The Board

The role of the Emergency Services Superannuation Board is to make sure the fund is run in the best interests of all ESSSuper members.

Under the Emergency Services Superannuation Act 1986, the Governor-in-Council appoints 12 Members to the ESSSuper Board:

• six elected by the respective ESSSuper members to represent them, and
• six nominated by the Victorian Government.

Currently there are nine Members; five member elected, four Government nominated and three vacancies.

Government Nominated Representatives

Joan Fitzpatrick, President

Joan Fitzpatrick, BA (Hons), LLB, ANZIIF, CIP, GAICD
President
Appointed: 8 February 2016
Current term: 8 February 2022 - 7 February 2025

Joan has 20 years experience as a non-executive director across a range of industry sectors. Her objective is to be a positive influence for improvement and growth in each organisation and her primary areas of focus are strategy, risk, governance and capability.

Joan has more than 35 years of commercial business experience holding a range of senior roles. She is an experienced change management leader and has consistently delivered successful business results including strong engagement of people.

Qualified as a barrister, she commenced a management career, which saw her managing a fast moving consumer goods warehousing and distribution unit in London; having a senior management role in a highly diversified manufacturing company; becoming the Project Director of a multi-national conglomerate to build a pulp mill, negotiating multi million dollar contracts and achieving UK government and European Union funding support; and taking up the role of Regional General Manager for a global insurer of manufacturing & special risks, establishing a regional office in Kuala Lumpur to acquire and service major clients in ASEAN, China and the Pacific. She completed 16 years as CEO and Director of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance in December 2013. As CEO Joan revitalised and expanded the business and its international reach.

Joan is a Fellow of ANZIIF, a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is currently a non-executive director for several organisations.

George Boubouras

George Boubouras, B.Econ (Hons), Exec. Cert. Portfolio Mgmt., Exec. Cert. Mgmt. & Leadership, Investment Decisions & Behav. Finance Prog.
Appointed: 6 February 2024
Current Term: 6 February 2024 - 5 February 2027

George is a seasoned financial professional with over 25 years of experience in various roles and sectors. He started his career as an economist, working for prestigious institutions such as Westpac, NSW Treasury and SBC (now UBS). He then transitioned to the asset management industry, where he held senior positions such as CIO and MD at leading firms such as Contango, Equity Trustees, UBS and Salter Brothers. He has a proven track record of managing investments across multiple asset classes and leading high-performing teams and businesses.

Passionate about education and research, George is a part-time lecturer in finance and a visiting fellow at The University of Adelaide, where he also serves on the advisory board of the International Centre for Financial Services (ICFS). He is a director and investment adviser at Salter Brothers Asset Management (SBAM) and a member of the investment committee at Paua Wealth Management (Auckland, NZ). He is also the MD, head of research, investments and advisory at K2 Asset Management (K2), a Trustee, fund administrator and boutique fund manager.

In addition, George is involved in the community and the sports sector. He was a Director of the Blues Foundation at The Carlton Football Club, one of the oldest Australian rules football clubs. He was an Executive Director of the International Centre for Financial Services at the University of Adelaide Business School and a Director at Women in Banking and Finance, a not-for-profit organisation.

Jacqueline Pirone

Jacqueline Pirone, LLB, BA, GDipIns GAICD
Appointed: 18 October 2022
Current term: 18 October 2022 - 17 October 2025

Jacqueline has over 25 years' experience in both private practice and in-house counsel, including working for an international law firm as Special Counsel. She was an Ombudsman at the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, Group Head of Compliance & Regulatory for an international life insurer, and currently holds the role of Director, Compliance & Risk and Company Secretary for an investment house.

With significant experience in financial services including strategy leadership, regulatory, legal, advice work, compliance, risk management, and corporate governance, Jacqueline is also the President of the Tennis Victoria Board, and Trustee on the Melbourne Olympic Park Trust.

Jacqueline is a member of:

• The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia Limited (ASFA)
• The Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST)

Pam Rebecca

Pam Rebecca, BBus(Acc)(With Distinction), MBA, GAICD
Appointed: 16 November 2021
Current term: 16 November 2021 - 15 November 2024

Pam has over 25 years' experience in the Financial Services and For Purpose sectors, with a diverse background in digital, innovation, corporate strategy and retail banking. During the last ten years, Pam has held senior executive roles focused on leading and influencing digital transformation, including Chief of Strategy, Innovation and Digital for World Vision Australia, and General Manager Digital for ANZ Banking Group Limited.

Pam brings a strong understanding of risk and regulatory frameworks, and decades of experience has equipped her with the ability to navigate and implement innovative changes in the highly regulated environment of consumer-facing financial services. Her expertise includes leading transformation across large teams and businesses with technology-depended operations including high volume customer service operations.

Pam is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is also an independent Non-Executive Director of Defence Bank Limited, a member of the Risk and Compliance Committee of Defence Bank Limited, an Independent Director of Tonkin + Taylor Group Limited and Chair of the Tonkin + Taylor Risk and Audit Committee.

Member Elected Representatives

Dean Glare

Dean Glare, BEd 
Elected by: State Super members
Appointed: 1 January 2007
Current term: 1 January 2022 - 31 December 2026

Dean is an experienced member of the ESSSuper Board and long-serving teacher.

He is a member of:

• the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST)
• the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia Limited (ASFA)
• the Australian Education Union

Colin Jones

Colin Jones, GDEmHlth, ASM, MAICD
Elected by: Ambulance Victoria members
Appointed: 1 January 2018
Current term: 7 February 2023 - 6 February 2028

Colin has over 30 years' service with Ambulance Victoria and is currently an Area Manager in the Clinical Operations division.

Eamon Leahy

Eamon Leahy
Elected by: Police Victoria members
Appointed: 7 February 2023
Current term: 7 February 2023 - 6 February 2028

Eamon has served as an operational Police Officer with Victoria Police since 1999. With experience representing ESSSuper members as a delegate and Board Member through The Police Association of Victoria since 2008, Eamon is passionate about advocating for members and improving member outcomes.

He is a member of The Police Association of Victoria.

Ben McKie

Ben McKie 
Elected by: Fire service members
Appointed: 1 January 2018
Current term: 7 February 2023 - 6 February 2028

Ben has 25 years' service in the Fire Brigade, now known as Fire Rescue Victoria, and currently is seconded to CFA working with 44 Volunteer Fire Brigades in South Gippsland where he holds the rank of Commander. He has worked in a variety of areas from Station based roles to leading operational support departments to drive operational improvement, something that he has a great passion for.

Ben is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a member of the United Firefighters Union Victoria.

Angela Stringer

Angela Stringer, Dip T (Primary), Grad Dip Ed 
Elected by: State Super members
Appointed: 14 September 2010
Current term: 1 January 2022 - 31 December 2026

Angela is a long-serving teacher with the Department of Education & Early Childhood Development.

She is a member of:

• the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST)
• the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia Limited (ASFA)
• the Australian Education Union

Board member duties

Conflicts of interest policy

ESSSuper's Conflicts of Interest Policy (PDF 151.5KB) sets out a framework to identify, assess and manage any actual or potential conflicts of interest that responsible persons and employees may have. Responsible persons include Board Members, Deputy Board Members, Executive Managers and consultants. The Policy includes strategies to deal with conflicts, how and when to disclose conflicts of interests and how they may be dealt with.

This policy operates in conjunction with the ESSSuper Fit and Proper Policy. It has been developed in accordance with the requirements of the Victorian Government Prudential Superannuation Standard for Victorian Government Superannuation Agencies.

Records and registers

Board Meeting Attendance Record (PDF 327.6KB)
Record of attendance at Board and Committee meetings for 2017 to 2024.

Register of Relevant Interests (PDF 133.1KB)
Record of relevant interests held by Board Members as at 29 August 2024.

Gifts, Benefits, and Hospitality Policy (PDF 178.3KB)
ESSSuper's policy regarding gifts, benefits, and hospitality effective 1 July 2024.

Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality Register 2023-24 (PDF 192.8KB)
Register of all gifts, benefits, and hospitality accepted or declined in the 2023-24 financial year.

Gifts, Benefits, and Hospitality Register 2022-23 (PDF 180.5KB)
Register of all gifts, benefits, and hospitality accepted or declined in the 2022-23 financial year.

Gifts, Benefits, and Hospitality Register 2021-22 (PDF 100.1KB)
Register of all gifts, benefits, and hospitality accepted or declined in the 2021-22 financial year.

Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality Register 2020-21 (PDF 40.1KB)
Register of all gifts, benefits, and hospitality accepted or declined in the 2020-21 financial year.