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.

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.

Julie Cooper (nee Shearn)

Director

GD.Mgt, BA, GAICD

Julie is a former McKinsey & Company consultant with extensive international experience. Prior to joining McKinsey’s London office she held senior corporate and general management roles for BAE Systems PLC in Australia and the UK. She also worked in the banking and brewing sectors in South Australia. Julie is a Non Executive Director of the Nova Group (Nova Aerospace Pty Ltd), a technology-based professional service provider that is regularly acknowledged in Australia’s ‘most innovative companies’. She contributes to Board governance improvement as an active member of the AICD’s Tomorrow’s Director Committee.

Paul Dewsnap

Director

DipElecEng, MAICD

Paul is a Consulting Partner at a security, risk and governance advisory firm. He brings twenty-five years of executive leadership experience in financial services, professional services, biotechnology and defence, having spent the past sixteen years working with regional banks and credit unions in the areas of strategy, architecture, digital technology, risk management and cyber security. Before moving into financial services, Paul worked in the United States for several years delivering large-scale business technology initiatives spanning North America and Europe. He is a mentor at Business SA assisting young South Australians turn their business concept into a reality. Paul brings a wealth of ICT and digital experience to the Credit Union SA Board.

Kathryn Jordan

Director

B Soc Sci (Human Services), B Ed ECE, GAICD

Kathryn has an extensive background in service delivery, strategy, policy and performance in the Government sector with significant experience in education and child protection.

She has had leadership responsibility for the State’s early childhood education and care system, strategy and performance in the Department for Education and the implementation of the Nyland Royal Commission into the child protection system. She has past appointments to the Teachers Registration Board and the Education Standards Board.

Kathryn brings to the Credit Union SA Board a wealth of knowledge and experience in community service delivery, strategic planning, legislative and regulatory reform, policy redesign and performance accountability. She is motivated to apply her skills and experience to achieve positive outcomes for the South Australian community.

In 2019, Kathryn is a community ambassador for Catherine House, a South Australian service supporting women experiencing homelessness and is undertaking a professional certificate in coaching for wellbeing in work and life.

Nicolle Rantanen Reynolds

Director

MComLaw, MBA, FCPA, BCom (Acc) FAICD, FTIA, CSM

Nicolle is an experienced Non-Executive Director of public unlisted companies and various strategic boards that aim to increase asset size, employ growth strategies and achieve commercial outcomes. Nicolle is Chair of the State Procurement Board (SA Government), Credit Union SA Board Member (Risk Committee Chair), The Grange Golf Club (Vice President) CPA SA/NT Councillor, and Australian Institute of Company Directors SA/NT Councillor.

Nicolle is the South Australian Public Trustee and manages over 185 staff with responsibilities including corporate strategy, financial management and investment of over $1.2billion. Prior to this she was the Chief Operating Officer of the Department of Treasury and Finance.

Nicolle is an experienced senior executive with a substantial record of success in all areas of commerce. She is a strong leader, with expertise in strategy, governance, risk management, business development and change management.

Nicolle has established business relationships and networks at a national level and is adept at influencing and negotiating mutually beneficial outcomes. She has developed strong relationships with members, employers, unions, industry associations and key service providers.

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.

Todd Roberts

Chief Executive Officer

FCA, FAICD, FGLF

Todd joined Credit Union SA in June 2020 as the Chief Executive Officer having spent over 11 years as an Executive at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.  

Todd is passionate about leading a highly effective, performance-driven team of finance professionals who are dedicated to achieving outstanding results for their members and customers. 

With over 25 years working in finance and professional services across Australia and the UK, Todd has developed a strong understanding of a wide range of financial and commercial disciplines from accountancy, audit and insolvency to Institutional Corporate, Commercial and Retail banking.  

Todd holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accountancy from the University of South Australia and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand, Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Governor’s Leadership Program.

Todd has held a significant number of Chair and Director roles with various not-for-profit organisations and charities throughout his career including the National Heart Foundation of Australia where he is both currently a Director and Chair of the Investment Committee.

Tim Prowse

Chief Operating Officer

MBA, BCom, GAICD

Tim is responsible for member experience, marketing and product management as well as streamlining and improving the internal operations of the Credit Union.

With over 33 years commercial experience in Australia, the USA and Germany, including over 25 years in financial and professional services, Tim has extensive experience in the areas of member/customer experience, marketing, product development, strategy development and implementation, change management and performance improvement.

Melissa Lovell

Company Secretary

MBA, BLLB (Hons), BIntSt, GAICD

Melissa advises the Board and Management on best practice in corporate governance. As the Credit Union’s Company Secretary, Melissa manages the legal requirements for Board and General meetings and ensures that the Credit Union complies with its statutory obligations.

Melissa is a lawyer and company secretary who has held senior roles with public, private and ASX-listed companies. Melissa formerly practised as a banking and financial services lawyer in Australia and the UK.

Ilya Karounos

Chief Financial Officer

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.

Chris Ryan

Chief Risk Officer

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.

Karen Beard

Chief Distribution Officer

MBA

Karen joined Credit Union SA in October 2016 and is currently Acting Executive Manager Distribution. 

Karen is responsible for overseeing all aspects of Credit Union SA’s distribution including the Member Experience Centre, Broker relationships, Mobile Lenders and Education and Community relationships.  

With over 30 years of experience in the Mutual Sector, Karen has extensive knowledge in retail banking, member service, process and performance improvement.

Darren Boddington

Chief Digital and Information Officer

BA (Acc)

Darren is responsible for overseeing all aspects of Credit Union SA’s digital functions including technology, project delivery and driving our digital strategy.

With over 30 years of experience in the retail banking sector across the big four, mutual sector, mortgage originators and technology companies, Darren has extensive knowledge in project delivery, change management, process improvement and technical development. In more recent times, Darren has specialised in digital design and delivery.