Governance and organisational structure

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 Act, 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 a 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, Claire 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 OAM

During this financial year, Emma King was 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. Emma received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the King's Birthday 2023 Honours List for services to the community through social welfare organisations.

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. During the financial year he was also on the Board and a Director at GS1 and ColNVEST.

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

RachaelI 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.

RachaelI 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.

Lisa Darmanin

Lisa Darmanin is the current Secretary of the Australian Services Union (Victorian and Tasmanian Authorities and Services Branch). The ASU leads advocacy and campaigning across social and community services, local government, and the public sector.

In 2016, Lisa was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll for Women in recognition of her significant contribution to the Victorian community, specifically in achieving gender equity for women. Lisa has extensive board experience and is currently Chair of Vision Super, Board Director of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees, and the Trust for Nature, as well as a Shareholder Representative of the IFM Shareholder Advisory Board.

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.

Julie Warren

In addition to her work with the Authority, Julie Warren is also on the Board of Victorian WorkCover Authority (WorkSafe Victoria).

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 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.

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.

The following table indicates Director attendance at Governing Board meetings for the Authority.

Table 2: Director attendance at Governing Board meetings

*Noting that Lisa Darmanin is a new Director appointed on 1 September 2022.

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

*Noting that Julie Warren has departed the Audit and Risk Committee on 1 September 2022.

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 Act 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 bi-monthly 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 for the application of the Public Administration Act 2004 employment principles 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 2023, and in the last full pay period in June 2022 of the previous reporting period.

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 4: Annualised total salary for executives and other senior-non-executive staff