The Tribunal has a full-time Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson, appointed by the Governor-General.
The role of the Chairperson
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.
Chairperson - Ms Jocelyn Furlan
Ms Jocelyn Furlan was appointed as the Chairperson of the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal for a five year period on 4 June 2009. Prior to her appointment as Chairperson she was the Acting Chairperson from September 2007 and prior to that she was appointed Deputy Chairperson from March 2006.
Jocelyn, who holds law and commerce degrees, has in excess of 25 years' experience in the superannuation industry. Previous roles include Compliance Manager of legalsuper, Executive Manager Corporate of the Victorian Superannuation Board and its predecessor the State Superannuation Board, and Company Secretary of VicSuper.
Jocelyn is a founding member of the International Network of Financial Ombudsmen and is a member of the ATO's Superannuation Consultative Committee, the Indigenous Financial Services Network and SuperLife. She is also Independent Expert to the Victorian Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Fund.
The role of the Deputy Chairperson
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.
Deputy Chairperson - Mr Rod Smith
Rod Smith has practised as a solicitor in commercial and general litigation for over 40 years, for the last 10 as a sole practitioner in Melbourne. Since 1994 he has been a Law Institute of Victoria accredited specialist in mediation and has conducted approximately 1,000 commercial mediations. He holds NMAC national mediator accreditation. Rod is also accredited as a grade 2 arbitrator through the Institute of Arbitrators & Mediators Australia and has conducted a number of commercial arbitrations.
Prior to his appointment to the SCT Rod was deputy chairman of legalsuper and has served as a trustee director of legalsuper and its predecessors since 1996. He has also served as a sessional commissioner of the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation, a member of the appeal panel established under the Victorian Essential Services Commission Act and an ombudsman under the Credit Ombudsman Scheme established by the Mortgage Industry Association of Australia.
Rod is a former president of the Law Institute of Victoria and Law Institute representative on the law Council of Australia. He has also chaired or served on numerous Law Institute and Law Council committees.
Members
The Members of the Tribunal are variously drawn from superannuation, insurance, government, law, medical and actuarial backgrounds. They are part time and appointed by the Minister.