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
MAICD, MBA, BSc (Hons)
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.
Show Bio
Terry Ibbotson
Ph.D, MBA, B.Com
Independent Non-Executive Director
Independent Director appointed January 2015 has extensive local and international insurance experience. Formerly served as CEO Australia and later as Global Head of Distribution for the QBE Group, also as a non-executive director for The Insurance Council of Australia. In addition has acted in executive and non-executive capacities on other finance industry related Australian and international boards. Currently is a non-executive director of several private and public companies.
Show Bio
Noel Condon
Independent Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director since June 2020. Noel 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 throughout the global market and has previously served on three other Boards.
Show Bio
Show Bio
Carla Tromans
EdD, MAICD
Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director since April 2014 Carla is the Director for International House (affiliated with The University of Queensland). Carla is passionate about education, young people, sustainability, leadership, and global citizenship. She has passed the 10 year milestone as Director, International House, a multicultural residential college at UQ. She has a 30 year professional career as an educator (practitioner and administrator) in QLD and the NT. Her contribution to the UQ Senate position is: strategy, risk management, student wellbeing, governance and board experience. Her networks include being Chair of I-Houses Worldwide Inc, and Executive member of University Colleges Australia. Her doctorate (QUT) focused on 'beginning teachers' and her Masters degrees (UQ and USQ) on curriculum and education.
Show Bio
Jane Fenton AM
LL.B FAICD FPRIA
Independent Non-Executive Director
An independent director since 17 October 2016, Jane is the founder of Fenton Communications, an integrated communications consultancy. As its managing director until 2012, and now as an adviser, Jane 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. She currently sits on a number of Government, not for profit and private company boards.
Show Bio
Scott Jenkins
B.Com, GAICD, CA
Non-Executive Director
Since January 2014 appointed as Chief Financial Officer at Australian Catholic University (ACU), with the responsibility for financial management and reporting, as well as strategic growth, plan development and implementation, uses his more than 15 years’ experience in the University and Finance Sector.
Scott is on the Advisory Board of the High Education Consulting Group (HECG), a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Macquarie University. Show Bio
Scott is on the Advisory Board of the High Education Consulting Group (HECG), a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Macquarie University. Show Bio
Darren Greentree
FCPA, MBA(Exec) AGSM, GAICD, BBus(Acc)
Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director since March 2018. Darren is the Chief Financial Officer at Western Sydney University, a Fellow of CPA Australia, holds a joint Executive MBA from the Universities of Sydney and New South Wales (AGSM), a Bachelor Degree in Business (Accounting), is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and is a Justice of the Peace.
Darren brings over 20 years Executive and Senior Management experience within Multi-National, Australian Publically Listed and Private Organisations joining the Not for Profit Higher Education Sector in early 2010 rounding out his diverse skills and experience. Show Bio
Darren brings over 20 years Executive and Senior Management experience within Multi-National, Australian Publically Listed and Private Organisations joining the Not for Profit Higher Education Sector in early 2010 rounding out his diverse skills and experience. Show Bio
Andrew Flannery
Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director since February 2020. Andrew Flannery, also known as “Flanno” is a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand. Flanno has over 25 years of professional experience spanning multiple industries including professional services, investment banking and retail. Flanno’s career has seen him work in Australia, the United Kingdom and the USA. In addition to his finance background, Flanno has worked extensively in Human Resources and senior operational roles. Flanno was the Global Chief Financial Officer for Flight Centre Travel Group between 2008 and 2015 and in July 2019 was appointed Chief Financial Officer for the University of Queensland.
Show Bio
Dianne Allen
Non-Executive Director
Dianne joined the Unimutual Board as a Non-Executive Director in April 2022. Dianne has over 30 years’ experience in professional practice, more than 20 years’ as a Director in the not-for-profit space, and more than 15 years’ experience in the Higher Education sector.
Currently, Dianne is the University Secretary for the Vice Chancellor’s Office at the University of Newcastle, as well as being a member of the University’s Executive Committee, Previous positions include Chair of Audit, Risk & 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 a registered Agent with ASIC, 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
Belinda Atkinson
Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director since 2021. Belinda is Council Secretary and Director, Governance Services at Southern Cross University.
Show Bio
Committees
There are four Committees that report to the Board. These are:- Finance and Audit - Chair: Darren Greentree
- Claims - Chair: Scott Jenkins
- Technical - Chair: Noel Condon
- Risk - Chair: Carla Tromans
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
