Meet Our Governance Team

Clare was appointed Chief Executive Officer of genU in June 2020 and brings a wealth of leadership experience to the organisation.

Clare joined genU following terms as CEO at both WorkSafe Victoria and Western Region Health Centre in Melbourne. Clare had been serving as an advisor to the Victorian Government’s newly formed Bushfire Recovery Victoria and was also an Executive with the Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety after leaving WorkSafe in 2019.

Travis was appointed CFO at genU in 2019. Travis is an internationally experienced senior executive, joining genU after 4 years as CFO of Senvion Asia Pacific.

Prior to this, Travis held senior executive roles in both the private and public sector, including with Pacific Hydro in both Australia and South America, Sustainability Victoria, the Department of Treasury & Finance, BHP and KPMG.

Organisation membership outside of genU:

• Chair of the Board — Australian Energy Foundation
• Member — Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Qualified Chartered Accountant — Chartered Accountants ANZ

Marnie Troeth is genU’s General Counsel and Assistant Company Secretary. Marnie has more than 20 years experience as a lawyer and joined Karingal (now genU) in 2011.

Marnie advises genU in all areas of law and is also responsible for overseeing corporate secretarial functions of genU. She has a particular interest in governance and the not-for-profit sector.

Brandon Howard has been with Karingal (now genU) since August 2014.

Prior to this, Brandon was the Business Operations Manager at Epworth Healthcare in Richmond, Deputy Chief Financial Officer at St Vincent’s Public Hospital in Melbourne and Financial Controller at Barwon Health in Geelong.

Joining IPA in 2015, Paul brings a wealth of management experience and a passion for the Australian recruitment industry to the role of Chief Operating Officer.

Paul has held executive management roles with global and ASX listed recruitment organisations in Australia and Asia. He has successfully managed company integrations, organically grown businesses, and led organisations through multiple economic cycles.

In 2020 Paul was appointed the Chief Operating Officer of Recruitment, Employment and Training, taking into this portfolio MatchWorks and genU Training

Natasha Williams has been employed with Karingal (now genU) since 2013.

Prior to joining us, she enjoyed a career with the State Government for more than 20 years.

Natasha is an experienced leader and manager in the disability sector and has demonstrated her strengths during the trial period of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in the Barwon region. Natasha is an influential leader at genU in the Ability and Aged programs.

Zemeel was appointed Executive General Manager People and Culture in December 2021 after an extensive career in the public sector, local government, education and health industries.

Skilled in strategic planning, culture transformation, change management, innovation and driving high performing teams, Zemeel joined genU following senior executive roles at La Trobe University and Northern Health.

Subcommittees:
Finance, Governance and Risk

Background:

• CEO, St John of God Hospital Geelong
• Stephen was appointed as Board Chair of Karingal St Laurence (genU) in May 2018, after having served as a non-executive Director of St Laurence Community Services since 2015
• Stephen has served on a range of health industry boards and was a previous chairman of the Church and Charitable Private Hospitals Association

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Business
• Bachelor of Health Administration
• MBA –University of Melbourne

Subcommittees: Governance (Chair)

Background:

• 20 years in banking and telecommunication sectors with top-10 ASX listed companies
• District Manager, Western Basalt District for Parks Victoria
• Director on Central Highlands Water Board and Professionals with Alzheimer’s (PALZ)

Qualifications:

• Master of Business Administration
• Graduate – Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Fellow of the Australian Rural Leaders Foundation

Subcommittees: Finance and Governance

Background:

• Rod is a Director and board member at Harwood Andrews Lawyers. In his business law practice,
• Rod also advises family business groups and not for profits.
• Member of the Australian Charity Law Association
• Director of Bendigo Telco Ltd and Geelong Connected Communities Ltd
• Member of the Tax Institute of Australia
• Board member of Karingal Aged Care Pty Ltd
• Board Director of ESH Group Pty Ltd
• Rod has served multiple terms as Chair and Deputy Chair of Karingal and has been a member of the Board since November 2000.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Law
• Graduate – Australian Institute of Company Directors

Subcommittees: Finance

Background:

• Experienced Finance and Compliance Executive with diverse industry experience

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Business
• Master of Business Administration
• Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance
• Certified Practising Accountant (CPA)
• Fellow Chartered Secretaries
• Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors Diploma

Subcommittees: Governance

Background:

• Served on the Karingal Board since September 1998
• Served in a number of roles during her time on the Board including terms as Chair from 2010 to 2013 and previous terms as Deputy Chair from 2000 to 2003, 2006 to 2009 and 2013 to 2014.
• Background in human resources and psychology
• Director of CMG Psychology Services a large Psychology Practice in Geelong

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)
• Graduate Diploma Adolescent & Child Psychology
• Diploma of Education

Subcommittees: Risk

Background:

• A Graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors, Jan joined the Board in October 2019
• An experienced senior executive with a legal and risk background who has worked in private and public practice
• General Manager in the private health sector at Medibank Private Ltd, a top ASX listed organisation where she leads the ahm health insurance brand

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Law
• Master of International Law
• Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)
• Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of NZ
• Graduate – Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Graduate – Wharton Business School, Executive Development Programme

Subcommittees: Risk (Chair)

Background:

• Private and public sector experience which includes high-level positions at Shell Australia, National Australia Bank, NRMA, Acxiom, Accenture, Callista Software Services, the National Disability Insurance Agency, and Bendigo Bank
• Has served on various Boards, including Yooralla, and as a carer for his eldest son, has first-hand experience of the issues faced by unpaid carers
• President of Carers Australia, the peak body representing Australia’s 2.7 million carers to influence carer policies and services at a national level
• Well known for having conceived and implemented FlyBuys

Qualifications:

• Fellow – Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Graduate Diploma Accounting & Finance
• Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons)
• Master of Agricultural Science
• PhD (Agriculture, Agriculture Operations and Related Sciences)
• Graduate – Australian Institute of Company Directors

Subcommittees: Risk

Background:

• Medical Director, St John of God Geelong 2004-2017
• Fellow Royal Australian College of Ophthalmologists
• Graduate – Australian Institute of Company Directors

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery FRACO
• Practising Ophthalmologist

Subcommittees: Finance

Background:

• Appointed a Life Member of Karingal Inc in 1996, Bruce joined the Karingal St Laurence (genU) Board in November 2019
• Previous lengthy experiences on boards including Karingal Inc and Grace McKellar Centre for Extended Care
• Experience in finance and community from his career in senior management for local government
• Bruce’s daughter Michelle has received ongoing services from Karingal St Laurence since leaving school and is currently employed by genU Business Enterprises.

Qualifications:

• Graduate Diploma in Local Government Management
• Diploma of Business Studies (Accountancy)