Our Board of Directors oversee the strategic direction of Defence Bank, and ensure our statutory and legal requirements are met. Directors serve a term of three years, with elections held annually and are announced at the Annual General Meeting held in November.
Term of Office.
Initially appointed to the Board in May 2012.
Most recently re-elected in November 2022 and appointed to the position of Chair of the Board.
Current Committee Roles.
Governance and Remuneration Committee
Risk and Compliance Committee
Audit Committee
Other Directorships.
Insight Investment Australia
Skills and experience.
Bruce started his career in the Royal Australian Navy, serving as an officer from 1982 to 1990. He has since gained extensive financial services experience across retail banking, superannuation and funds management. His executive responsibilities have included roles in credit analysis, audit, product development and distribution.
Bruce’s senior management career began as a Director, Retail Distribution at Deutsche Asset Management from 2000 to 2004. He then became an executive director with Macquarie Group (2004 to 2009) where he was responsible for local and global distribution of funds management products.
Bruce was Managing Director of BNY Mellon Investment Management from 2009 to 2015, responsible for the Australian Investment Management Business. He now leads Insight Investment’s business for Australia and New Zealand.
Term of Office.
Appointed to the Board in November 2015.
Re-elected in November 2021.
Current Committee Roles.
Risk and Compliance Committee
Other Directorships.
President & Chair, ESS Superannuation Trustee Board Director, Catholic Church Insurance & CCIAM Chair, Transaction Capital/recoveriescorp Director, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers Director, AFL Players Injury & Hardship Fund Managing Director & Principal, Alvearium Pty Ltd Chair, Sacré Coeur, Independent School
Skills and experience.
Joan’s executive and director experience covers the corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors.
Originally qualified as a barrister, Joan’s management career began at 20th Century Fox’s fastmoving consumer goods enterprise in London. She went on to hold senior management roles in heavy manufacturing industries, large start-up projects in Europe, and international insurance operations in Asia. For more than 16 years, she worked as CEO and Director of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance & Finance.
Joan currently works within a diverse portfolio of non-executive director roles, and consults across a wide range of organisations in the areas of strategic planning, leadership, governance and risk.
She is often called upon to work with teams to address governance issues and create frameworks to meet best practice standards and regulatory compliance requirements.
Term of Office.
Appointed to the Board in November 2022.
Current Committee Roles.
Chair of the Audit Committee Governance
Risk and Compliance Committee
Previous Directorships.
Director Revolution Asset Management, Director and Past Chair Dress for Success Sydney, Director Domestic Violence NSW Service Management, Advisory Committee Member Western Sydney University Finance and Investment Committee, Advisory Committee Chair NSW Aboriginal Land Council Finance Committee.
Skills and experience
Vicki has over 30 years of accounting roles covering audit, operations, risk, strategy, listed and regulated entities with a focus on the financial services industry including banking, insurance, mortgages, annuities, listed and unlisted investment vehicles and asset classes. She has held senior executive roles at Challenger Ltd and was CFO of Lendi Ltd and Interim CFO of Pollination Group.
Vicki has strong technical expertise in the implementation of new accounting standards and regulatory requirements and exposure to fintech in the mortgages space. Vicki has a strong focus on community and for purpose roles alongside her executive career.
Term of Office.
Appointed to the Board in November 2020.
Re-elected in November 2023.
Current Committee Roles.
Audit Committee
Governance and Remuneration Committee
Skills and experience.
Jeffrey commenced his Air Force career at the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1996. He has served in a variety Air Force technical engineering and leadership roles around Australia, including as the Commanding Officer of Number 65 Squadron where he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. Jeffrey has had multiple operational deployments in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Solomon Islands where he has worked in joint and coalition environments.
Jeffrey holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil), a Master of Commerce (Accounting), a Master of Arts (Strategy and Management), and a Certificate IV in Business Coaching. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course, Fellow and Chartered Professional Engineer with Engineers Australia, and a Graduate of the Australian Command and Staff College. Combining his skills, knowledge and experience, Jeffrey has served on a number of community, national, and international boards and committees, including an appointment as the Deputy Chair of the Engineers Australia Civil College Board.
Term of Office.
Appointed to the Board in November 2015.
Re-elected in November 2021.
Current Committee Roles.
Chair of the Governance and Remuneration Committee
Trustee of Defence Bank Foundation Committee
Other Directorships.
Council Member, University of New England Non-Executive Director, Integrated Research Limited Advisory Board Member Token One Non-Executive Director, United Way
Skills and experience.
Anne is an experienced non-executive director who holds directorships across the banking, education and technology sectors. She has executive level experience spanning retail banking, insurance, funds management and superannuation.
Her most recent executive roles were as Chief Operating Officer of ING Direct, and interim CEO for United Way. Anne’s combination of strong digital and technology skills, coupled with exceptional risk management and strategy experience, enables her to bring a unique perspective to her board roles and to add value across a variety of industries.
With more than 30 years’ experience in the finance industry, Anne provides a sound understanding of the legislative and regulatory requirements of retail banking.
Term of Office.
Appointed to the Board in November 2020.
Re-elected in November 2023.
Current Committee Roles.
Chair of Risk and Compliance Committee
Audit Committee
Other Directorships.
Non-Executive Director, Emergency Services & State Superannuation Trustee Board, Independent Director and Chair of the Risk and Assurance Committee, Tonkin and Taylor Group Limited.
Skills and experience.
Pam has extensive experience as a senior executive across both the Banking and For Purpose sectors, with a diverse background in digital, innovation, corporate strategy and retail banking. In recent years, Pam's career has focused on leading and influencing digital transformation, with key roles including Chief of Strategy, Innovation and Digital for World Vision Australia, and General Manager Digital for ANZ Banking Group.
Pam's experiences in digital transformation and strategy across multiple sectors are coupled with over 25 years in retail banking. This has equipped her with a broad range of skills including leading large customer service operations and as a banker working directly with customers. Her many roles in banking have enabled Pam to build a strong understanding of the breadth of retail banking operations alongside the risk and regulatory framework within which retail banks operate.
Term of Office
Appointed to the Board in November 2022.
Current Committee Roles
Governance and Remuneration Committee
Trustee of Defence Bank Foundation Committee
Skills and experience
Letitia (‘Tish’) has been a Defence Bank member since 2000. With nearly 30 years’ service in the Australian Defence Force, she is currently Chief of Staff at Navy Headquarters and a Senior Defence Legal Officer. Tish was promoted to Rear Admiral on 9 December 2024 and has assumed the role of Head of Military Personnel.
Tish has a breadth of experience across Defence as a Maritime Warfare Officer in seagoing roles, as a Command Legal Advisor and in Human Resource Management. She is a graduate of the Australian War College, Defence Strategic Studies Course. Tish has been deployed on operations in the Middle East.
She holds a Bachelor of Laws, a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, a Graduate Diploma in Military Law, a Master of Military Law and has a Graduate Certificate in Defence Strategic Studies.