Key Personnel

Board of Directors

Kenneth E. Jarvis

OAM, KSJ, B App. Sc (Hons),dip OR.
Director since 2004
Chairman
Chairman Nomination & Remuneration committee
Member Audit & compliance committee
Member Strategy committee
Executive chairman – Aerolite Quarries Pty Ltd
Executive chairman – Jakape Pty Ltd
Chairman – Victorian Regional channels Authority
Director – Gordon TAFE Ltd
Director – Aviation Australia development Ltd

James E. Walsh

B.com, MBA, FcA, MAicd.
Director since 2005
Deputy Chairman
Chairman Strategy committee (since July 2011)
Member Audit & compliance committee
Member Nomination & Remuneration committee (until July 2011)
Chartered Accountant
Director – Godfrey Hirst Australia Pty Ltd
President – the Geelong chamber of commerce

Sue Renkin

RN, MBA, MAicd, FcdA.
Director since 2009
Chair Health Services committee
Member Nomination & Remuneration committee
Member investment committee (since July 2011)
Chief Executive – Open Family Australia (until October 2010)
Managing Director – Intuitively Focussed p/l
Chairman – Monash centre for Green chemicals Future
Chairman – Clayton Bio Medical Imaging Laboratories
Chairman – Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust
Director – General Practice (Vic)
Director – Northern Health

Professor John C. Catford

MA, MSc, MB, Bchir, dM, dcH, FFPH, FRcP, FAFPHM, FiPAA, FAicd.
Director since 2009
Member Health Services committee
Member Nomination and Remuneration committee (since July 2011)
Dean of the Faculty of Health, Medicine, Nursing and Behavioural Sciences and Professor of Health development, Deakin University
Chair – Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria
Editor-in-chief, Journal Health Promotion international Oxford University Press
Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash university
Chair – Youth Substance Abuse Service
Chair – Kinect Australia (incorporating VicFit in Victoria)
Director – diabetes Australia (Victoria)
Director – Research Australia
Governor – Windermere Foundation
Governor – Epworth Foundation

Russell H. Elliott

B.Sc., M. Ed., MAicd.
Director since 2001
Chairman investment committee
Member Strategy committee (since July 2011)
Associate Vice President (Administration) – Monash University
Executive director – Russell Elliott and Associates Pty Ltd

Gerald Miller

BA, LLB. GAicd.
Director since 2007
Chair Audit & compliance committee
Member investment committee (until July 2011)
Member Strategy committee (Sep 2010 – July 2011)
Member Health Services committee (since July 2011)
Lawyer
Director – the Geelong college Ltd
Consultant – Browne & co Solicitors and consultants

Brian G. Benger

B.Ec (Hons), Advdip Fin Services (Superannuation) FAicd
Appointed Director February 2011
Member Strategy committee
Member investment committee
Chairman – FABAL Group
Member – Future Fund Advisory
Board, the Oaktree Foundation
Director – the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority
Director – Mercer investment Nominees Ltd.

Michael J. Dowling

KSJ, B.Ec., FcA, SFcdA, dip cd.
Retired September 2010
Chairman Nomination & Remuneration committee
Member Strategy committee
Chartered Accountant
Director – Dowling Corporate Consulting Pty Ltd

Heather L. Wellington

MBBS, B. Med. Sci.,BHA, FRAcMA, LLB, FAicd.
Resigned July 2010
Member Health Services committee
Lawyer
Medical Practitioner
Director – HPA consulting Pty Ltd
Chairman – IPG Ltd
Consultant – dLA Phillips Fox Lawyers

GMHBA Executive Team

Mark Valena

Chief Executive

Mark is an experienced Business Executive. He came to the helm at GMHBA in early 2008 following seven years as the CEO of Medical defence Association Victoria. MdAV was Victoria’s largest medical professional indemnity insurer (with an 18% national market share) and as a not-for- profit organisation, in a highly regulated insurance market operating in the health sector, provided a sound experience base for his current role at GMHBA. Mark has significant experience in the negotiation and implementation of mergers and business transitions at MdAV, NRMA and Fortis insurance. through these transitions Mark was able to create an environment of goodwill and navigate through many complex agendas leading to retention of members and employees. Mark is an Australian chartered Accountant who has a Bachelor of Business and a Graduate certificate in innovation & Service Management.

Michael Carroll

Company Secretary & Compliance

Michael is a Business Executive with over 26 years experience. He is responsible for the company Secretariat, with compliance as another major responsibility. Michael is accredited with a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) from Swinburne university, he is a certified Practicing Accountant, has completed his MBA at deakin university in 2004 and in 2007 completed a Graduate diploma in Applied corporate Governance with chartered Secretaries Australia.

Jacqueline Armitage

Marketing & Member Services

Jacqueline is a professional Sales and Service Executive with over 30 years Australian and Asian experience and a proven track record in managing multi-site operations for ‘blue chip’ organisations; with 5 years experience at GMHBA. Jacqueline’s success in her field is attributed to her ability to develop both strategic and tactical solutions to achieve sales targets as well as improve quality, productivity and customer satisfaction. this ensures customers’ expectations are consistently met and often exceeded.

James Arnott

FIT Health Insurance General Manager

James is a Business Executive with over 20 years experience. James is responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership to the Fit team ensuring successful operations across all aspects of the Fit business unit. Prior to heading up Fit Health insurance, James was responsible for a range of GMHBA services including Health Services, claims Audit, Product development and Marketing. James previously worked with caulfield General Medical centre and the Alfred Hospital for over 13 years where he was responsible for a diverse group of services. James has a diploma of Applied Science from Lincoln institute of Health Sciences, a Bachelor of Prosthetics and Orthotics from Latrobe university, and an MBA from the university of NSW. James is also a member of the Executive committee of the G21 Health and Wellbeing Pillar.

Troy Sheahan

Frank Health Insurance General Manager

Troy is a Business Executive with over 12 years’ experience in the private health insurance industry. Troy was appointed the General Manager of Frank Health Insurance in 2009 prior to its launch. Frank is a unique online only brand that prides itself on being different to the rest of the industry and has grown to be one of GMHBA’s most successful acquisition channels. Troy specialises in online marketing and product development for e-commerce business models. He has a wealth of experience in operational, technical and marketing roles within GMHBA, and was responsible for the organisation’s business information systems prior to taking on the Frank Health Insurance GM role. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (with Distinction) from Deakin University.

Tim Boyd

Human Resources

Tim is a Human Resource practitioner with over 16 years experience in HR generalist roles and has specialist skills in Learning and development and Organisational development functions. Tim has had a long career in Automotive development with a large multi national manufacturer in roles ranging from HR consultancy, Learning and Organisational development and international experience in the Asia Pacific region. Tim’s experience in Asia Pacific has developed an ability to understand organisational cultures and build relationships based on trust and respect. Tim currently manages the Human Resources team at GMHBA providing a comprehensive range of HR services to the organisation.

Tim Gove

Finance

Tim is responsible for leading GMHBA’s Finance function. Having recently joined GMHBA, tim joins us with both a professional services and corporate experience, bringing to our team, a strong financial and analytical focus. tim is an experienced finance professional and has over 20 years experience in financial services, working in Melbourne, Sydney and London. Tim has significant experience working with complex financial institutions, focusing on improving financial and operational performance and governance in highly regulated environments. He holds a Bachelor of commerce and is a chartered Accountant.