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
- may perform functions and exercise the powers of the Authority that it deems appropriate.
Governing Board
Julius Roe, Chair
Julius Roe’s career spans 40 years in industrial relations, including as Fair Work Commissioner from 2010 to 2017. He is currently a member of the Police Registration and Services Board and, since 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 various 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 and 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 and is currently a director of Greater Western Water and Redundancy Payment Central Fund Limited, and the Deputy Chair of the Port of Hastings Development Corporation and the Indigenous Land & Sea Corporation.
Emma King
Emma King is currently CEO and Company Secretary of the Victorian Council of Social Service. Emma is a strong voice on social justice, has a Masters in Industrial and Employee Relations and has worked as a policy adviser, teacher and in a range of industrial and training roles.
Emma is also a member of the Victorian Skills Authority and the Chair of the Farnham Street Neighbourhood House Learning Centre.
Tim Piper AM
Tim Piper is the Head of the Australian Industry Group’s Victorian branch, advocating for more than 12,000 businesses in Victoria and over 60,000 across Australia. He has had significant engagement with government at all levels. He chairs the Industry Capability Network, is deputy Chair of the Rail Industry Advisory Council and sits on a number of Ministerial Committees and government bodies. He is also on the Board and a Director at GS1 and Co-Invest.
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 is founder and CEO of National Protective Services, a leading national security organisation that specialises in both protective services and electronic security. Having founded the organisation in 1988 Rachaell has an extensive career within the security industry.
Rachaell has various qualifications in marketing, international business, risk management, security and business. As CEO of National Protective Services, she sets the strategic direction for the business with focus on operations, finance, human resources, sales and marketing.
Rachaell has been on the board of the Australian Security Industry Association Limited (ASIAL) the peak body for security employers for several years and is currently Vice President.
Julie Warren
In addition to her work with the Authority, Julie Warren 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 was president of the union’s Victoria branch for 13 years. 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.
Elisa Dickenson
Elisa Dickenson is Senior Industrial Officer of the Health and Community Services Union (Health Services Union, Vic No. 2 Branch) and has been at the union since 2015. She leads the industrial team at the union and represents members working in disability and mental health.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts / Laws degree and has extensive legal and advocacy experience. Prior to working at the union, she was a Senior Criminal Solicitor at the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and regularly appeared in the Magistrates’ Court across Victoria.
Joseph Yeung
Joseph Yeung is an experienced government senior executive and was previously 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).
As Registrar, Joseph is a non-voting member of the Governing Board.
As Chief Executive Officer, Joseph is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Authority and its operations.
Retiring members
Kate Marshall
Kate Marshall is the Assistant State Secretary of the Health and Community Services Union (HSU, Vic No. 2 Branch), having joined in 2015. She is currently the National Junior Vice President of the Health Services Union.
Before that, Kate 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.
Kate Marshall did not seek reappointment for a second term and retired from the Governing Board on 7 April 2022. Elisa Dickenson commenced on 8 April 2022.
Linda White
Linda White is an experienced industrial relations and legal professional with extensive board director experience.
Ms White sat on a number of boards including the Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust, Greater Western Water and Statewide Super and was Chair of the Chifley Research Centre.
She was previously an executive member of the Australian Council of Trade Unions and Assistant National Secretary of the Australian Services Union where she was responsible for the union’s strategy in the community sector.
Linda resigned from the Governing Board on 5 April 2022. Following the financial year end, Lisa Darmanin was subsequently appointed on 1 September 2022.
The following table indicates Director attendance at Governing Board meetings for the Authority.
Table 2: Director attendance at Governing Board meetings
| Director | Eligible to attend | Attended |
| Julius Roe | 5 | 5 |
| Claire Filson | 5 | 5 |
| Emma King | 5 | 5 |
| Tim Piper AM | 5 | 5 |
| Rachell Saunders | 5 | 5 |
| Julie Warren | 5 | 4 |
| Kate Marshall | 3 | 3 |
| Elise Dickenson | 2 | 2 |
| Linda White | 3 | 3 |
| Joeseph Yeung | 5 | 5 |
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. 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)
Peter Wyatt
Independent Member - Audit and Risk Committee
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, 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, and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
The following table indicates committee member attendance at Governing Board meetings for the Authority
Table 3: Attendance at Audit and Risk Committee meetings
| Member | Eligible to attend | Attended |
| Claire Filson | 5 | 5 |
| Rachaell Saunders | 5 | 5 |
| Julie Warren | 5 | 5 |
| Peter Wyatt | 5 | 5 |
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 and safe working environment for staff and visitors in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and associated regulations.
OH&S Committee
The Authority’s OH&S Committee meets bimonthly 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.
Workforce data
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. Employees have been correctly classified in workforce data collections.
Public sector values and employment principles
The Authority maintains 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 advised its employees on how to avoid conflicts of interest, how to respond to offers of gifts, and how it deals with misconduct.
Comparative workforce data
The following table discloses the head count and full-time equivalent (FTE) of all Authority employees employed in the last full pay period in June 2022, and in the last full pay period in June 2021 of the previous reporting period. The Authority is taking steps to convert a number of fixed term positions to ongoing roles in the next financial year.
Table 4: Comparative workforce data
The following table discloses the annualised total salary for senior employees of the Authority, categorised by classification. the salary amount is reported as the full-time annualised salary.
Table 5: Annualised total salary for executives and other senior-non-executive staff
| Executives | STS** | |||
| Headcount | FTE | Headcount | FTE | |
| $160,000 - $179,999 | - | - | 1 | 0.6 |
| $180,000 - $239,999 | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| $240,000 - $259,999 | 1 | 1 | - | - |
** The data excludes acting arrangements but includes staff on secondments during the financial year.
Updated