Stephen Paul LOWNDES B. Rur. Sc. (Hons) UNE, MAMI

Chairman of Directors, Chairman Corporate Governance Committee

Mr Lowndes was appointed to a casual vacancy on the board in March 2001 and elected as Chairman on 1 July 2008. Stephen has over 23 years of experience in data analysis, systems development, policy formulation, strategic planning, executive management and industry representation, gained in the Commonwealth Public Service and in the Australian Private Health Insurance and Aged Care Industries. Stephen has served on the boards of the Australian Friendly Society Association, the Australian Health Services Alliance and the Australian Health Insurance Association.

He was formerly a member of the Management Board of Manchester Unity Credit Union, Chief Executive of Manchester Unity Australia Ltd and CEO of the Aged and Community Services Association of NSW and ACT, a peak industry association representing not-for-profit aged care providers.

Mr Lowndes is currently the CEO of the Royal Rehabilitation Centre of NSW, a not-for-profit specialist rehabilitation and disability hospital.

Kenneth George PICKERING FAICD Dip, FACUI, AIMM, Ass. Dip. Bus. Mgt

Deputy-Chairman of Directors. Member, Corporate Governance Committee. Chairman, Board Audit and Risk Committee.

Ken has been a Director since 1972. He served as Chairman between 1984 and 1992 and Vice Chairman for most of the years between 1994 and 2003. Ken has a close affinity with the broader Credit Union Movement through his service on CUSCAL's National Membership Council between 1990 and 2000, and as General Manager, Australasian Institute of Credit Union Directors from 1995 to 2005 and Executive Manager, Professional Development of the Australasian Credit Union Institute since 2006. Prior to this, Ken had 25 years' experience at Sydney Water, including a number of executive management positions relating to the change management program launched from 1983.

John Alfred CURTIS Cert. of Acct, FAMI, JP

Director FirstWealth Pty Ltd NSW Councillor - Credit Union Employees Association

John has been a Director since 1980 and was Chairman of the Board from 1993 to 1 July 2008 where he stepped down from the role of Chairman as part of the Board's normal succession planning process. He was involved in Public Administration for 30 years, including senior managerial responsibility at Director level. As a past Chairman of the Supervisory Committee and committee member from 1971 to 1980 and as owner of a small business, John brings a vast range of experience to the Board.

Jacki JOHNSON  BAppSc(OT),GradDipSS, EMBA

Member, Board Audit and Risk Committee, CEO of "The Buzz" at IAG

Jacki was appointed to the Board in September 2005 as an Associate Director. Jacki is currently the Head of Risk Management Services at CGU Insurance, she has more that 19 years experience in financial and employee injury management services. She has held senior positions with IAG in diverse areas including Head of Organisational Effectiveness, Workstream Leader – Workers Compensation Integration and Group Strategy Executive. Before joining IAG in 2001, Jacki held senior positions with Allianz Insurance, HIH Insurance and IRS Total Injury Management. Jacki is a former Director of the NSW WorkCover Authority.

Nuria KELLY Assoc Dip Accounting, Cert Financial Markets (SIA), Dip Law, JP

Nuria has been a Director since November 2003. Nuria has more than 14 years experience in financial planning and management, with qualifications from the Securities Institute of Australia and an Associate Diploma in Accounting and a Diploma of Law. Nuria is currently the Head of Financial Planning at Bird Cameron Financial Services. Nuria brings to the Board her experience working closely with Community First Members through her financial planning role.

Stuart Joseph KORCHINSKI B.Comm (Hons), CA

B. Comm (Honours), CA, MAMI, MIFSA, MASFA
Member, Board Audit and Risk Committee.

Mr Korchinski was appointed to the Board in June 2004 to fill a casual vacancy. Stuart has spent the last 23 years in the accounting profession and the general insurance, superannuation and wealth management industries in a variety of senior leadership roles. He is a Chartered Accountant and a former Managing Director of CitiStreet Australia, KAZ Business Services, Australian Administration Services and Chief General Manager of Allianz Australia.  He was also a non-executive director of Enhanced Payment Technologies, Thai Administration Services, Red2Black Debt Recovery Services, Hannan Insurance Brokers and a founding director of Money Solutions, a financial advice company.

Stuart is currently Managing Director of Diversa Limited, an ASX-listed wealth management company and a non-executive director and adviser to SuperChoice Services, a specialist, privately owned superannuation technology company. 

Stephen NUGENT B Bus, Grad Cert Int Mkt, AFAMI, JP

Member, Corporate Governance Committee.

Stephen has been a Director since May 2002. Stephen has more than 21 years experience in the finance and insurance industries, more recently performing the role of General Manager - Retail for the Hospital Contributions Fund (HCF). Stephen brings to the Board wide ranging experience in customer service and financial management, strategic planning and compliance.

Sally Anne O'NEILL  B Comm, CPA, GAICD

Member, Board Audit and Risk Committee

Sally was appointed to the Board on 28 April 2005 as an Associate Director and has been a full director since November 2006. She spent 28 years in the Commonwealth Bank of Australia gaining extensive experience in retail banking distribution from strategic, implementation and operational perspectives. During this time, Sally also served as a Director of Gateway Credit Union. Sally is currently on the Board of the Uniting Church Aged Care, Sydney North Region and is Director, Community Services, Rotary Club of Northbridge.Executive Management.

John TANCEVSKI B.Comm (Accy), FCPA, MBA

Chief Executive Officer, Company Secretary, Member Corporate Governance Committee, Director Transactions Solutions

John joined Community First on the 2nd May 2005 as Chief Executive Officer. He has spent half his career working in senior and general management positions with medium and large credit unions and previously had a diverse background in the manufacturing, oil and health industries.

He has extensive experience in strategic planning, company secretarial and governance, finance and treasury, risk management, compliance and information technology. John has chaired various credit union technology user-groups and is a Director of Transactions Solutions Pty Ltd (TAS).

John holds a Masters of Business Administration degree (MBA) and is a Fellow of the Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountants (CPA). He is also Chair of the Board Audit and Risk Committee of Transactions Solutions Pty Ltd (TAS).

Ian Glenn CHAPPLE CA, AFACUI, AIMM

General Manager - Finance and risk

Ian joined Community First upon the merger with Elcom Credit Union on the 1st November 2006. Ian is a Chartered Accountant and was in practice for 26 years prior to joining Elcom and has experience in business management, taxation and audit. Ian's involvement in the credit union movement spans 20 years including all aspects of finance, treasury, company secretarial and corporate governance.

Janine PHILLIPS Dip (Fin Serv), (CAHRI), (GAICD)

Janine recently joined Community First in February 2008 and brings over 13 years experience in the finance sector and in particular, the Credit Union industry operating at a senior and executive management level.

Janine is an experienced human resources and organisational development professional with a strong working knowledge of human resources practices through the development of extensive policy framework, particularly in the areas of recruitment and selection, performance management and induction programs.

Malcolm HARLEY

General Manager - Member Experience

Malcolm was appointed to his position with Community First in August 2009.  Malcolm's experience spans 26 years in banking and financial services, having held a range of senior and executive management roles in building societies, banking and a national mortgage company. Areas of expertise include sales and marketing, retail and lending operations, programme and contract management.