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 sits as a non-executive director on a number of Adelaide company boards in a wide variety of industries. Carolyn is also an executive coach and business mentor for senior business leaders in South Australia. Carolyn is married with two sons, and is an avid arts enthusiast and passionate Port Power supporter.

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 the Deputy Chair of Nova Systems Pty Ltd, a technology-based professional service provider that is regularly acknowledged as one of Australia’s ‘most innovative companies’. She is a Board Advisor to the Sarah Group, one of South Australia’s most successful construction companies, and is on the Board of the Crows Children’s Foundation (Adelaide Football Club). She contributes to Board governance improvement as an SA/NT Divisional Councillor for the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Paul Dewsnap

Director

PGDDigBus, DipElecEng, MAICD

Paul Brings twenty-five years of senior leadership experience, having spent the past eighteen years working with regional banks, credit unions and digital banks across Asia Pacific in the areas of strategy, architecture, digital technology, risk management and cyber security. Before moving into financial services, he spent several years in the United States where he led the delivery of large-scale business initiatives. Paul is the Managing Partner of a governance, risk management and cyber security advisory firm and facilitator and mentor at Business SA assisting young entrepreneurs turn their business concept into a reality.

Kathryn Jordan

Director

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

Kathryn has an extensive background as a senior executive 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, 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 currently applying her skills and knowledge in the field as Director at Lockleys Children’s Centre for Early Childhood Development and Parenting.

Kathryn holds a professional certificate in coaching for wellbeing in work and life and is the owner of Better Balance Coaching.

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 a Board member of Credit Union SA (Audit Committee Chair and Member of the Risk Committee), The Grange Golf Club (Vice President and Chair of Finance Committee), SA Harness Racing, Clayton Church Homes, Thoroughbred Racing NT, UniSA (Board of Governors, Member of Audit, Finance and Risk Committee), Cancer Council SA (Chair, Finance Committee), AICD SA/NT Advisory Board (National Reporting Committee Member), Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing (Risk and Audit Committees), CAWRA (Chair, Audit Committee), City of Marion (Audit Committee)

Nicolle is the South Australian Public Trustee and manages over 200 staff with responsibilities including corporate strategy, financial management and investment of over $1.4billion. 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, FCPA 

Philip is an experienced ASX 100 Banking Executive and professional company director, having previously worked as a Group Executive at Bendigo & Adelaide Bank Ltd, and holds a number of Executive and non-executive directorships across a broad range of industries including property, aged care and superannuation.

Phillip was also previously a Director of the Risk Management Association of Australia, the leading association for Risk Management professionals within APRA regulated financial institutions.

Louise Small

Director

GAICD

Louise has more than 25 years’ experience in the banking and finance sector, including senior roles with Adelaide Bank and as State Manager SA/NT for Mortgage Choice. She is a current director of the SANFL and the Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority, and former Chair and Director of disability service provider scosa, and harm prevention charity the Sammy D Foundation. She is a driven ambassador for improving inclusion and diversity in the workplace and community.

She is currently General Manager with multi award winning Adelaide building firm Turnbull Built.

A passionate advocate for women’s sport, Louise is a former State League netballer and premiership captain with Matrics Netball Club, assistant coach for the Adelaide Thunderbirds and AFLW Player Development Manager for the Adelaide Football Club.

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 Chief Financial Officer.

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 joined Credit Union SA in April 2013, and is currently Chief Risk Officer.

Chris is responsible for overseeing all aspects of Credit Union SA’s credit, operational and compliance risk functions and the Financial Crimes team. This includes oversight of our AML program, credit underwriting and impairment functions, risk, compliance, internal audit and fraud management.

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 Chief Distribution Officer. 

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.

Amanda-Lee Smith

Chief People and Strategy Officer

Amanda-Lea is the new Chief People and Strategy Officer.

Amanda-Lea previously worked as the Executive General Manager, People, Culture & Safety (including Environment) at the Power & Water Corporation in the Northern Territory and spent time in Executive and senior roles at Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Mars Australia, Territory Insurance Office and Australian Vintage Limited.