Leadership

Mr Mead was appointed Group Managing Director of Australian Unity Limited on 1 July 2004. As Group Managing Director, he is a member of subsidiary boards and most committees. Mr Mead is chairman of the Business Council of Australia’s Healthy Australia task force and a member of its Indigenous Engagement task force. He is also a director of the Business Council of Co-Operatives and Mutuals Limited (BCCM) and the Centre for Independent Studies. Prior to joining Australian Unity, Mr Mead was employed by Perpetual Trustees Australia Limited (1996-2003) in a range of senior roles.

Mr Walsh is Chief Executive Officer – Retail. The Retail platform brings together Australian Unity’s private health insurance, banking, and general insurance and broking businesses. He is a Director of Australian Unity Health Limited, Australian Unity Bank Limited, Lifeplan Australia Friendly Society Limited, Australian Health Services Alliance and Members Own Health Funds Ltd. Mr Walsh was previously the General Manager – Life and Super in Australian Unity’s Wealth platform, where he had commercial responsibility for Australian Unity’s investment bond and superannuation businesses. He joined Australian Unity in 2009 after a merger with Lifeplan where he had held a number of executive positions. Prior to joining Lifeplan, Mr Walsh worked with PriceWaterhouse both in Australia and the US developing global strategic methodologies. He previously chaired the International Centre for Financial Services at University of Adelaide and finance industry body, FSA. Mr Walsh holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Computer Studies and a Master’s degree in Business Administration.

Mr Bryant joined Australian Unity in 2004. He is Chief Executive Officer for Wealth & Capital Markets, and is also Chief Investment Officer for the Australian Unity Group. He is responsible for all of Australian Unity’s financial services and investment activities, spanning investment management, advice, trustee services, life and superannuation, as well as the Group’s property, development and capital management activities. He is a board member of many of its operating entities and financial services Joint Venture subsidiaries.

Prior to joining Australian Unity in 2004, David held senior executive roles covering financial services, asset consulting, asset servicing, and Capital markets, for both Australian and international organisations. His various roles have encompassed responsibilities for businesses across the Asia Pacific region. Mr Bryant is Co-Deputy Chair of the Australian Financial Services Council and co-chair of its Advice Board Committee.

Ms Hagan joined Australian Unity in May 2006. In November 2018 Ms Hagan took the position of Group Executive Customer, Digital & Technology where she is responsible for executing Australian Unity Group’s technology and digital agenda, as well as the group’s customer strategy.

Prior to this she was Chief Executive Officer, Healthcare where she was responsible for all elements of Australian Unity’s healthcare operations and strategic development of the business. She was also Chief Executive Officer and director of Australian Unity Health Limited, Grand United Corporate Health Limited and Remedy Healthcare Limited. Ms Hagan also served as a director of the Australian Health Service Alliance for a decade. Prior to joining Australian Unity, Ms Hagan was employed by Perpetual Trustees Australia Limited (1999-2006) in a range of senior roles and also has experience in senior roles consulting on strategic projects for a range of companies including AGL, American Express and Energy Australia.

Ms Kerr-Smith joined Australian Unity in September 2017 as Group Executive, Finance & Strategy. She has oversight of the Group’s finance function and is responsible for the effective execution of strategic direction and initiatives, treasury, capital management and organisation-wide performance measures. Esther’s most recent role in Australia was with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). Esther was part of the senior leadership team responsible for implementing the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), leading the market stewardship and commissioning work, including housing and transport. Her previous employers include strategy consulting firm Boston Consulting Group and Macquarie Bank.

Esther has experience working with companies across a diverse range of industries and regulatory environments including in financial services, human services, government, retail, asset and funds management, and infrastructure.

Mr Mann joined Australian Unity in April 2012. Mr Mann is currently the Deputy Head of Finance and Chief Financial Officer, having previously been Group Treasurer and undertaken a range of other finance and reporting roles across the group. Mr Mann has oversight of the Group’s statutory, management and tax reporting along with treasury and capital management.

Prior to joining Australian Unity, Mr Mann worked in the United Kingdom for ten years on large scale migration projects for Lloyds TSB, Royal Bank of Scotland and Merrill Lynch Investment Managers.

Mr Mann commenced his professional career becoming a Chartered Accountant while working at KPMG Melbourne and also Foster’s Group Limited.

Prue Bowden joined Australian Unity in February 2017. Ms Bowden led the Group's transformation agenda to reshape the enterprise operating model, putting the customer front and centre and driving new and more efficient ways of working. In September 2018, Prue was appointed to Group Executive, People & Culture. She is responsible for leading the Group's people function including culture and capability, performance and remuneration, workplace health and safety, shared services and internal communications. Prue also leads the Group's inclusion and diversity, workplace giving and employee wellbeing strategy. Prior to joining Australian Unity, Ms Bowden was the Director of People Solutions Group Pty Ltd, a boutique consulting firm focused on operating model design and transformational change. Ms Bowden brings to Australian Unity diverse industry experience, having successfully led people functions in complex, commercial environments in banking, insurance, media and healthcare. Previous clients and employers include News Limited, Suncorp, ANZ and Ramsay Health Care. Prue holds a Masters in Employment and Labour Relations Law and a Bachelor of Arts with a specialisation in Psychology.

Ms Melinda Honig joined Australian Unity in February 2016. In her role as Group Executive, Governance, Ms Honig is responsible for managing the Group’s Legal, Compliance, Risk, and Secretariat function. She is also secretary for all Group subsidiary boards. Prior to joining Australian Unity, Ms Honig worked for GE for 15 years, five of those years with GE Capital in the role of General Counsel, overseeing the provision of legal services to GE Capital’s commercial finance, consumer finance and insurance businesses in Australia and New Zealand. Ms Honig brings to Australian Unity her executive experience in legal, compliance and company secretary functions and has worked abroad as Counsel for GE Indonesia, in operations which included transportation, energy and GE Capital. Prior to joining GE, Ms Honig was at KPMG for 5 years and undertook her legal training in Tax at KPMG.