During her eight years at Australian Unity, Ms. Kerr has been a senior leader in the Australian Unity Group, initially as GE - Finance & Strategy and then, for the last five years, as CEO of the W&CM platform. In this role Ms. Kerr led cultural and strategic transformation, including growing the Group’s ~$7 billion social infrastructure portfolio and building its friendly society operation to its leading position today with the acquisition of IOOF’s investment bond business.

Australian Unity’s Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Rohan Mead said Ms. Kerr’s tenure has been characterised by the delivery of meaningful and valuable impact for customers, members and the community. This transformation was achieved by implementing a strategy that re-focused W&CM as a provider of investments and services that deliver measurable community and social value.

Further, this transformation has been executed notwithstanding the additional complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic and a patchy, slowing economy. This development was accompanied by thought leadership and industry disruption as the Group’s social infrastructure agenda was advanced by growing its built-form presence in healthcare, childcare student accommodation, specialist disability accommodation and seniors living.

Ms. Kerr has also been a highly successful steward of the growth and realisation of Australian Unity’s multi-billion, long-term development of the Herston Quarter healthcare precinct in Brisbane, achieving numerous milestones in collaboration with partners across the broader Herston health precinct to catalyse clustering effects for the precinct and the broader community.

“Esther is a vocal proponent for purpose-led investment that makes a difference to the lives of people and their communities. This was exemplified by Esther’s ground-breaking work on the development of the Group’s Community and Social Value (CSV) framework. On behalf of the company, I thank Esther for her contribution and wish her all the best in her future endeavours.”

“Addressing transition and building on the foundations in place, Group Treasurer and General Manager of Strategy & Impact Mr. Adam Vise will assume the CEO role in an acting capacity.

“Adam brings significant strategy, capital markets and impact investment expertise to the role, Mead said.

Ms. Kerr said, “It’s been a privilege to have led Australian Unity’s W&CM platform for the last four and a half years.

I am grateful for my career with Australian Unity-one of the country’s most enduring and purposeful social enterprises-and am proud to have worked with a team of dedicated and talented professionals who are focused on delivering on our purpose to improve the wellbeing of Australians.

Having established a clear growth strategy for W&CM and successfully undertaken a significant program of transformation with a focus on amplifying our contribution to social infrastructure and enabling financial wellbeing, I leave the company confident in its future options and potential.

Ends

Media contact

T: 1300 408 776
E: media@australianunity.com.au

About Australian Unity

Established in 1840, Australian Unity is a member-owned wellbeing company with more than 370,000 members and more than 700,000 customers. 
Our range of health, wealth and care products and services provides member, customer and community value that is supportive of personal and community wellbeing.