Our Board
The Board of Unimutual (Board) is drawn largely from the Membership with a maximum of twelve (12) Directors and up to four (4) Independent Directors on the Board at any one time. The position of Chair of the Board is normally held by an independent Director. The Board has a thorough understanding of the higher education sector and the risks faced by Members.
As a Discretionary Mutual, the Board retains unfettered discretion to decide whether or not to admit a Member to the Mutual and whether or not to accept a Member’s claim. In exercising its discretion, the Board is bound by principles of fairness and natural justice. A Member of the Mutual is entitled to have claims for protection considered by the Board. Members can reasonably expect to have all valid claims falling within the terms and conditions of the Mutual’s protection wordings paid in full.
“Unimutual manage relationships very well. They build and provide trust. They oversee and specialise in the Tertiary sector and use the mutual model (working for their members who are owners). As a follow on, they’ve successfully created a member community whereby all and sundry want to contribute in the protection of each other’s assets, and mitigate each’s liabilities. That’s why I would endorse them over others.”
As a Discretionary Mutual, the Board retains unfettered discretion to decide whether or not to admit a Member to the Mutual and whether or not to accept a Member’s claim. In exercising its discretion, the Board is bound by principles of fairness and natural justice. A Member of the Mutual is entitled to have claims for protection considered by the Board. Members can reasonably expect to have all valid claims falling within the terms and conditions of the Mutual’s protection wordings paid in full.
“Unimutual manage relationships very well. They build and provide trust. They oversee and specialise in the Tertiary sector and use the mutual model (working for their members who are owners). As a follow on, they’ve successfully created a member community whereby all and sundry want to contribute in the protection of each other’s assets, and mitigate each’s liabilities. That’s why I would endorse them over others.”
Sean Portelli
Business Manager
University College, The University of Melbourne
The Members' representatives are:
Andrew Kearnan
BSc (Hons), MBA, GAICD
Chair
Andrew Kearnan joined UniMutual Limited in December 2021 and is Chair of the Board.
Andrew is currently also a Director of Teachers Mutual Bank Limited, RACQ Insurance Limited, Nimble Money Limited and the Australian Shareholders’ Association. He sits on or Chairs the Audit Committees for each of these organisations. He runs an independent Corporate Advisory business, providing strategic, corporate finance and capital markets advice to financial services businesses.
Andrew has held Executive and Non-Executive positions at leading financial services institutions in Australia including Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Hollard Insurance, Greenstone Financial Services, Complii FinTech Solutions, Commonwealth (Life) Insurance Holdings Limited and the Colonial First State Group. He sat on the Australian Accounting Standards Board, setting IFRS based accounting standards in Australia. He was consistently rated as one of Australia’s top equity research analysts in the financial sector over a 19-year capital markets career.
Andrew has an Honours degree in Science (Biochemistry), an MBA, is a Member of the AICD and has completed the AICD Company Directors course.
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Dr Terry Ibbotson
Ph.D, MBA, B.Com
Independent Non-Executive Director
Terry was appointed as Independent Non-Executive Director in January 2015 and has extensive local and international insurance experience. Terry is currently a Non-Executive Director of several private and public companies. Terry formerly served as CEO Australia, and later as Global Head of Distribution, for the QBE Group, as well as a Non-Executive Director for The Insurance Council of Australia. Terry has also acted in Executive and Non-Executive capacities on other finance industry-related Australian and international boards.
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Noel Condon
Independent Non-Executive Director
Noel has been an Independent Non-Executive Director at Unimutual since June 2020. He has over four decades’ experience in the insurance industry, most recently leading
AIG in Australia and the Australasia region. Noel brings extensive sector expertise, having led teams in insurance markets across Europe and the Asia Pacific. He has strong networks in the Australian and international markets and serves on a number of insurance related boards in Australia.
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Jane Fenton AM
LL.B FAICD FPRIA
Independent Non-Executive Director
AAn Independent Non-Executive Director since October 2016, Jane is the founder of Fenton Communications, an integrated communications consultancy. Jane has had extensive experience providing communications, engagement and reputation management to the education, health, social justice, professional services and NGO sectors. Jane is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Public Relations Institute of Australia. Jane has sat on a number of government,
not-for-profit and for purpose company boards. Jane was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to the community.
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Scott Jenkins
BCom, GAICD, CAANZ
Non-Executive Director
Scott has been a Non-Executive Director since March 2017. Since January 2014, Scott has been Chief Financial Officer at Australian Catholic University (ACU), responsible for driving corporate strategies, financial high performing teams, treasury, procurement, insurance, financial planning, and reporting to the Board.
Scott is an accomplished C-suite executive with experience leading financial strategy and delivering corporate strategy at a range of diverse businesses, including private companies, start-ups, not-for-profits, and large multinational companies. Scott has worked across diverse sectors including higher education, mining, advertising, pharmacy, energy and insurance, across the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Show Bio
Scott is an accomplished C-suite executive with experience leading financial strategy and delivering corporate strategy at a range of diverse businesses, including private companies, start-ups, not-for-profits, and large multinational companies. Scott has worked across diverse sectors including higher education, mining, advertising, pharmacy, energy and insurance, across the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Show Bio
Belinda Atkinson
BComm, LLB(Hons), MTerEd(Mgt)
Non-Executive Director
Belinda joined the Unimutual Board as a Non-Executive Director in March 2021. Belinda has over 20 years’ experience as a lawyer in Australia and Canada, predominantly in commercial litigation. Belinda moved to the higher education sector in 2014. Her current role is the Director, Governance Services and Council Secretary, at Southern Cross University. Belinda is responsible for the Legal and Privacy Office, risk and insurance, policy, records management, and the internal audit function. She also manages the provision of secretariat support to the university’s corporate and academic governance bodies. Prior to this, Belinda was University Lawyer at Southern Cross University..
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Darren Greentree
FCPA, MBA(Exec) AGSM, MAICD, BBus(Acc), JP
Non-Executive Director
Darren was appointed Non-Executive Director in March 2018. Darren is the Vice-President Finance and Chief Financial Officer at Western Sydney University, and a Fellow of CPA Australia. Darren brings over 25 years of Executive and Senior Management experience within multi-national, ASX listed and private organisations,
and joined the not-for-profit higher education sector in early 2010, rounding out his diverse skills and experience.
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Andrew Flannery
BBus, FCA, GAICD
Non-Executive Director
Andrew has been a Non-Executive Director since February 2020 and the Chief Operating Officer at the University of Queensland (UQ) since July 2022. Prior to this, Andrew was the Chief Financial Officer at UQ.
Andrew has over 30 years of professional experience in Australia, the UK and the USA, spanning multiple industries including professional services, investment banking, retail and higher education. In addition to his finance background, Andrew has worked extensively in human resources and senior operational roles. Andrew was the Global Chief Financial Officer for Flight Centre Travel Group between 2008 and 2015. Andrew is a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand. Show Bio
Andrew has over 30 years of professional experience in Australia, the UK and the USA, spanning multiple industries including professional services, investment banking, retail and higher education. In addition to his finance background, Andrew has worked extensively in human resources and senior operational roles. Andrew was the Global Chief Financial Officer for Flight Centre Travel Group between 2008 and 2015. Andrew is a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand. Show Bio
Dianne Allen
BCom, FCA, GAICD
Non-Executive Director
Dianne joined the Unimutual Board as a Non-Executive Director in April 2022. She is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand, with over 30 years’ experience in professional practice. Dianne is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has more than 20 years’ experience as a Director in the not-for-profit sector.
Dianne was an external member of the Council of the University of Newcastle from 2006 to 2020, including chairing the Finance Committee from 2007 to 2020. Dianne was the Deputy Chancellor at the University from 2014 to 2020. Dianne was appointed as the University Secretary in 2020.
Other current roles include Chair of Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee at Lake Macquarie City Council since 2017, and Chair and Member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee at Hunter New England Local Health District since 2016.
Dianne is approved by the NSW Treasury as Chair and member of Audit and Risk Committees for State Owned Corporations, and in 2021 was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Newcastle. Show Bio
Dianne was an external member of the Council of the University of Newcastle from 2006 to 2020, including chairing the Finance Committee from 2007 to 2020. Dianne was the Deputy Chancellor at the University from 2014 to 2020. Dianne was appointed as the University Secretary in 2020.
Other current roles include Chair of Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee at Lake Macquarie City Council since 2017, and Chair and Member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee at Hunter New England Local Health District since 2016.
Dianne is approved by the NSW Treasury as Chair and member of Audit and Risk Committees for State Owned Corporations, and in 2021 was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Newcastle. Show Bio
Trevor Woods
M. Ed, BMgmt
Non-Executive Director
Trevor joined Unimutual Board as a Non-Executive Director in May 2023. He is the Vice-President (Services) at Monash University. Trevor has previously held executive roles at The University of Sydney, Monash University, and two Canadian universities, Alberta and Lethbridge.
For much of 2020, Trevor led and managed the University of Sydney’s successful operational response to the impacts of COVID-19. Trevor has served on several higher education boards, government advisory groups, university senate and the board of an educational technology start-up. He has been a principle investigator and collaborator on many research projects and provincial and federal grants. Trevor holds a Masters in Education (Educational Technology) and a Bachelor of Management (Information Systems)
Trevor has also led significant organisational transformation projects, delivering improved outcomes. His focus on people leads to sustainable organisational cultures that are resilient and adaptable. Trevor creates teams that embrace innovation to deliver outcomes in a more contemporary and collaborative way, particularly within challenging and rapidly changing contexts.
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For much of 2020, Trevor led and managed the University of Sydney’s successful operational response to the impacts of COVID-19. Trevor has served on several higher education boards, government advisory groups, university senate and the board of an educational technology start-up. He has been a principle investigator and collaborator on many research projects and provincial and federal grants. Trevor holds a Masters in Education (Educational Technology) and a Bachelor of Management (Information Systems)
Trevor has also led significant organisational transformation projects, delivering improved outcomes. His focus on people leads to sustainable organisational cultures that are resilient and adaptable. Trevor creates teams that embrace innovation to deliver outcomes in a more contemporary and collaborative way, particularly within challenging and rapidly changing contexts.
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Committees
The following Committees report to the Board:
- Finance and Audit - Chair: Darren Greentree
- Claims - Chair: Scott Jenkins
- Technical - Chair: Noel Condon
- Risk - Chair: Belinda Atkinson
- Remuneration and Nomination – Chair: Jane Fenton
- Rating Oversight – Chair: Terry Ibbotson
The Technical Committee co-opts insurance and risk management personnel from the membership to assist with technical input.
Board Timetable 2023
Board will meet on the following dates:
- Wednesday 15th February 2023
- Wednesday 29th March (AGM)
- Tuesday 4th April
- Thursday 20th July
- Thursday 4th October
- Wednesday 13th December
Board’s Finance & Audit Committee
- Thursday 23rd February
- Thursday 25th May
- Wednesday 23rd August
- Wednesday 13th December
The Claims and Risk Committee will meet on the following dates:
- Wednesday 1st February
- Tuesday 21st March
- Thursday 6th July
- Wednesday 29th November
The Technical Committee will meet on the following dates:
- Monday 13th March
- Monday 26th June
- Tuesday 12th September
