Minister for Education and Workplace Relations Bill Shorten today announced the appointment of six Expert Panel Members for the Fair Work Commission

The Expert Panel Members and will participate in the annual minimum wage review and the assessment of funds to receive default superannuation contributions.

“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Vicki Allen, Mr Arthur Apted and Mr Stephen Gibbs as Expert Panel Members with high level experience and expertise in the financial services and superannuation fields,” Minister Shorten said.

“I am also pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Sue Richardson, Mr Tim Harcourt, and Mr Anthony Cole as Expert Panel Members with expertise to participate in the conduct of the annual minimum wage review.”

Ms Allen is currently the Chair of Mirvac Capital Partners Ltd’s Operations and Stronger Super Committee, and Chair of Bridge Housing Limited and its Human Resources and Nominations Committee. She is also a Director for Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd.

Mr Apted established the Sustainable Agriculture Fund and Australian Farms Fund Management Pty Ltd in 2006, which primarily dealt with investment fund targeting. Prior to this, he was a consultant for Atchison Consultants, providing specialist property investment advice to fund managers and was a Manager for the Industry Superannuation Property Trust.

Mr Gibbs currently holds directorships for Hastings Funds Management Ltd and Ecosystems Investment Management Pty Ltd. He is also the Chair for Australian Ethical Investments. He was formerly the CEO of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees and of ARIA (now part of the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation).

Professor Richardson was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2011 and was previously a part-time member of the former Minimum Wage Panel, a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, and a Member of the National Sustainability Council.

Mr Harcourt is currently a J.W. Nevile Fellow in Economics at UNSW. Prior to this, he was the Chief Economist for the Australian Trade Commission.

Mr Cole is currently a member of the Board of the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation, a member of the Advisory Board for the NT Treasury Corporation and a Director of Australian Ethical Investors. He is also the Chairman for the Tasman Transparency Group.

“Each of the new panel members brings diverse and broad experience to their roles,” Minister Shorten said.

"I am confident these appointments will further enhance the experience, integrity and balance of the Fair Work Commission.”

The appointments follow an independent, merit-based selection process conducted by senior representatives of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and the Australian Public Service Commission in consultation with the Shadow Minister for Workplace Relations and the States and Territories.

Full biographies are attached below.

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Superannuation Expert Panel Members

 

Vicki Allen

Ms Allen has completed a Bachelor of Business from the UTS, an MBA from the University of Melbourne, and a Diploma of Financial Services. Ms Allen is currently the Chair of Mirvac Capital Partners Limited’s Operations and Stronger Super Committee, Bridge Housing Limited, and Chairman of Human Resources and Nominations Committee. She is also a Director for Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd. Most recently, Ms Allen has been the Chief Operating Officer for The Trust Company, which is involved with managed investment schemes. She has also been the Business Leader and General/Project Manager for the National Australia Bank, as well as a Fund Manager for Westfield Limited.

Arthur Apted

Mr Apted has completed a Bachelor of Economics from Monash University and a MBA from the University of Melbourne. He also has completed a Diploma of Financial Services, a Certificate of Superannuation and a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance. Since 2006, he established the Sustainable Agriculture Fund and Australian Farms Fund Management Pty Ltd, which primarily dealt with investment fund targeting. Prior to this, he was a consultant for Atchison Consultants, providing specialist property investment advice to fund managers and was a Manager for the Industry Superannuation Property Trust. Between 1977-1985 Mr Apted worked as an Industrial and Research officer for the Australian Railways Union and for three years he was the Senior (and then Principal) Project Officer for Wages Policy for the Victorian Department of Labour. For eight years, he also served as a Ministerial Advisor to the Victorian Minister for Labour, the Honourable Neil Pope. Finally, between 1990-1998, he was the Industrial Officer (and then Senior Industrial Officer) for the ACTU, specialising in financial services and superannuation, as well as the Fund Secretary (CEO) and Director for the Australian Government Employee’s Superannuation Trust and the Executive Director in Investments for the Superannuation Trust of Australia.

Stephen Gibbs

Mr Gibbs has completed a Bachelor of Economics and a Master of Business Administration from Monash University. He currently holds directorships for Hastings Funds Management Limited and Ecosystems Investment Management Pty Ltd. He is also the Chair for Australian Ethical Investments. With respect to his employment history, Mr Gibbs has held the positions of Director and Government & Industry Liaison for the Investor Group on Climate Change, as well as Senior Adviser for Merrill Lynch. Mr Gibbs has had specific experience pertaining to superannuation, when he worked as Chief Executive Officer for Australian Reward Investment Alliance and an Executive Officer for the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees.

 

Minimum Wage Review Expert Panel Members

Sue Richardson

Professor Richardson was awarded a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from the University of Melbourne in 1968 and a PhD from La Trobe University in 1978. She was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2011. Professor Richardson is currently a part-time Member of Fair Work Commission (Minimum Wage Panel), a Fellow for the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, and a Member of the National Sustainability Council. She has previously been a part time Commissioner of the Essential Services Commission of South Australia. Professor Richardson has also held a number of academic positions in economics, including Senior Lecturer and Reader for the Department of Economics at the University of Adelaide and Professor and Director for the National Institute of Labour Studies at Flinders University.

Anthony (Tony) Cole

Mr Cole is currently a member of the Board of the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation, a member of the Advisory Board for the NT Treasury Corporation and a Director of Australian Ethical Investors. He is also the Chairman for the Tasman Transparency Group. Prior to this, Mr Cole was the Head of Management in the Australian Investment Consulting Department for Mercer, as well as an Executive Director of LIFA. Mr Cole has also worked for the Government, where he was the Chairman of the Industry Commission, Secretary to the Treasury and Secretary of the Department of Health and Community Services.

Tim Harcourt

Mr Harcourt has completed a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) from the University of Adelaide, Master of Arts from the University of Minnesota, and the Harvard Trade Union Program from Harvard University. Mr Harcourt is currently a J.W. Nevile Fellow in Economics for UNSW. Prior to this, he was the Chief Economist for the Australian Trade Commission. Mr Harcourt has also held the positions of Advocate for the ACTU, Corporate Adviser for Pacific Dunlop, and Associate for the now Australian Industrial Relations Commission. Mr Harcourt is a member of several boards, including the Global Economic Issues Advisory Group and Trade Negotiations Advisory Group, and has a sold a best-selling book on economics.