The Board

The Board's role is to make sure the fund is run in the best interests of all members. The ESSSuper Board has 12 members - half nominated by the Government and half elected by members.

Government Nominated Representatives

Joan Fitzpatrick, President

Joan Fitzpatrick, BA (Hons), LLB, ANZIIF, CIP, GAICD
President
Appointed: 8 February 2016
Current term: 8 February 2022 - 7 February 2025

Joan has 20 years experience as a non-executive director across a range of industry sectors. Her objective is to be a positive influence for improvement and growth in each organisation and her primary areas of focus are strategy, risk, governance and capability.

Joan has more than 35 years of commercial business experience holding a range of senior roles. She is an experienced change management leader and has consistently delivered successful business results including strong engagement of people.

Qualified as a barrister, she commenced a management career, which saw her managing a fast moving consumer goods warehousing and distribution unit in London; having a senior management role in a highly diversified manufacturing company; becoming the Project Director of a multi-national conglomerate to build a pulp mill, negotiating multi million dollar contracts and achieving UK government and European Union funding support; and taking up the role of Regional General Manager for a global insurer of manufacturing & special risks, establishing a regional office in Kuala Lumpur to acquire and service major clients in ASEAN, China and the Pacific. She completed 16 years as CEO and Director of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance in December 2013. As CEO Joan revitalised and expanded the business and its international reach.

Joan is a Fellow of ANZIIF, a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is currently a non-executive director for several organisations.

George Boubouras

George Boubouras, B.Econ (Hons), Exec. Cert. Portfolio Mgmt., Exec. Cert. Mgmt. & Leadership, Investment Decisions & Behav. Finance Prog.
Appointed: 6 February 2024
Current Term: 6 February 2024 - 5 February 2027

George is a seasoned financial professional with over 25 years of experience in various roles and sectors. He started his career as an economist, working for prestigious institutions such as Westpac, NSW Treasury and SBC (now UBS). He then transitioned to the asset management industry, where he held senior positions such as CIO and MD at leading firms such as Contango, Equity Trustees, UBS and Salter Brothers. He has a proven track record of managing investments across multiple asset classes and leading high-performing teams and businesses.

Passionate about education and research, George is a part-time lecturer in finance and a visiting fellow at The University of Adelaide, where he also serves on the advisory board of the International Centre for Financial Services (ICFS). He is a director and investment adviser at Salter Brothers Asset Management (SBAM) and a member of the investment committee at Paua Wealth Management (Auckland, NZ). He is also the MD, head of research, investments and advisory at K2 Asset Management (K2), a Trustee, fund administrator and boutique fund manager.

In addition, George is involved in the community and the sports sector. He was a Director of the Blues Foundation at The Carlton Football Club, one of the oldest Australian rules football clubs. He was an Executive Director of the International Centre for Financial Services at the University of Adelaide Business School and a Director at Women in Banking and Finance, a not-for-profit organisation.

Paul Mulraney

Paul Mulraney, CSC - BCom, MSc(Defence Studies), CPA, FAICD, FAIM, psc
Appointed: 18 October 2016
Current Term: 18 October 2019 - 17 October 2024

Paul has 20 years of experience as a non-executive director in member-owned financial services, public health and rural financial counselling services. His emphasis is on sound corporate governance with a particular emphasis on risk culture, strategy and enhancing the member experience.

Paul had a distinguished 25-year career in the Australian Army and further 13 years of experience as a senior executive in the Victorian public health system.

He was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) in the Queen' Birthday Honours 1993 for conspicuous service to the Australian Army in the field of organisational development and implementation.

Paul is a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australian Institute of Management. He is also a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, India.

Jacqueline Pirone

Jacqueline Pirone, LLB, BA, GDipIns GAICD
Appointed: 18 October 2022
Current term: 18 October 2022 - 17 October 2025

Jacqueline has over 25 years' experience in both private practice and in-house counsel, including working for an international law firm as Special Counsel. She was an Ombudsman at the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, Group Head of Compliance & Regulatory for an international life insurer, and currently holds the role of Director, Compliance & Risk and Company Secretary for an investment house.

With significant experience in financial services including strategy leadership, regulatory, legal, advice work, compliance, risk management, and corporate governance, Jacqueline is also the President of the Tennis Victoria Board, and Trustee on the Melbourne Olympic Park Trust.

Jacqueline is a member of:

• The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia Limited (ASFA)
• The Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST)

Pam Rebecca

Pam Rebecca, BBus(Acc)(With Distinction), MBA, GAICD
Appointed: 16 November 2021
Current term: 16 November 2021 - 15 November 2024

Pam has over 25 years' experience in the Financial Services and For Purpose sectors, with a diverse background in digital, innovation, corporate strategy and retail banking. During the last ten years, Pam has held senior executive roles focused on leading and influencing digital transformation, including Chief of Strategy, Innovation and Digital for World Vision Australia, and General Manager Digital for ANZ Banking Group Limited.

Pam brings a strong understanding of risk and regulatory frameworks, and decades of experience has equipped her with the ability to navigate and implement innovative changes in the highly regulated environment of consumer-facing financial services. Her expertise includes leading transformation across large teams and businesses with technology-depended operations including high volume customer service operations.

Pam is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is also an independent Non-Executive Director of Defence Bank Limited, a member of the Risk and Compliance Committee of Defence Bank Limited, an Independent Director of Tonkin + Taylor Group Limited and Chair of the Tonkin + Taylor Risk and Audit Committee.

Member Elected Representatives

Dean Glare

Dean Glare, BEd 
Elected by: State Super members
Appointed: 1 January 2007
Current term: 1 January 2022 - 31 December 2026

Dean is an experienced member of the ESSSuper Board and long-serving teacher.

He is a member of:

• the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST)
• the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia Limited (ASFA)
• the Australian Education Union

Colin Jones

Colin Jones, GDEmHlth, ASM, MAICD
Elected by: Ambulance Victoria members
Appointed: 1 January 2018
Current term: 7 February 2023 - 6 February 2028

Colin has over 30 years' service with Ambulance Victoria and is currently an Area Manager in the Clinical Operations division.

Eamon Leahy

Eamon Leahy
Elected by: Police Victoria members
Appointed: 7 February 2023
Current term: 7 February 2023 - 6 February 2028

Eamon has served as an operational Police Officer with Victoria Police since 1999. With experience representing ESSSuper members as a delegate and Board Member through The Police Association of Victoria since 2008, Eamon is passionate about advocating for members and improving member outcomes.

He is a member of The Police Association of Victoria.

Ben McKie

Ben McKie 
Elected by: Fire service members
Appointed: 1 January 2018
Current term: 7 February 2023 - 6 February 2028

Ben has 25 years' service in the Fire Brigade, now known as Fire Rescue Victoria, and currently is seconded to CFA working with 44 Volunteer Fire Brigades in South Gippsland where he holds the rank of Commander. He has worked in a variety of areas from Station based roles to leading operational support departments to drive operational improvement, something that he has a great passion for.

Ben is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a member of the United Firefighters Union Victoria.

Angela Stringer

Angela Stringer, Dip T (Primary), Grad Dip Ed 
Elected by: State Super members
Appointed: 14 September 2010
Current term: 1 January 2022 - 31 December 2026

Angela is a long-serving teacher with the Department of Education & Early Childhood Development.

She is a member of:

• the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST)
• the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia Limited (ASFA)
• the Australian Education Union

Board member duties

Conflicts of interest policy

ESSSuper's Conflicts of Interest Policy (PDF 178.8KB) sets out a framework to identify, assess and manage any actual or potential conflicts of interest that responsible persons and employees may have. Responsible persons include Board Members, Deputy Board Members, Executive Managers and consultants. The Policy includes strategies to deal with conflicts, how and when to disclose conflicts of interests and how they may be dealt with.

This policy operates in conjunction with the ESSSuper Fit and Proper Policy. It has been developed in accordance with the requirements of the Victorian Government Prudential Superannuation Standard for Victorian Government Superannuation Agencies.

Records and registers

Board Meeting Attendance Record (PDF 733.3KB)
Record of attendance at Board and Committee meetings for 2016 to 2023.

Register of Relevant Interests (PDF 28.2KB)
Record of relevant interests held by Board Members as at 1 July 2023.

Gifts, Benefits, and Hospitality Policy (PDF 203KB)
ESSSuper's policy regarding gifts, benefits, and hospitality effective 17 March 2022.

Gifts, Benefits, and Hospitality Register - FY 2021-22 (PDF 100.1KB)
Register of all gifts, benefits, and hospitality accepted or declined in the 2021-2022 financial year.

Gifts, Benefits, and Hospitality Register - FY 2020-21 (PDF 40.1KB)
Register of all gifts, benefits, and hospitality accepted or declined in the 2020-2021 financial year.

Gifts, Benefits, and Hospitality Register - FY 2019-20 (PDF 133.8KB)
Register of all gifts, benefits, and hospitality accepted or declined in the 2019-2020 financial year.

Gifts, Benefits, and Hospitality Register - FY 2018-19 (PDF 75KB)
Register of all gifts, benefits, and hospitality accepted or declined in the 2018-2019 financial year.