The Tribunal has a full-time Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson, appointed by the Governor-General, as well as part-time Members appointed by the Minister.
Ms Jocelyn Furlan was appointed the Deputy Chairperson of the Tribunal on 27 March 2006. Her appointment is to 26 March 2009. On 8 September 2007, Ms Furlan was appointed Acting Chairperson until 31 March 2008 following upon the retirement of Mr Graham McDonald.
Jocelyn Furlan is legally qualified and has 22 years' experience in the superannuation industry. Previous roles include Executive Manager Corporate of the Victorian Superannuation Board and its predecessor the State Superannuation Board, Company Secretary of VicSuper and acting as Secretary to the Victorian Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Fund. Most recently Jocelyn was the Compliance Manager of legalsuper, previously the Legal Industry Superannuation Scheme.
The Chairperson is the executive officer of the Tribunal and is responsible for the overall operation and administration of the Tribunal’s powers and functions in accordance with its statutory objectives pursuant to sections 7A and 59(1) of the SRC Act.
The Chairperson is also the repository of a range of specific, non-delegable powers and responsibilities such as formulating written guidelines for the allocation of work among the Tribunal Members—sub-sections 7A(2)(b),(3); and formulating guidelines setting out the way in which the Tribunal is to be constituted for the purposes of dealing with different classes of complaints—sub-section 9(2A).
The Chairperson is also responsible for the constitution and reconstitution of the Tribunal at review; the selection of Members for review panels; and for the establishment of procedural rules for the conduct of review meetings pursuant to section 9.
Ms Katy Adams, the Tribunal's Legal Counsel and a Tribunal Member, was appointed Acting Deputy Chairperson on 8 September 2007 until 31 March 2008.
The Deputy Chairperson assists the Chairperson in relation to a range of Tribunal matters, including participating in review meetings and reviewing determinations. The Deputy Chairperson is also involved in the Tribunal's public education program, which aims to promote greater awareness and understanding of the Tribunal's role and debate about systemic issues identified by the Tribunal.
The Members of the Tribunal are variously drawn from superannuation, insurance, government, law, medical and actuarial backgrounds.
Mrs Jane Abbott (13 November 2005 - 12 November 2008)
Mrs Abbott has worked in corporate superannuation for over 20 years as an administrator, consultant and trustee. She provided advice to Trustee Boards on legislative, administrative and member issues. She has been involved with the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia's education program for 15 years.
Ms Katy Adams (4 April 2006 - 3 April 2009)
Ms Adams is a lawyer who has, since 1989, worked in corporate, tax and superannuation related areas in both the United Kingdom and Australia. In the UK, she worked for Clifford Chance as a tax and pensions lawyer. She was a lecturer at the College of Law, where she taught tax, wills and probate, and business law. In Australia, she has worked in private practice, as in-house counsel for superannuation fund administrators and as a senior lawyer at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
Mr Colin Cassidy (1 December 2005 - 30 November 2008)
Colin Cassidy has over 30 years experience in the superannuation and life insurance industry. He has been a qualified underwriter, claims assessor and also worked in management with a number of insurance companies. For the past 12 years, Colin has worked in the superannuation industry in many roles in both administration and for the trustee. He currently sits on a number of superannuation funds Claims Review Committees and has an in-depth knowledge of the roles of the trustee. Colin also provides consultancy advice to the industry.
Mr Ross Christie (4 April 2006 - 3 April 2009)
Mr Christie worked as a financial planner until December 2002 holding his Proper Authority from Industry Fund Services Pty Ltd. His previous experience has been as a trustee of Public Sector, Local Government and University superannuation schemes. Mr Christie is a former General Manager of the State Superannuation Office (SA), Chief Executive of the Local Government Superannuation Board (Vic), and Federal Councilor of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia.
Mr Noel Davis (1 December 2005 - 30 November 2008)
Noel Davis is a Sydney barrister specializing in superannuation. He has practised in that area for in excess of 30 years.
He is a director of a large superannuation trustee and of a large superannuation administrator. He is also a director of a public financial services company and is chairman of 3 compliance committees. He was formerly a director of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia and has a distinguished service award from it.
He is the author of the book The Law of Superannuation in Australia, which he first published in 1985, and is editor of The Australian Superannuation Law Bulletin.
Dr Catherine Dean (13 November 2005 - 12 November 2008)
Dr Dean is a physiotherapist with expertise in rehabilitation. She has extensive clinical experience and has also undertaken rehabilitation research in both Australia and North America. She currently works at an academic institution and is involved in teaching, research and clinical education.
Ms Ella de Rooy (4 April 2006 - 3 April 2009)
Ms de Rooy worked as an independent superannuation consultant until 2006, providing technical, compliance and best practice advice and services to superannuation funds and industry organisations such as ASFA. Her 20 years of superannuation experience span public sector, industry and corporate funds including senior management roles in technical advice and business development as well as fund secretarial and trustee functions. She was previously a full-time member of the State Compensation Board (NSW - now WorkCover) and started her working life as an economist.
Hon Cheryl Edwardes (1 December 2005 - 30 November 2008)
Cheryl Edwardes practices as a consultant solicitor with a focus on commercial and industrial law, volunteers for Legal Aid Commission Client Services and is an accredited Mediator.
Until February 2003, Cheryl was a Member of Parliament for 16 years and a Minister of the Crown for 8 years variously responsible for 12 portfolio areas ranging from Attorney-General to Industrial Relations to Environment.
Mr Scott Ellis (1 December 2005 - 30 November 2008)
Scott Ellis is a barrister at Francis Burt Chambers in Perth. He practises in the areas of commercial, employment and construction law and as an arbitrator, mediator and adjudicator. Prior to becoming a barrister, he was a partner in Freehills for a number of years.
Mr Colin Grenfell (4 April 2006 - 3 April 2009)
Mr Grenfell is an actuary with wide experience in superannuation. He is an Associate Director of SuperEasy Pty Ltd and, until January 2002, was a director and trustee of the AXA Australia Staff Superannuation Plan and a director of N.M. Superannuation Pty Ltd. Mr Grenfell is a former director of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) and is a member of the ASFA Victorian Legislation Discussion Group. Until 1996 he held various managerial, superannuation, actuarial and investment roles with National Mutual (now AXA Australia) and from 1997 to 1998 he worked as a superannuation consultant and actuary for William M Mercer.
Professor John Hart (13 October 2005 - 12 October 2008)
Associate Professor John Hart is an Orthopaedic Surgeon based in Melbourne. He was Head of the Orthopaedic Unit at the Alfred Hospital from1980 until 2003 and is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at Monash University. He has published numerous articles relating mainly to joint replacement and joint resurfacing. He was President of the Australian Orthopaedic Association in 1988/99 and was awarded the L.O. Betts gold medal of the Association in 1997. He was Chairman of the international Girdlestone Orthopaedic Society from 1995 to 1996. He is an Honorary Member of the Australian College of Sports Physicians, The Knee Society in the USA and The North American Association for Arthroscopy.
Mr Bill Hassell AM (13 November 2005 - 12 November 2008)
Bill Hassell runs with his wife an advisory consultancy, is a company director, an honorary consul, undertakes voluntary work with two charities, is a Member of the Industry Research and Development Board (Australian Government) and Chairman of its Automotive Committee. He is trustee of a self-managed superannuation fund.
He is a qualified lawyer with experience in company, commercial and property law, a former Member of Parliament and Minister of the Crown, a former Agent General representing Western Australia in Britain and Europe, and a former Director of the Government Employees Superannuation Board of Western Australia.
Mr Hassell’s consultancy work over 12 years has involved him in activities for a wide range of major corporations, SMEs and industry bodies.
Mr Jeff Humphreys (1 December 2005 - 30 November 2008)
Jeff Humphreys is an actuary with 18 years' experience consulting to superannuation trustees, employers and employee organisations. He is also a specialist in the group risk market. He is a presenter at seminars and conferences, including ASFA and CMSF and has written Sessional papers for The Institute of Actuaries and had several articles published in superannuation industry magazines. Jeff is an active participant in The Institute of Actuaries of Australia and is a member of the Superannuation and Employee Benefits Practice Committee. He was Convener of the Education Subcommittee and Faculty Chair of the Superannuation and Planned Savings professional course from inception to 2006. Jeff assists ASFA from time to time on Best Practice papers and occasional issues.
Mr Paul Kierce (13 October 2005 - 12 October 2008)
Paul Kierce, Orthopaedic Surgeon, practised in Ballarat for 29 years where he was involved in the training of orthopaedic surgeons. For the past 6 years, he has been residing in Portland, Victoria, and is the Orthopaedic Surgeon to the Portland Hospital. In addition, he is involved in medico-legal work and is a regular Medical Panels member.
Ms Janet Martin (13 November 2005 - 12 November 2008)
Mrs Janet Martin is a farmer and lawyer in country practice. Until October 2003, she was Registrar of the Supreme Court of Western Australia for 12 years. Previously, she spent 5 years lecturing at the Law School of the University of Western Australia in property, civil procedure, corporate governance and agency and was the Sub-Dean.
In over 30 years in the legal profession, Mrs Martin has practised on her own account and held senior positions with the Legal Aid Commission and the Department of Corporate Affairs (WA) as well as being a member of the Parole Board of Western Australia and the Social Security Appeals Tribunal.
Dr Diana Olsberg (12 November 2005 - 12 November 2008)
Dr Olsberg is Head of the School of Sociology & Anthropology and a senior lecturer in economic sociology in that School at UNSW. She is well respected and widely published for her research on Australia's superannuation system and on issues concerning Australia's ageing population. Dr Olsberg was named Trustee of the Year for 2002 at the Conference of Major Superannuation Funds. She has been an employee elected Trustee of one of Australia's largest superannuation funds, Unisuper, for 10 years. She is Deputy Chair of Unisuper and chairs the Membership Committee of Unisuper. She has served as Executive Director of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees.
Dr Carolyn Re (4 April 2006 - 3 April 2009)
Dr Re is a medical practitioner who has worked in private general practice for over 17 years. She currently works as a senior lecturer at the Rural Clinical School, University of New South Wales and is a visiting medical officer at Albury Base Hospital. She was a part time member of the Federal Administrative Appeals Tribunal (1995-2001), the Social Security Appeals Tribunal (2002-2005) and a member of the Victorian Casino and Gaming Authority (2001-2004) and works as a part time freelance medical writer.
Miss E Anne Shanahan (13 November 2005 - 12 November 2008)
Miss Shanahan is a Thoracic Surgeon practising in both the public and private hospital spheres. In addition she has a B.Sc. in Pathology and is a Barrister and Solicitor admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1990. She is a part-time Member of the Commonwealth Administrative Appeals Tribunal. She was a Fulbright Scholar in 1969-1970.
Dr David Thomas (1 December 2005 - 30 November 2008)
David Thomas has doctorates in Law and Economics. He is admitted to legal practice in Victoria and New South Wales and is currently a Member of the Migration and Refugee Review Tribunals. He was previously a member of the Victoria Law Foundation and formerly Head of the Department of Economics and Law at Swinburne University of Technology.