Board of Directors and Leadership Team

Carolyn Mitchell

Chair

LLB, GDLP, FAICD 

Carolyn has over 30 years’ experience as a commercial lawyer, and from 2001 to 2009, was Managing Partner of Cowell Clarke Commercial Lawyers. She now practises as a consultant with the firm, works as an executive coach both within the practice and for business owners and CEO's in Adelaide, and sits as a non-executive director on a number of Adelaide company boards. Carolyn has two teenage sons, and is an avid arts enthusiast and passionate Port Power supporter.

Colin Butterick

Director

MBA, Dip HRM, B Cert (Acct) GAICD, FAMI

Colin has had over 20 years’ experience at executive level in the credit union industry including nine years as CEO of Powerstate Credit Union. He has also held senior administrative management positions in the Commonwealth Government and in state government statutory authorities embracing defence, pre-school and child care. Colin has extensive board experience in organisations engaged in financial services, information technology, aged care and community services, in both the profit and not-for-profit sectors.

Alexandrea Cannon

Director

MBA, B. Bus, FAICD, FAHRI, FAMI

Alexandrea is an accomplished business executive with 30 years’ experience in the field of Human Resource Management. She has held several senior positions with some of Australia’s largest international blue-chip companies, including Coca-Cola Amatil and Lion Nathan, and is now consulting in both the private and public sectors. In addition to being a Director of Credit Union SA, Alexandrea is also a Director of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, the Leaders Institute of SA and Bizbuild.

Following the merger between Satisfac and Powerstate Credit Unions in 2009, Alexandrea became the inaugural Chair of Credit Union SA and held this position until late 2017, at which time, following consideration of best practice governance and Board renewal, she stepped down from the role. Alexandrea remains on the Board of the Credit Union and is currently the Chair of the Board’s Governance Committee.

Kathryn Jordan

Director

B Soc Sci (Human Services), B Ed ECE

Kathryn is the Executive Director, Office for Strategy and Performance in the Department for Education and Child Protection, and has an extensive background in the education sector. With responsibility in her current role for strategic planning, business intelligence and her depth of understanding of the education community, Kathryn brings a wealth of knowledge to the Credit Union SA Board. 

Nicolle Rantanen

Director

FCPA, MBA, Masters Commercial Law, BCom (Acc) CSM, FTIA, FAICD

Nicolle is the Chief Operating Officer at the Department of Treasury & Finance, and previously held the position of Chief Operating Officer at Statewide Super and Director, Strategy and Member Services at SuperSA. With qualifications including a Masters in Commercial Law, a Masters in Business Administration and holding the position of a Certified Practising Accountant (Fellow), Nicolle brings a strong background in Finance and Governance to the Credit Union SA Board.

Philip Riquier

Director

MBA, B.Bus, FAICD, FSCPA 

Philip is an experienced ASX 100 Executive and professional Company Director, having previously worked as an Executive at Bendigo & Adelaide Bank Ltd (and previously at Adelaide Bank prior to the merger), and holds a number of Executive and Non-Executive directorships across a broad range of industries including property, aged care and superannuation.

Robert Shannahan

Director

BA (Acct), CPA, MAICD

Until his recent retirement, Robert held senior positions within ETSA, AGL and the Essential Services Commission of SA. He has been an active board member of both Powerstate Credit Union and Credit Union SA, and has qualifications as an accountant. Robert brings a wealth of financial, customer service, regulatory, audit and risk management skills and experience to Credit Union SA and currently Chairs our Risk Committee.

Grant Strawbridge

Chief Executive Officer

BA (ACC), FCPA, FAICD, F Fin

Grant joined Credit Union SA as Chief Executive Officer in April 2012 and is responsible for all day-to-day company operations, including corporate strategy and direction.

With over 26 years’ experience in Executive and Senior Management roles within the mutual sector of the financial services industry within Australia, Grant’s expertise includes managing corporate strategic initiatives relating to mutual mergers, organisations transformation and design, large entity acquisitions, enterprise wide risk management programs and finance, technology and treasury management.

Grant is a Director of the Credit Union Pageant Company and Data Action Pty Ltd.

Ilya Karounos

Executive Manager Finance and Treasury

BCom, CPA

llya joined Credit Union SA in September 2013 and is currently Executive Manager Finance & Treasury.

Ilya is responsible for overseeing all aspects of Credit Union SA’s finance and treasury functions.

With over 18 years of experience in financial services as an accounting and finance professional, Ilya has experience in areas of financial and management accounting, financial risk management and information systems.

John Koerber

Executive Manager Digital and Member Insight

MBusLaw, MAppFin, GAICD, F Fin

John commenced with Credit Union SA in May 2013 and is currently Executive Manager Digital and Member Insight.

John is responsible for the Credit Union’s digital transformation strategy, technology, product management and strategic alliances, payments, brand and marketing, member analytics and the project management office.

With over 23 years of experience in retail financial services in both Australia and the UK, John has extensive experience in strategy development, digital and technology, product management, project implementation and risk management.

John is also a Director of Blackwood Nominees Pty Ltd., a Director of Zobel Loans Pty Ltd, and an Alternate Director for Data Action Pty Ltd.

Tim Prowse

Executive Manager Distribution

MBA, BCom, MAICD

Tim joined Credit Union SA in August 2018 and is currently Executive Manager Distribution.

Tim is responsible for overseeing all aspects of Credit Union SA’s distribution including the Member Contact Centre, branches, broker sales, mobile lenders and education and community relationships.

With over 30 years commercial experience in Australia, the USA and Germany, including over 23 years in financial and professional services, Tim has extensive experience in the areas of customer service, strategy development and implementation, change management, performance improvement, stakeholder management, internal and external communication, corporate governance and management of finances and resources. 

Chris Ryan

Executive Manager Credit and Risk

BA (Acc)

Chris commenced with Credit Union SA in April 2013, and is currently Executive Manager Credit and Risk.

Chris is responsible for overseeing all aspects of Credit Union SA’s lending operations, and both the member administration and credit impairment functions, risk and governance, internal audit and fraud.

With over 26 years of senior management experience within the Australian financial services and mutual sectors, Chris has had extensive exposure to operational and credit risk management across both the managed fund and retail financial services industries in addition to organisation wide re-engineering programs.