Trustee and Responsible Entity Boards
BT Financial Group places a significant emphasis on the governance of its Trustee and Responsible Entity Boards. These Boards exist independently from BT Financial Group Management given that many of our superannuation, platforms and investment offers are structured in a way that requires a Trustee or Responsible Entity Board.
The information below is designed to give you a brief introduction to the members of these Boards, their past experience and roles they hold.
BT Financial Group Boards have a majority of independent Directors and an Independent Chair. Given the significant responsibilities of these Boards, we believe a majority of non-executive independent Board members is appropriate. In addition, Directors have been brought together from wide ranging backgrounds in superannuation, investments, corporate governance, financial management and public policy.
Lynn Ralph
Independent, Non-executive Chairman
BT Financial Group
(as at 21 February 2011)
In 2011, Lynn Ralph was appointed as the first independent Chairman of the companies within BT which are responsible for the management of all of the superannuation funds, managed investments, and platforms. She has worked in the financial services sector for over 20 years, specialising in funds management and insurance. She has formerly held the positions of Deputy Chairman of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and CEO, Investment & Financial Services Association (now the Financial Services Council).
Lynn is a co-founder of Cameron Ralph Pty Ltd, a firm which assists boards to improve their effectiveness. She has over 40 cumulative years of boardroom experience, and lectures and writes on corporate governance. In addition to her roles at BT, she is currently Commissioner of the Private Health Insurance Administration Council; and a Director of Sydney Swans Limited, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Securities Exchanges Guarantee Corporation, and The Sydney Institute. Ms Ralph is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.
Rebecca Davies
Independent, Non-executive Director
Risk
(as at 01 March 2011)
Rebecca Davies was appointed to the Trustee Boards in 2011 and serves on the Audit Committee and chairs the Investment Committee.
She was a partner of a major national law firm for 26 years and has served as a director on a range of entities in the government, not for profit, professional services and superannuation arenas since 1996. Rebecca is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a regular presenter on issues relating to directors' duties and risk issues.
David Plumb
Independent, Non-executive Director
Human Resources
(as at 01 March 2011)
David has more than 25 years’ experience in the financial services industry, having established, managed, governed and consulted to complex operations within the Superannuation, Funds Management, Advice and Insurance sectors.
From 2003 to 2008 David held a number of executive positions at Challenger Financial Services Group including Deputy Group CFO, CFO Wealth Management and CFO Financial Planning. With Challenger he was instrumental in building the Funds Management business and in the transformation and sale of the Financial Planning and Platform business to AXA, continuing as CFO of AXA’s Genesys Group Holdings until 2010. During his time with AXA and Challenger David was also a Director of a number of Superannuation Trustee, Responsible Entities and Financial Service Licensees.
A Chartered Accountant by training, David has also held senior finance roles with Tyndall Australia and Zurich and was an Audit Manager at Ernst & Young. He is a member of Ascalon Capital Management’s Compliance Committee and consults to organisations on Finance, Strategy and Organisational change.
David Lees
Executive Director
Equities
(as at 07 July 2010)
David was appointed General Manager, Super and Investments in April 2010 and is committed to continuing BT Financial Group's track record of developing innovative products and services that help our customers both preserve and grow their money.
Given he led the merger of BT and St.George's wealth operations, David brings with him an intimate understanding of BT Financial Group and its multi-brand strategy. Since joining BT Financial Group in 2005 and prior to leading the merger, David held a number of Executive Team positions including BT Financial Group's Chief Financial Officer and General Manager of BT Financial Group’s Wrap & Investment Solutions.
David has been with the Westpac Group since 1997, when he joined The Mortgage Company working on third-party distribution. He held a number of finance roles, including Acting Chief Financial Officer for the Business and Consumer Bank. He has many years experience in finance, both in Australia and the UK.
John Shuttleworth
Executive Director
(as at 25 February 2009)
John has been a Board member of BT Financial Group Trustee and Responsible Entities since 2005. John is also the Chairman of Ascalon, a wholly owned subsidiary of BTFG specialising in growing boutique investment businesses.
He joined BT Financial Group in 2004 as General Manager of Group Marketing. Since then he has held roles as General Manager Superannuation and Investment Solutions, and General Manager, Platforms, Marketing and Communication. In 2011 he was appointed General Manager, Business Transformation.
Before joining BT Financial Group, John co-founded an internet technology company that grew rapidly from a start-up into a successful services firm before being sold to a NASDAQ listed company. John has more than 25 years management experience with a core focus on products, marketing and sales, having worked with organisations including Unilever, Reckitt Benckiser, The Smith Snackfood Company and Amalgamated Holdings.
