of Publicity Works Pty Ltd
Chair of Sparkie Pty Ltd trustee of the IPP Property Trust

Current Appointments

Member of the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Committee