Our Directors
Our Board of Directors is responsible for the overall management and strategic direction of Teachers Mutual Bank Limited. All Board members are independent, non executive directors, with the majority elected by members on a three-year rotational basis. We also have three Board-appointed Directors.
Directors must meet the Fit and Proper criteria set by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and comply with our Code of Conduct, which outlines their legal and ethical obligations. They are committed to ongoing training to stay informed about emerging issues and to meet all governance requirements. The Board undertakes an annual review of its performance, as well as reviews for individual Directors, Board committees, and the Executive Team.
The Directors’ Skills Matrix provides an assessment of the collective skills and experience held by the Board across key specialist areas.
Andrew Kearnan
Chair
MBA, BSc (Hons), FAICD
Appointed: September 2020, Deputy Chair May 2023 to February 2025, Chair since February 2025
Board Committees: Member of the Audit, Nominations and Risk & Compliance Committees
Andrew has held senior, executive and non-executive Director positions at leading finance sector institutions including Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, Commonwealth Bank, Hollard Insurance, and RACQ. He is a past Member of the Australian Accounting Standards Board and was consistently rated as one of Australia’s top equity market research analysts (financial services sector) during his 18-year investment banking career.
Andrew also holds a number of non-executive directorships, including as Chair of UniMutual Limited, PetSure Australia and PetSure Holdings, and as a Director of Capricorn Society Limited.
Prof. the Hon. Verity Firth AM
Deputy Chair
BA LLB; GAICD
Appointed: July 2020, Deputy Chair since May 2025
Board Committees: Chair of the Nominations Committee, Member of the People & Remuneration Committee
Verity has experience at the very highest levels of government and the not-for-profit sector in Australia. She is Vice-President, Societal Impact, Equity and Engagement at the University of New South Wales. Prior to this, she was Pro Vice-Chancellor (Social Justice and Inclusion) at University of Technology Sydney. From 2007 to 2011, she was the Member for Balmain in the NSW Parliament and served as Minister for Education and Training in NSW. She has also held the role of CEO of the Public Education Foundation.
Before her parliamentary career, Verity worked as a lawyer and was Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney.
Verity was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2023 Australia Day Honours List, in recognition of her service to the Parliament of New South Wales and to social inclusion.
Verity is also Chair of the National Centre for Vocational Education Research, Chair of Engagement Australia, Deputy Chair of the Australian Public Policy Institute, Director UNSW Press Pty Ltd, and Member of the Commonwealth Government Tertiary System Advisory Council.
Fiona Bennett
Director
BBus (Accounting, Finance & Economics); CPA; GAICD
Appointed: 1 May 2026
Board Committees: Member of the Audit and People & Remuneration Committees
Fiona is an experienced non-executive Director and board Chair with extensive expertise in financial management, governance, audit and risk. She formerly served as Chair of Australian Mutual Bank Ltd, currently holds a committee Chair role at Neami National, and is a Director of Skillset Limited.
Fiona has also held senior board positions in the public health sector, including Deputy Chair of the Western NSW Local Health District, and independent member of the Audit and Risk Committee for Far West Local Health District. With a background in senior finance roles at CSR Limited and government, she brings strong leadership, strategic insight and a commitment to governance and sustainability.
Emeritus Professor William Ford
Director
BA LLB (Hons); DipEd W Aust; DipLib (NSW); FAAL
Appointed: August 2015
Board Committees: Member of the People & Remuneration and Risk & Compliance Committees
A Director and Chair of Unicredit until its merger with Teachers Mutual Bank Limited in 2015, William is also a Barrister and Solicitor to the Supreme Court of WA and was for many years a specialist consultant to various National and State law firms.
William is an Emeritus Professor of Law and former Dean of the Law School at the University of Western Australia. His career includes serving as Chair of the Council of Australian Law Deans (2007-2011); former President (UWA Branch) NTEU & President of UWA Academic Staff Association; and former National Vice-President (Academic) NTEU.
William is also a Director/Trustee at Coleraine Pty Limited.
Virginia Marshall
Director
BCom, MBus, MCom, GradCertSust, GAICD
Appointed: May 2023
Board Committees: Chair of the Audit Committee, Member of the Risk & Compliance Committee
Virginia is an experienced financial executive with more than 20 years of experience across financial services, property and asset management, and technology companies, including Deputy Chief Financial Officer for Westpac Banking Corporation’s Consumer Division and Chief Financial Officer of non-bank lender, Society One.
Virginia is currently Chief Financial Officer for Samsara Eco Pty Ltd, a biotech focusing on enzymatic recycling, advancing Australia’s efforts towards a circular economy. She is also a Director at the NSW Cancer Council.
Sue Matthews
Director
RN, BA, MHScN, Wharton Fellow, DPH, GAICD
Appointed: February 2024
Board Committees: Member of the People & Remuneration and Nominations Committees
Sue is CEO of the Royal Women’s Hospital. She is a member of the Victorian Women’s Health Advisory Council and recently Chaired the Victorian Inquiry into Women’s Pain. She is a council member of the Melbourne Academic Centre for Health.
Sue is an internationally recognised leader in women's health and healthcare systems, underpinned by a rich experience in clinical expertise, research contributions, governance and administrative oversight. She is deeply dedicated to elevating the wellbeing of women and newborns through visionary, passionate, and evidence-based advocacy.
She is a Graduate of the AICD Company Directors course, has a Doctorate in Public Health, Master of Health Science Nursing, Bachelor of Liberal Arts, Health Studies and has completed an executive fellowship at Wharton School of Business.
Andrew McCready
Director
BSc, A Fin
Appointed: September 2019
Board Committees: Chair of People & Remuneration Committee, Member of the Audit Committee
Andrew is a Leading Station Officer in Fire + Rescue NSW and a Supervisor at their 000 Call Centre in Sydney.
Andrew was a Director of Fire Brigades Employees Credit Union for 8 years and Chair for 3 years. Post the merger with Teachers Mutual Bank Limited in 2016, he continued on the Firefighters Mutual Bank Advisory Committee and was appointed to the Teachers Mutual Bank Limited Board in 2019.
Marianne Perkovic
Director
BEc, MBA, GAICD
Appointed: September 2024
Board Committees: Chair of the Risk & Compliance Committee, Member of the Audit Committee
Marianne has 30 years experience within financial services working across retail and high net worth banking, wealth management, financial advice, asset and investment management, insurance, and superannuation. She also has experience in the fashion and textile industry.
A highly experienced executive and director, Marianne has held senior executive roles with ASX listed organisations, a major bank, and consulting firms. She is an experienced board Director, committee Chair, was the youngest female to be appointed CEO of an ASX-listed business, and to date has been recognised with several industry awards.
Marianne is also a Director at Insignia Financial Group’s Investment & Superannuation Trustee Boards, Real Asset Management Essential Services Property Fund, Eticore, BuildCorp Foundation Board, The Australian Fashion Council, Seamless, TFIA Business Services Pty Limited, Devlin Noble Pty Ltd, Perkovic Devlin Advisory, and is an APAC International Advisory Board member at Workday and a Member of Chief Executive Women.
Kristen Watts
Director
BEc (Accounting); MCom; CA; GAICD
Appointed: 1 May 2026
Board Committees: Member of the Nominations and Risk & Compliance Committees
Kristen is an experienced non-executive Director with more than 25 years expertise in commercial finance, risk management, asset management and investment governance. She has served on mutual bank boards for over 15 years, including Australian Mutual Bank Ltd, Endeavour Mutual Bank and Select Credit Union, and brings deep knowledge of APRA regulated environments and contemporary governance practice.
A Chartered Accountant and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Kristen’s board portfolio spans community housing, social enterprise and aged care, where she Chairs Finance, Risk and Audit Committees and provides oversight of strategy, performance and risk.
Nominating for a position on the Board
If you’re considering a leadership role as an elected Director on the Teachers Mutual Bank Limited Board, there are several important steps to work through before submitting a nomination.