We’re your Community Bank representatives committed to delivering a sustainable business model for the future.
All of us on the Council are involved in the community banking world in our home states in varying ways.
We’re your Community Bank National Council elected to represent you and to voice your views to BEN and the network.
Our 15 Council representatives come from every state and territory in Australia ensuring we’re acting in the best interests of the whole network. We have both Community Bank directors and BEN representatives on Council, each bringing a broad range of personal experience and professional expertise.
While we embrace diversity, what we have in common is a passion for community banking and for ensuring the ongoing success of the network.
There are exciting changes taking place both on an industry level and within our network. We embrace the opportunities that change brings and we remain focused on delivering positive outcomes for you, your business and your communities.
Structure & members
The Council is made up of the following representatives from around Australia.
Your Community Bank National Council is elected to fairly represent the diversity of our network.
Up to four (4) additional Community Bank directors may also be appointed to meet demographic or skills-based criteria. These appointments are at the discretion of Council.
Elected representatives hold office for a period of three years with one third required to retire by rotation each year. Retiring members may nominate for re-election.
The Chair is elected by Council and must be a Community Bank representative.
There are also three (3) BEN representative positions on Council, appointed by the BEN Managing Director.
Justine Cox
Chair Interim Representative
NSW/ACT
Justine joined the board of directors of Woodstock Financial Service Limited (operating Community Bank Milton and Districts) in 2017 and became Chair in 2020. Justine has been a human resources practitioner for 20 years leading and supporting a diverse range of change management programs.
Claire Sutherland
Deputy Chair, Appointed Representative
VIC, TAS
Claire is a foundation director of Bacchus Marsh Community Enterprise Limited and has served as Chair since opening the branch in 2014. She has previously served on various not for profit and charity boards. Claire has spent many years in the hospitality industry as a manager and a franchise owner.
Lauren Bean
General Manager
VIC
Lauren is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Columbia Business School executive education program. She has previously held CEO and senior leadership roles in the community, broadcast media and financial services sectors.
Maree Franettovich
Appointed Member Central Far North QLD
QLD
Maree joined Sarina and District Community Financial Services in 2013, and is Deputy Chair, Secretary and Business and Community Engagement Committee Chair. She has provided business advisory services for over twenty years across diverse industries, with a focus on building capacity within regions.
Josh Hardy
Appointed Representative
Josh is the Chair of Geographe Bay Community Enterprises, a role he has held since 2017. His career spans leadership roles that include operations manager, general manager and business advisory consultant. Josh is also a volunteer firefighter with Dunsborough Bushfire Brigade.
Andrew Hillard
Elected Member VIC Regional/TAS
VIC, TAS
Andrew is the Chair of Lara District Community Enterprise Limited, having joined the board in 2013. A semi-retired Human Resources professional, he has a passion for regional communities and recognises the importance of the CB model as a means to strengthen the communities in which we operate.
Jason Luckhardt
Elected Member South QLD
QLD
Jason is the Chair of Logan Group in Brisbane and has been a Community Bank director for the past 15 years. A professional in the property industry, Jason has a particular interest in commercial property markets and over his 30-year career, has held several franchise management roles.
Tyson McGeoch
Elected Member VIC Metro
VIC
Tyson is a director of Parkdale/Mentone East Community Branch Ltd. He is a chartered accountant with over fifteen years’ experience in finance and commercial roles with multinational organisations and private companies, with a particular interest in commercial property.
Paul Prior
Interim Representative SA/NT
SA/NT
Paul is the Chair of Goodwood / Highgate Community Financial Services. He brings to the role considerable experience as a general manager of sales and marketing across a range of industries including FMCG and aviation. He has also held board positions across various businesses, elite level sporting clubs, schools and other community-based organisations.
Debra Rule
Elected Member WA
WA
Debra is the Chair of Fremantle Community Financial Services and the former Chair of three profit for purpose boards. Her experience includes strategic information management, business and strategy development, corporate governance and supporting organisations to work more digitally to enhance business performance.
Andrew Morgan
Appointed BEN Representative
Andrew joined the bank in 2022 as Chief Financial Officer. With more than 30 years of global financial services experience behind him, Andrew brings extensive banking experience and insight to his role. Throughout his career, much of which has been spent in similar positions, he has demonstrated a talent for transforming, simplifying and delivering value.
Charter
The Charter is a document that has been developed to provide a general outline of the role, responsibilities and operational details of the Council.
If you have any questions or queries about anything contained in the Charter, please feel free to contact the elected Council member from your Electorate.
You can view the Charter here.
History
The forerunner to the Community Bank National Council was the Community Bank Strategic Advisory Board.
The Advisory Board was established in 2008 with one of its main roles being to consider how the model would remain viable and relevant well into the future. It focussed on developing initiatives and projects to broaden strategies at a local level, while also addressing concerns and issues raised by community banking members throughout the country.
In 2015 a comprehensive review of the Community Bank model – Project Horizon - was undertaken by BEN. One of the outcomes of the project was a decision to reassess the function and purpose of the Advisory Board.
An oversight committee was then established to validate the process and ensure any recommendations about the Advisory Board were sustainable.
A key finding was the desire for the network to continue to have a collaborative approach and to maintain a strong partnership between the parties. Final recommendations from the review supported evolution of the Advisory Board to become the Community Bank National Council.
The establishment of the Community Bank National Council was formally announced to the network at the 2016 National Conference.
