Board of Directors
The CoINVEST board has eleven Directors, consisting of eight industry representatives and three independents.
Four of the directors are elected by workers in the industry (two representing building trades workers and one each representing electrical trades workers and metal trades workers). Four are elected by employers in the industry (two representing building trades employers and one each representing electrical trades employers and metal trades employers). Three are independent "specialists" appointed by the eight industry directors from nominations provided by an independent assessment committee.
As at 9 May 2019, the Directors are:
|
Director |
Affiliation |
|
Kate Spargo (Chairperson) |
Independent |
|
Di Fulton |
Independent |
|
David St John |
Independent |
|
Arron Harris |
Electrical Trades workers |
|
Robert Graauwmans |
Building Trades workers |
|
Barry Terzic |
Metal Trades workers |
|
Paddy McCrudden |
Building Trades workers |
|
Grant Donald |
Building Trades employers |
|
David Newnham |
Building Trades employers |
|
Michael Purnell |
Electrical Trades employers |
|
Tim Piper |
Metal Trades employers |
Director Profiles
Kate Spargo
Independent Chairperson
Kate was appointed as a Director on the 1st of October 2005 and as Chairperson on the 1st of October 2019. She serves on the Audit, Finance and Investment, and Remuneration Committees of the Board. Kate's background is in law both as a practitioner and in academia. She holds a Bachelor of Law (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Adelaide University. Kate is a Director of CIMIC Ltd, Sonic Healthcare Ltd, Xenith IP, Adairs Ltd, Sigma Healthcare Ltd and the Geelong Football Club.
Di Fulton
Independent Director
Di was appointed as a Director in October 2015. She has a background in operational and commercial management at executive level. Her career spans more than 20 years in the telecommunications and technology sector across a broad range of business and commercial operations roles. She was formerly the Executive Director, Commercial Operations globally for Telstra's Enterprise and Services business. Di holds a Graduate Diploma of Business and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Di is a member of the Audit, Finance & Investment Committees and Chair of the Remuneration Committee.
David St John
Independent Director
David was appointed to the Board on the 1st of October 2019. David has built his executive career in investment management and consulting, and was the Chief Investment Officer of UniSuper for eight years. Currently he is employed by PwC as an Expert Advisor, consulting in investment and superannuation.
Arron Harris
Representative of Electrical Trades Workers
Arron Harris was appointed as a Director on the 9th of May 2017. Arron has worked in the electrical industry for 20 years. In 2006 Arron became a branch organiser with the ETU Victorian Branch representing electrical workers int he contracting industry sector. In November 2016, Arron was appointed as an Assistant Secretary of the ETU Victorian Branch.
Robert Graauwmans
Representative of Building Trades Workers
Robert Graauwmans was appointed as a Director on the 1st July 2017. Rob has been a full time official of the CFMEU since 2006. He was responsible for the Western Districts of Victoria for six years, and then moved to Melbourne to represent Mobile Crane Hire and the Inner Eastern Suburbs. Rob is a Vice President of the CFMEU in Victoria.
Barry Terzic
Representative of Metal Trades Workers
Barry was appointed as a Director on the 9th May 2019. After qualifying as a fitter and machinist in NSW in 1982, Barry worked in the trade for 2 years. After obtaining a degree in industrial relations in 1987, he commenced employment at what is now the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union in 1988 as a national research officer. Barry worked in this role until 2002, principally as an industrial advocate for the AMWU.
In 2002, Barry commenced employment as an adviser to Robert McClelland MP, then shadow minister for industrial relations and shadow attorney general in the Commonwealth parliament. When Robert lost the industrial relations portfolio, Barry transferred to the Australian Labor Party’s national secretariat. He commenced employment with the AMWU’s Victorian branch in 2005 as an industrial officer. While there, he completed legal studies, was admitted as a lawyer and currently holds a lawyer’s practising certificate.
Paddy McCrudden
Representative of Building Trades Workers
Paddy McCrudden was appointed as a Director in October 2012. He is a member of the Audit committee of the Board. Paddy was employed by CBUS from 2005 to 2010. He rejoined the Plumbing Trades Employees Union in 2010 and currently holds the positions of Assistant Secretary and Federal President. He is also a director of the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre, the Plumbing Joint Training Fund, the Plumbing Advisory Council and the Indigenous Plumbing and Sanitation Foundation.
Grant Donald
Representative of Building Trades Employers
Grant was appointed as a Director on the 1st of February 2017. Grant is a long term director of a family run commercial plumbing company in Ballarat and is Treasurer of the Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia. Grant is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
David Newnham
Representative of Building Trades Employers
Appointed to the Board in July 2011 after being an alternate Director since March 2011. David has 40 years' experience in the construction industry after graduating as a civil engineer. He has been State Building Manager for AV Jennings and has recently retired as Managing Director of Stonehaven homes. David has been a Director and President of the Master Builders Association of Victoria and was a member of the Building Practitioners Board from 1998 to 2006. He has also served as a director of Incolink, the construction industry severance fund.
Michael Purnell
Representative of Electrical Trades Employers
Michael joined the Board in March 2016. Michael is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directiors. Michael has a long history of General Management, Executive Directorships and Management Consulting with high profile organisations. He has served on the Council of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) as well as the NECA Industry Advisory Committee, and a recent stint as the Interim Executive Director. Michael is also a Director of the Protect Industry Severance Fund and NECA Education and Careers.
Tim Piper
Representative of Metal Trades Employers
Tim Piper was appointed as a director from the 1st July, 2019. He has been the Ai Group Head in Victoria since 2002. Prior to the Ai Group he spent five years as the Executive Director at the Australian Retailers Association Victoria. He is Chair of the Industry Capability Network Victoria and sits on the new Portable Long Service Leave Authority and the GS1 Board as well as a number of Federal and State Advisory bodies. He is qualified as a Barrister and Solicitor and has completed an MBA. He has also been an Australia Day Ambassador and received the Centenary Medal for Services to the business community.
The Board meets bi-monthly with Board Committee meetings held every alternate month. The Chief Executive Officer, Manager Corporate Strategy, Manager Finance & Investment and Manager Membership Services attend all Board meetings.
January