The Authority is responsible to a Governing Board appointed by the Victorian Minister for Industrial Relations. The Governing Board comprises a mix of expert skills, qualifications and experience, including individuals from organisations who represent employers and workers for the three covered industries.
The directors of the Governing Board perform their duties consistent with the standards set in the Code of Conduct for Directors of Victorian Public Entities and the duties and values contained in the Public Administration Act 2004.
In accordance with the Long Service Benefits Portability Act 2018, the Governing Board:
- sets the levy to be paid by employers and contract workers
- is responsible for the governance, strategic planning and risk management of the Authority
- advises the Minister on agreements for corresponding schemes across Australia and
- may perform functions and exercise the powers of the Authority that it deems appropriate
Julius Roe, Chair
Julius’s career spans 40 years in industrial relations, including as Fair Work Commissioner from 2010 to 2017. He has been a member of the Police Registration and Services Board since 2018. Since July 2017, Julius has been working as a consultant, handling mediation in a diverse range of workplace disputes in the public and private sectors. Julius has been a leader in vocational education and training policy, including on a number of boards at both state and national level. He was National President of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union from 2000–2010.
Claire Filson, Deputy Chair
Claire Filson has worked extensively in the financial services sector, with more than 20 years’ boardroom experience in superannuation and infrastructure businesses. Before taking a break to travel in 2010, she was a Director on the Board of Emergency Services & State Superannuation, a 150,000-member public sector superannuation fund managing $15 billion. Claire has a mix of skills spanning law, governance and risk management.
Emma King
CEO of the Victorian Council of Social Service, Emma King is a strong voice on social justice.
She has a Master’s in Industrial and Employee Relations and has worked as a policy adviser, teacher and in a range of industrial and training roles.
Emma is currently Chair of the Future Social Service Institute, President of the Farnham Street Neighbourhood Learning Centre and a Board Member with Mental Health Victoria.
Kate Marshall
National Junior Vice President of the Health Services Union, Kate Marshall joined the union in 2015 and is now the Assistant State Secretary of the Health and Community Services Union (HSU, Vic No. 2 Branch).
Before that, she was a legal officer with the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union in Victoria and Tasmania, heading the legal department to run matters before the Fair Work Commission, the Federal Court and the Federal Circuit Court. Kate was an associate in the Federal Court in Queensland, and completed her articles at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers.
Tim Piper AM
Tim Piper has been Head of the Australian Industry Group’s Victorian branch since 2002, advocating for more than 12,000 businesses in Victoria and over 60,000 across Australia. He’s had significant engagement with government at both levels. He Chairs the Industry Capability Network and sits on a number of Ministerial Committees and government bodies.
A lawyer in private practice in Australia and the UK, Tim was previously executive director of the Australian Retailers Association in Victoria.
Tim was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Queen’s Birthday 2020 Honours List for significant service to industry and manufacturing, to skills training, and to multicultural youth.
Rachaell Saunders
Rachaell Saunders – founder of National Protective Services, a top Australian professional security company – is a leader in her field. She currently sits on the board of the Australian Security Industry Association, the peak body for security employers.
As CEO of National Protective Services, Saunders sets the strategic direction for the business with a focus on operations, finance, human resources, sales and marketing.
Julie Warren
In addition to her work with the Authority, Julie is also on the Board of Victorian WorkCover Authority (WorkSafe Victoria) and the Migrant Workers Centre Inc.
She has worked for more than 20 years with the National Union of Workers and has been president of the union’s Victoria branch since 2006. In that role, she has been part of a number of valuable changes in strategic direction.
Previously Julie Warren was the Senior Vice President of the Victorian Trades Hall Council and has considerable understanding of the issues and concerns that are relevant to contract industries.
Linda White
As the Australian Services Union’s assistant national secretary, Linda White is responsible for the union’s strategy in the private and community sectors and also works on the union’s growth strategy.
She coordinated the ASU’s ground-breaking Equal Pay case in the Fair Work Commission and before joining the ASU, was a senior associate at Maurice Blackburn for a decade, practising in crime, industrial law, personal injuries and criminal injuries compensation.
Joseph Yeung
Joseph Yeung is an experienced corporate governance and corporate services professional and was the chief financial officer at the Department of Premier and Cabinet from 2017 to 2019.
Before working in State Government, Joseph was an Assistant Secretary in the Civil Justice and Legal Services Division at the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department in Canberra. A chartered accountant and lawyer, Joseph also holds an MBA (Executive).
Audit and Risk Committee
The Audit and Risk Committee is established by the Governing Board and in accordance with the Standing Directions for the Minister for Finance (2018) under the Financial Management Act 1994 (the Standing Directions).
It provides independent assurance and advice to the Governing Board and Chief Executive Officer/Registrar on the effectiveness of the Authority’s financial management systems and controls, performance and stability, compliance with laws and regulations and risk management.
The Audit and Risk Committee comprises four members, at least one of which must be independent from the Governing Board and the Authority. The Committee is governed by a charter detailing its role and responsibilities consistent with the Standing Directions and best practice corporate governance principles.
Audit and Risk Committee Members
The Audit and Risk Committee consists of the following members:
- Claire Filson
- Rachaell Saunders
- Julie Warren
- Peter Wyatt (independent member)
The Audit and Risk Committee’s independent member, Peter Wyatt, is the Chief Financial Officer of Treasury Corporation Victoria (TCV) and has responsibility for TCV’s finance and reporting and settlements functions. Prior to joining TCV in 2006, Peter was the Chief Financial Officer of the State Superannuation Fund, having formerly held senior management roles in life insurance and financial services organisations.
Peter has a Bachelor of Business and a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance, is a Certified Practicing Accountant, a Senior Associate of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Organisational structure
Governing Board
- Joseph Yeung - CEO/Registrar
- Peter Leersen - CFO
- Suzie Thoraval - Head of Governance and Policy
- Ashley Pratt - Facilities and Information Technology Manager
- Phil Waren - Operations Manager
- Amy Gardner - Senior People and Culture Adviser
- Bianca Stapleton - Senior Communications and Engagement Adviser
Conflicts of interest
The Authority has a Conflict of Interest Policy for the Governing Board and for employees. These policies set out obligations in relation to managing conflicts of interest.
The policies ensure that there is a clear, transparent and accountable process in place to manage actual and perceived conflicts of interest which facilitates the Authority’s compliance with section 81 of the Public Administration Act 2004 and section 45 of the Long Service Benefits Portability Act 2018 in relation to pecuniary interests.
Occupational health and safety
The Authority is committed to providing and maintaining a healthy, safe working environment for staff and visitors in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and associated regulations.
In 2019-20, we recorded:
- nil worker injury claims
- nil days of lost time due to injury
- nil formal written complaints
- nil equal opportunity, bullying or harassment complaints
OHS Committee
The Authority’s OHS Committee meets bi-monthly to discuss the health, safety and wellbeing of staff and visitors in the workplace. The committee consists of management, employees and health and safety representatives from both our Bendigo and Melbourne offices.
During the COVID-19 pandemic the committee has overseen the liaison with workers working from home to support them to undertake ergonomic self-assessments and fulfil any equipment needs.
Employment and conduct principles
The Authority is committed to applying merit and equity principles when appointing staff. The selection processes ensure that applicants are assessed and evaluated fairly and equitably on the basis of the key selection criteria and other accountabilities, without discrimination.
The Authority has introduced policies and practices that are consistent with the Victorian Public Sector Commission’s employment standards and provide for fair treatment, career opportunities and the early resolution of workplace issues. The Authority has also adopted the VPS Enterprise Agreement common policies.
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