Board of Directors and Leadership Team

Alexandrea Cannon

Chair

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 Chair of Credit Union SA, Alexandrea is a Director of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, the Leaders Institute of SA and Bizbuild.

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.

Kathryn Jordan

Director

B Soc Sci (Human Services), B Ed ECE

Kathryn is the A/Executive Director, Office for Strategy and Performance in the Department for Education and Child Development, 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. 

Carolyn Mitchell

Director

LLB, GDLP, GAICD 

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.

Nicolle Rantanen

Director

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

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.

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, GAICD, 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.

Philip Kwan

Executive Manager Brand and Member Experience

Phil joined Credit Union SA in April 2013 in his current role with his responsibilities including brand management, sales and marketing, the Credit Union’s branch network, Member Contact Centre, business development and mobile lending.

Phil has over 15 years of multi-sector experience in both financial services and retail, including over 10 years in international retail banking.

Chris Ryan

Executive Manager Credit and Member Support Services

BA (Acc)

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

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

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.

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 product management and payments, technology, digital transformation strategy, strategic alliances, member analytics and the project management office.

With over 20 years of experience in retail financial services in both Australia and the UK, John has extensive experience in strategy implementation, digital, risk management, product management and development, and retail and commercial lending.

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.

Paul Langley

Senior Manager Risk and Governance and Company Secretary

DipBus, Cert Gov (Admin), GIA (Cert), MRMIA

Paul commenced with the Credit Union in April 2006 and is currently Senior Manager Risk and Governance and Company Secretary.

Paul is responsible for the Credit Union’s risk management and governance frameworks, regulatory compliance, fraud and disputes, internal audit function and is the Credit Union’s Company Secretary. 

Paul previously held roles in risk, compliance and process improvement with listed companies and has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry.