Our committees
UniSuper's committees support and provide direction to the Board to assist in the management and strategic direction of UniSuper.
Consultative Committee
The Consultative Committee is the voice of our members. It reviews and approves changes to the Trust Deed and is responsible for nominating 4 directors to the Board.
Shareholder universities each appoint up to 4 members to the Consultative Committee. Half the members represent the employers, the other half represents, equally, academic staff and professional staff.
Members of the Consultative Committee can log in to the Consultative Committee website for all the latest information, meeting minutes and communications.
Log in to the Consultative Committee website
Board Committees
Our Board Committees consist mainly of directors, who report to each Board meeting.
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Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee
Chair
- Mr Stephen Somogyi
Members
- Ms Nicolette Rubinsztein
- Mr Grahame McCulloch
Independent Consultants
- Ms Fiona Rowland
- Ms Sarah Woodhouse
Responsibilities
- reviewing the integrity of UniSuper’s financial reports and taxation position
- reviewing the effectiveness of the business risk management framework and the assurance provided by internal audit
- reviewing the effectiveness of the compliance and internal controls framework
- overseeing the performance and independence of the internal and external auditors
- reviewing the adequacy of UniSuper’s insurance program.
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People and Remuneration Committee
Chair
- Ms Nicole Gower
Members
- Mr Grahame McCulloch
- Mr Mark Armour
Responsibilities
The People and Remuneration Committee makes recommendations to the Board on:
- Board remuneration
- total bonus and remuneration pools
- whole-of-company remuneration and reward strategies, policies and frameworks.
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Insurance Committee
Chair
- Ms Nicolette Rubinsztein
Members
- Professor Leila Green
- Emeritus Professor Sandra Harding
Independent non-directors
- Doctor Susan Gould
- Ms Jennifer Lang
Member ex-officio, CEO UniSuper
- Mr Peter Chun
Responsibilities
The Insurance Committee oversees the application and monitoring of the Insurance Management Framework, including:
- reviewing the Framework and Strategy on an annual basis
- monitoring the performance of the external insurer
- monitoring the services and functions outsourced to the Administrator
- considering and reviewing risks identified in UniSuper’s Risk Management Framework
- reporting quarterly to the Board on Claims data
- monitoring and overseeing the renewal process for group life policies.
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Investment Committee
Chair
- Mr Peter Warne
Members
- Professor Peter Dawkins
- Mark Armour
Independent non-director members
- Mr Chris Cuffe
- Mr Tony FitzGerald
- Ms Felicity Gates
Member ex-officio, CEO UniSuper
- Mr Peter Chun
Responsibilities
Invests Fund assets in a manner consistent with the investment objectives set by the Board.
Other responsibilities include:
- investment policy
- investment strategy
- asset allocations
- investment performance
- appointing and monitoring investment managers.
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Technology and Projects Committee
Chair
- Ms Sarah Roberts
Members
- Ms Amy Griffiths
- Emeritus Professor Sandra Harding
Independent non-director members
- Ms Margaret Wright
- Ms Julie Fahey
Member ex-officio, CEO UniSuper
- Mr Peter Chun
Responsibilities
The Technology and Projects Committee is a committee established to enable the Board to focus on specific technology and project needs of the business.
The Committee assists the Board carry out its role in fulfilling its governance and oversight accountabilities to monitor and, where appropriate, approve the Technology Strategy.
Independent Consultants to Board Committees
Section 29QB Website Disclosure
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Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee
Sarah Woodhouse B.Sc (Hons), FCA, GAICD
Ms Woodhouse has over 25 years’ experience in the financial services industry, having worked as an external audit partner, served as a board member and held number of leadership roles.
Ms Woodhouse has led engagements for some of the largest financial services firms on areas such as regulation, financial advice, superannuation and asset management, having also led engagements to design conduct frameworks to enhance governance and compliance practices and built superannuation risk and regulatory frameworks.
In the superannuation field, Ms Woodhouse acted as External Audit partner for two of Australia’s largest industry super funds and led Deloitte’s wealth management industry group for 10 years and hosted a series of events with the Financial Services Council which helped influence the strategic direction of the wealth management industry. Ms Woodhouse’s notable achievement was her appointment as the first female partner at Deloitte, New South Wales.
Fiona Rowland LLB (Hons), BA, Melb. FAICD
Ms Rowland is an experienced Non-Executive Director, and former CEO, in public, private, government and for purpose sectors with significant experience in leading established and disruptor businesses through transformational and regulatory change.
Ms Rowland has extensive experience in financial services (banking, wealth and asset management, superannuation), trustee services, infrastructure and professional services/law across wide-ranging customer segments in public, private, government, listed and disruptor environments.
Ms Rowland has significant board and operational experience with regulators; relationships, enforcement and corresponding governance programs resulting from structural, regulatory and enforcement drivers as well as extensive operational and non-executive experience with strategic and structural organisational and governance changes, complemented by deep risk and governance experience with a legal discipline to support management through such transitions.
Over her 25-year executive career, Ms Rowland held senior executive management, CEO and Managing Director roles at the Bennelong Group, National Australia Bank, UBS AG, UBS Wealth Management, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group.
Ms Rowland is currently the Non-Executive Chair of Macquarie Investment Services Limited (part of Macquarie Group Ltd ASX: MQG) and Non-Executive Director of Melbourne Water Corporation, where she also Chairs the Audit, Risk & Finance Committee, Infrastructure Specialist Asset Management Limited (part of the UK Foresight Group Holdings Limited FSG: LSE), where she also Chairs the Audit, Compliance, Risk Management Committee and St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research, where she also Chairs the Investment Committee. Ms Rowland is also an Advisory Board member of Kearney Australia part of the global management consulting group.
Ms Rowland holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and is admitted as a legal practitioner in Victoria. She is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an alumnus of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Chair Mentors Program. Ms Rowland is a member of Chief Executive Women, an organisation representing prominent and influential women leaders from the corporate, public service, academic and not-for-profit sectors.
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Insurance Committee
Dr Susan Gould, BSc (Hons), PhD, FAICD, GAIST (Adv)
Dr Susan Gould has served in the tertiary sector for over 35 years. Her main roles have been at the University of Newcastle where she held the position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Deakin University as Head, Academic & Administration Services Division. Dr Gould held non-executive director positions at the University of Newcastle in Singapore, GradSchool.Com, Australian Higher Education Industrial Association (AHEIA), Callista Software Services, Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC), Melbourne and The Geelong College.
Dr Gould served on UniSuper’s Consultative Committee from 2004 until 2012 and was a director of UniSuper Limited and UniSuper Management Pty Ltd from November 2008 until October 2017. At UniSuper, Dr Gould also served as Chair of the Remuneration Committee and Insurance Committee and a member of the Audit, Risk & Compliance Committee. Dr Gould was appointed as an independent Non-Director to the Insurance Committee in 2017.
Dr Gould was a director on the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia for 6 years up to February 2023, a member of the Finance Committee and chair of the Examination Committee. As a director on the Victorian Medical Board of Australia, Dr Gould is a member of the Notification Committees 1 & 2, and Registration Committee 2. Dr Gould was National Chair of the Multi Professional Immediate Action Committee of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Association (AHPRA) for 16 months up to February 2023 and is a member of the Medical Board of Australia National Notification Committee and National Standing Committee. In October 2022, Dr Gould was appointed to the Medical Board of Australia's National Special Issues Committee (Cosmetic Practice matters).
Her professional memberships include Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees. Dr Gould holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a PhD.
Jennifer Heath Lang, BEc, FIAA, GAICD
Ms Lang is an experienced Actuary having worked for consultants and large corporations in the financial services sector. Ms Lang is a director of Pacific Life Re (Australia), Bicycle Network, Propel Funeral Partners and in October 2022 was appointed a director of Auto & General Insurance Company Ltd and Medical Insurance Australia Pty Ltd. On 1 April 2023, Ms Lang was appointed director of MDASA Limited.
In her most recent executive role at CommInsure, she held the position of Chief Financial Officer and Chief Actuary for CBA's Life and General Insurance businesses and was responsible for the financial strategy of the businesses.
Prior to her role at CommInsure, Ms Lang was Chief Actuary of NAB Wealth, responsible for the actuarial advice to NAB's wealth businesses, including MLC's insurance and investment businesses.
Ms Lang has also been a Partner at KPMG (where she was head of the Insurance Practice) and Deloitte (where she was a member of the Board of Directors).
At the Actuaries Institute Ms Lang is a member of the Covid 19 Mortality Working Group.
Ms Lang was named 2020 Actuary of the Year for her role in leading the institute's COVID-19 response and in recognition of her major contribution to the profession and the communities in which actuaries work.
Ms Lang is a Fellow of the Actuaries Institute of Australia.
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Investment Committee
Anthony (Tony) FitzGerald B.Ec, Fellow of FINSIA
Mr FitzGerald has 45 years’ experience in the financial services sector in banking and asset management. He has extensive international experience, having held senior roles in Australia, Europe, Asia and the US, including Regional Head of Corporate and Institutional Banking - East Asia and Deputy Head, Portfolio Management and Credit Review, Group Management, for Union Bank of Switzerland - in Singapore and Zurich respectively.
He has also held the position of Head of Credit Portfolio Management and Risk Policy with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Mr FitzGerald was Co-head Global Fixed Interest and Credit at Colonial First State Global Asset Management and was the chair of their Credit Committee. Mr FitzGerald also served as a director of Teachers Mutual Bank.
Mr FitzGerald has also completed numerous consulting roles as a subject matter expert for the Australian Tax Office. Mr FitzGerald also served, on a pro bono basis, on the audit and risk committees of the Royal Australian College of Physicians and Médecins Sans Frontières Australia.
Christopher Cuffe AO, BCom, FCA, FFin, FAICD
Mr Cuffe has over 35 years’ experience in the financial services industry and is well regarded for his services to the funds management industry and as an advocate for philanthropy. Until June 2017, Mr Cuffe served as UniSuper’s Chairman and was a member of its Remuneration Committee. Mr Cuffe is a continuing member of UniSuper’s Investment Committee, a position he has held since 2009.
Mr Cuffe holds a number of non-executive directorships in listed investment companies Argo Investments Limited, Global Value Fund Limited and Hearts and Minds Investments Limited (where he is also Chair) as well as being a non-executive director of Realside Financial Group Pty Ltd and The James Fairfax Foundation. He was previously a director of listed companies Class Limited and Antipodes Global Investment Company Limited as well as Chairman of unlisted investment management company Atrium Investment Management Pty Ltd.
In the not-for-profit sector, Mr Cuffe is the Founder and Chairman of Australian Philanthropic Services Limited, Chair of Australian Philanthropic Services Foundation Pty Ltd, a director of Third Link Investment Managers Pty Ltd and a member of the Investment Committee of the Paul Ramsay Foundation.
His former roles include CEO of Colonial First State Investments Limited where he played a major role in building the organisation from a start-up business and CEO of Challenger Financial Services Group Limited.
His professional memberships include Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Fellow of Financial Services Institute of Australasia and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Felicity Gates B.Sc MAICD
Ms Gates has over 35 years’ experience in the Investment, Finance, Banking, Energy and Infrastructure sectors and has held many non-executive directorships across several industries in Australia, North America and Europe.
Some of Ms Gates key directorships have been with the Australia Pacific Airports Corporation, Vantage Airport Group, Kelda Group, Itinere Infraestructuras, United Energy, and Epic Energy Group. Some of Ms Gates key past roles have been with Castlebridge Infrastructure as Partner and Chair, Global Co Head of Citi Infrastructure Investors based in New York and Global Chief Investment Officer of RREEF Infrastructure both in Sydney and New York. Ms Gates has been directly involved in infrastructure investment since the mid-1990s having developed NSW State Super’s infrastructure investment portfolio and led their involvement in many landmark Australian deals including the privatisations of United Energy and Melbourne Airport.
Ms Gates is the Chair of the Investment Committee, Northern Territory Local Jobs Fund, a position held since July 2019.
Ms Gates graduated from the University of Queensland having completed a Bachelor of Science degree with Honours in Mathematics. She holds a membership with the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
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Technology and Projects Committee
Margaret Ann Wright, BComm (Otago), FCA ANZ, IECL, MAICD
Ms Wright was the first female partner at KPMG, heading up KPMG’s National Information Risk Management Practice. In 12 years as partner, Ms Wright led reviews for multiple clients including the ASX, IAG, Lendlease, Macquarie Bank and MLC. During that time Ms Wright was also a member of the Auditing Standards Board in Australia and was a NSW Finalist in the Telstra Business Woman of the Year.
In the following 4 years as Executive Director at Macquarie Bank, Ms Wright led transformations for several businesses, improving service levels and vendor and client relationships and delivering savings by reducing headcount and budget.
As a consultant, Ms Wright later led reviews of major technology transformation programs for multiple large corporate and government organisations.
Past board positions include World Education Australia Limited/Good Return and the National Breast Cancer Foundation where Ms Wright also served on the Audit and the IT Committees and chair of these Committees for World Education.Ms Wright is currently non-executive chair of OmniTabz Pty Ltd and Vision for Today Pty Ltd and sits on the Technology Advisory Committee for Good2Give.
Julie Fahey, B. App (Mathematics) IMC (Member)
A partner with KPMG for 8 years and with more than 30 years’ experience in the management of largescale transformation programs, implementation of new operating models, and the deployment of new systems, Ms Fahey left the KPMG partnership in 2014 to pursue a corporate board career.
Her current Board portfolio include Seek, IRESS, Datacom Group Limited, Australian Red Cross Blood Services and Australian Foundation Investment Company Ltd.
In addition to the above roles, Ms Fahey chairs and is a member on various Board Committees such as the Audit and Risk Committee, the Risk Committee, the Remuneration Committee, and the People and Performance Culture Committee.
Ms Fahey also acts in an advisory role at APA as a member of their ERP Program Steering Committee.