Trustee Board & Management
Trustee Director Biographies
Learn more about AvSuper’s Board of nine Trustee Directors who are governed by the AvSuper Constitution and Trust Deed.
Ben Firkins |
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Joined AvSuper Board: | 4 April 2002 |
Board roles: | Member Representative Director
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Ben currently works as a manager with CASA in Perth. His extensive experience enables him to appreciate the complex audit, compliance issues and risk matters faced by organisations like AvSuper. Ben’s practical experience and leadership is of great benefit to the Fund and its members, especially in his role as fund Chair. Ben has re-joined the Investment Committee after a period of extensive prior service with the fund’s Audit, Compliance and Risk Management Committee. He will focus on investment governance and compliance. |
Stuart Brades |
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Joined AvSuper Board: | 13 March 2019 |
Board roles: | Member Representative Director
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Stuart is an Air Traffic Controller in the Perth Tower and Terminal Control Unit. He is Vice President Finance for the Civil Air Operations Officers Association of Australia. Stuart holds a number of qualifications including a Masters of Professional Accounting and a Bachelor of Science – Computing Science. |
Geoffrey Burgess |
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Joined AvSuper Board: | 1 July 2019 |
Board roles: | Employer Representative Director
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Geoff has over 40 years of experience working across the superannuation industry. For the majority of his career, Geoff practised as a consulting actuary advising both trustees and sponsoring employers on all aspects of defined benefit and other superannuation arrangements. More recently, he has been responsible for the investments of a corporate superannuation fund of similar size and design to AvSuper. Geoff is active in industry and professional bodies and was President of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia in 1996. |
David Coogan |
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Joined AvSuper Board: | 1 March 2022 |
Board roles: | Employer Representative Director
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David has 35 years experience in the superannuation and funds management industry providing assurance, risk management, fund merger, strategic planning and other advisory services to superannuation funds and fund managers. |
Lawrie Cox |
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Joined AvSuper Board: | 15 October 2010 |
Board roles: | Independent Director from 1 July 2018
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Lawrie was the manager of industrial relations with the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) and has over 36 years of industrial relations experience, mostly in the aviation industry. Lawrie also has over two decades experience as a professional director, including roles as a superannuation trustee director. Lawrie has extensive experience with superannuation industry issues, the legal framework and the Trustee’s fiduciary responsibility to act in the best interests of members. |
Michael Farrell |
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Joined AvSuper Board: | 1 March 2015 | ||
Board roles: |
Member Representative Director
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Michael was an ARFF fire fighter for 31 years and his knowledge of this segment of the industry positions him well to address the needs of the fire fighters within AvSuper’s membership base. Having served in senior positions with union groups such as the ARFF, FFU, and UFUA (including national president and national trustee), Michael has obtained experience and detailed understandings of board governance (including procedural, legal and regulatory requirements), the preparation of financial information for external auditors and regulatory authorities, and the assessment and review of financial statements. |
Julie Orr |
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Joined AvSuper Board: | 1 July 2021 |
Board roles: | Independent Director
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Julie joined the Fund as an experienced senior executive and non-executive director with over 20 years experience in superannuation, investments and all aspects of governance. She has established compliance programs and managed industry research and audits. |
Tim Rothwell |
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Joined AvSuper Board: | 27 June 2021 |
Board roles: | Employer Representative Director
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Tim is a highly experienced board member, audit chair and mentor. As well as roles on various boards and mentoring MBA students, Tim has held senior executive roles such as CFO of an Australian airport for 19 years and advising in the privatisation of Australian airports. He has served on the Airservices Australia Board and mentored UNSW undergraduates on their Aviation Business Degree. |
Executive Management Biographies
Learn more about AvSuper’s Executive Management team.
Michael Sykes |
BEc (Hons), MBA, CPA |
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Joined AvSuper Team: | 6 April 2021 |
AvSuper role: | Chief Executive Officer |
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Michael joined the Fund with over 25 years experience in the financial services industry across banking, insurance and superannuation. |
Shan Badowski |
GIA (Affiliated) |
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Joined AvSuper Team: | 10 November 2014 |
AvSuper role: | Executive Manager – Governance & Company Secretary |
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Shan has over 25 years experience in financial services encompassing banking, financial planning and superannuation. |
Michael Irving |
MBA, Grad Cert(Mgt) |
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Joined AvSuper Team: | 19 July 2021 |
AvSuper role: | Executive Manager – Operations |
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Michael has over 30 years’ experience within the superannuation industry in both retail and not-for-profit funds. Michael has broad management experience across a range of roles including operations, marketing, strategy and project management. |
Nick Smith |
BCom, BA, CPA |
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Joined AvSuper Team: | 21 February 2018 |
AvSuper role: | Executive Manager – Finance and Tax |
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Nick is a chartered accountant with over 20 years’ experience in executive and leadership roles within the aviation, superannuation and Finance Sectors |