Board of Directors

There are twelve Directors on the Trustee Board, which is currently made up of:

• Five Directors nominated by the Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union
• Five nominated by employer associations
• Two Independent Director
• One Associate Employer Director

Directors are appointed by the Board after considering the skills, qualifications, and suitability of nominees.

All Directors are obliged by law to act in the best interests of all members of First Super.

The Directors may change from time to time. At present, the Directors are:

Michael has been involved with industry superannuation funds since the 1980s and is has been Co-Chair of First Super since 2008. Prior to this, he was a Director of TISS (First Super’s predecessor) from 2006 to 2008.

Michael is the Divisional Secretary of the TFTU – the Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union and has held this position since late 2005.  He has been with the union for over 40 years, commencing work as a union organiser in 1985.

Michael also holds the following positions:

• Chair, (Australian Government’s) Forest and Wood Products Council: Strategic Forest and Renewable Materials Partnership
• Director, Responsible Wood
• Director, Industry Super Australia
• Chair, Secure Employees Entitlements Trust Pty Ltd (SEET).

Previously, Michael was the National Secretary of the CFMEU – Manufacturing Division (from 2011 to 2020). He was also a Director of Utilities Trust Australia (from 2013 to 2015) and a Vice President and Executive of the ACTU as well as several ACTU Committees.

He was also a member of the Committee of Management of the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI),  Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST), and on the Board of Frontier Advisors (from 2006 to 2013) and Super Benefits Administration (SBA) (from 2006 to 2020).

Michael holds an RG146 qualification.

Nominated by: Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union (TFTU)

Mike has over ten years’ experience as a Director of superannuation funds, and he became a Co-Chair of First Super on 1 January 2020. He also holds the following positions:

• CEO, ForestWorks Ltd
• Chair, Super Benefits Administration Pty Ltd.

Mike has held a range of senior executive positions in the furniture industry. These include the CEO of the Furnishing Industry Association of Australia, CEO of UCI National and VP Asia for MillerKnoll.

Mike has a:

• Bachelor of Science (Hons)
• Graduate Diploma in Education
• Masters in Education Administration
• Graduate Diploma of Accounting
• CPA and RG146

Committees: Investment (Chair), Remuneration, Nomination

Nominated by: the Australasian Furniture Association

Denise is the President of the Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union. She has been an elected Officer of the Union since 2012, becoming Secretary of the Pulp & Paper Workers District in 2019, and represents paper production workers nationally. Denise has been with the Union since 2001 in a variety of roles that include workplace health and safety and risk management positions.  

Denise is a Director of:

• ForestWorks Ltd (Chair)
• ACN 117 909 127

She also represents workers from the timber, fibre and pulp and paper sectors in the following bodies:

• Forest and Wood Products Council – Strategic Forest and Renewable Materials Partnership (Federal Government)
• Victorian Skills Authority, Resources Industry Advisory Group.

Denise has a Diploma in Superannuation, is RG146 compliant, a member of Women in Super, and a Graduate of Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees. She has also completed the course ‘Insurance for the superannuation industry’ and ‘Investment for the superannuation industry’.

• Since 2018, Denise has been the Divisional President of the Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union (TFTU).
• She holds a Graduate Diploma in Hazard Management.

Committees: Investment, Administration and Marketing, Nominations Remuneration.

Nominated by: Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union (TFTU)

Janet became a First Super Director in 2017 as an employer representative.

She has more than 21 years’ experience in industrial and employment law and 13 years’ experience in the timber industry.

Janet is a Director of the Timber Trade Industrial Association (TTIA). She previously served in a voluntary role as Director, Deputy Chair and Co-Chair of the Board at the Kirribilli Centre (2015-2019) and is a past volunteer at the Kingsford Legal Centre.

Janet holds a Bachelor of Law (Hons) and a Masters in Law (Hons), as well as further industrial relations qualifications from the University of Sydney. She is a member of Women in Super and the Law Society of New South Wales, and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (Advanced Course).

Committees: Administration and Marketing, Audit and Compliance, Remuneration, Nomination, Membership Growth sub committee (Chair)

Nominated by: TTIA (Timber Trade Industrial Association)

Scott has seven years of governance experience and is a former Director of AustralianSuper, Cbus, a former executive member of the ACTU, and former National Secretary of the Australian Workers Union.

He has extensive experience in the manufacturing industry and has previously been the Assistant National Secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union. Scott has worked as a service person for Alcoa at its alumina refinery in Western Australia for 18 years.

Committees: Investment

Nominated by: Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union (TFTU)

Robyn is a highly accomplished senior executive and non-executive director with more than three decades of leadership experience across the manufacturing, finance, information systems and superannuation sectors. Since July 2019, Robyn has served on the Board of First Super, contributing her deep commercial expertise and governance acumen to support the Fund’s strategic direction.

As a long-standing executive at Borg Group, Robyn has played an instrumental role in the company’s evolution into one of the largest employers on the NSW Central Coast and a leading national manufacturer of building products. Her leadership spans corporate strategy, project and financial management, contract negotiation and risk governance. Notably, she has led several successful mergers and acquisitions, including the full integration of acquired businesses into core systems and processes, ensuring sustainable growth and cultural alignment.

An accountant by training and former small business owner, Robyn brings a practical and entrepreneurial lens to her work. She currently serves as a Director of the Australian Cabinet and Furniture Association (ACFA), championing innovation and industry representation.

Ms Burns holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting), a Diploma of Management and is a Graduate of Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (GAICD, Adv.). She is known for her forward-thinking leadership, collaborative style and commitment to operational excellence and long-term value creation.

She brings a wealth of experience in board management, project and financial management and risk control and organisational development.

Committees: Administration and Marketing (Chair), Investment

Nominated by: Australian Cabinet and Furniture Association (ACFA)

Dean is the CEO and Company Secretary of the Australian Cabinet and Furniture Association (ACFA), a position he has held since February 2014. He has been involved in the furnishing and cabinetmaking sector since the age of 17, starting his apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker in 1986.

Dean has been a member of First Super since 1997. He is passionate about manufacturing in Australia and believes there are still many opportunities for small businesses to fulfil their potential in the sector. He played a role in the merger of the Furnishing Industry Association of Australia (FIAA) and the Cabinet Makers & Designers Association (CMDA), with the merged entities forming ACFA.

Dean is also the Secretary of the Australian Woodworking Industry Suppliers Association Ltd. Previously, Dean has been involved in numerous WorkCover committees and initiatives to improve employee safety in the sector.

Dean holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Australian Institute of Business South Australia. Dean is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees.

Committees: Administration and Marketing, Audit and Compliance

Nominated by: Australian Cabinet and Furniture Association (ACFA)

Anthony is a Production Worker – Paper Machines at Australian Paper, as well as the on-site Secretary of the Maryvale Sub-Branch of the TFTU Pulp & Paper Workers District.

Before joining Australian Paper in 2002, Anthony worked as a glazier and scaffolder for more than 10 years. Since turning his focus to the pulp and paper industry, he has become a passionate advocate for the use of Australian-made paper. As a result of First Super’s strong links to the industry, Anthony has a long-standing professional relationship with the Fund.

In addition to being Maryvale Sub-Branch Secretary, Anthony is also Senior Vice President of the Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union (TFTU), a Member of the Manufacturing Division Executive Committee, and sits on the Finance Committee. His experience across boards and committees extends to current positions on the Maryvale Friendly Society Board and the Gippsland Trades and Labour Council Committee. In 2016 and 2017 he was part of the Victorian Government Forest Task Force.

Anthony is a qualified glazier and has completed numerous professional development courses including Governance Training and Contact Officer Training.

Anthony has played and coached AFL throughout Gippsland and the La Trobe Valley and was drafted to North Melbourne in 1990.

Committees: Administration and Marketing, Audit and Compliance, Remuneration, Nominations

Nominated by: Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union (TFTU)

Casey is the Worker’s Capital Manager at the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU). Casey oversees the ACTU’s Centre for Workers’ Capital and superannuation advocacy. She is a member of the global Committee on Worker’s Capital (CWC) Networked Secretariat and the CWC Labour Rights Investor Network Coordinating Committee.

Casey was previously the Senior Compliance Officer at the CFMEU – Manufacturing Division, where she was responsible for overseeing the compliance program for the Ethical Clothing Australia (ECA) accreditation scheme across New South Wales and Queensland.

Casey has worked in an advisory capacity for the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) and for a Commonwealth Senator, managing communication and campaign strategy and stakeholder engagement including unions, media, business and community organisations.

Casey is experienced in governance and compliance and has a detailed knowledge of the superannuation sector and industrial relations.

Casey holds a bachelor’s degree with a double major in Political Economy and Government and International Relations (BA) from the University of Sydney. Casey is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST) Trustee Director Course and Advance Trustee Director Course, received the Garry Weaven Emerging Trustee Scholarship and participates in the Harvard University Trustee Leadership Forum.

Committees: Administration and Marketing, Investment, Audit and Compliance

Nominated by: Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union (TFTU)

Lisa Marty is an experienced director, senior executive, and consultant. She is a specialist in land management (forest, water and parks) and industry policy, climate change policy and governance, and stakeholder engagement.

Lisa has more than 12 years of board experience including industry superannuation, government entities, industry associations and training and skills organisations. Lisa holds positions as:

• Deputy Chair of Parks Victoria
• Board member, Skills Insight
• Independent Chair, Forest and Wood Products Australia, Timber Market Index Steering Committee.

Lisa has previously served as a director of First Super from August 2012 to December 2020, the Australian Forest Products Association, Timber Training Creswick, and Wood Products Victoria. Lisa has held consulting and executive roles within the forestry and natural resource sector, including as a former CEO of the Victorian Association of Forest Industries.

Lisa has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from Monash University, a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from Monash University, Masters of Environment from the University of Melbourne and holds a qualification in strategic leadership from the Graduate Institute of Strategic Leadership. She has completed the Trustee Director Course Level 2 (Advanced Governance) with the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST) and the Company Director’s Course with the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Committees: Audit and Compliance, Investment, Remuneration (Chair), Nomination (Chair)

Deborah (Debbie) Smith was appointed to First Super’s Board as an Employer Director in April 2023.

She brings considerable governance experience to the role, having previous experience as the President of Master Grocers Australia (MGA), a position she held from 2018 to 2022. She has been a director of MGA since 2006.

Debbie also has deep experience directing large-scale commercial enterprises, having been a director of Australian United Retailers (AUR) from 2003 to 2015. During her term as a director, AUR grew to become the second largest independent supermarket retailing group, with its independent retailers generating $1.35b in sales.

Debbie has also previously held board positions at ACES, MiPlanet and Queensland Small Business Advisory Council.

Debbie lives in Toowoomba, Queensland and directs and operates two Foodworks grocery stores and a post office there. She has been an independent supermarket retailer since 1996 and her business management expertise, coupled with her ‘real world’ small business ownership has engendered in her an understanding of the importance of working with people, for the good of people.

Qualifications

• Master of Business Administration, University of New England
• Graduate Diploma of Business Administration, University of New England
• Diploma of Teaching, Townsville College of Advanced Education

Committees:  Administration and Marketing Committee

Nominated by: Peuker & Alexander Pty Ltd

Mr Tri Nguyen was born in Vietnam and arrived in Australia via Malaysia by boat as part of the UNHCR Refugee Program in the early 1980s. He was the first Vietnamese law graduate of the University of Adelaide.

He is an accomplished corporate lawyer highly experienced in M&A, corporate restructuring and capital raising, corporate governance, compliance, risk, finance and stakeholder relationship.

Mr Nguyen has over 2 decades of board level experience. He is a:

• Chair, NoLo Life Ltd
• Trustee, Trust for Nature (member, Audit and Risk Committee; Chair, Finance and Investment Committee)
• Director of the Indigenous Education Foundation
• A Founding Board member at Vietnamese Australian Benevolent Foundation, SA
• Board Member of the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (member, Audit and Risk Management Committee)
• Special Legal Counsel and Company Secretary at genU
• Company Secretary at NACCHO (National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation)

Previously he has held roles as General Counsel at Gunns Ltd (incorporating the Auspine Group where he was also Company Secretary), General Counsel at Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation, and General Counsel and Company Secretary at Redundancy Payment Central Fund Ltd (Incolink).

Tri has a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Science (Jurisprudence) from the University of Adelaide, a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of South Australia, and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance from the Governance Institute of Australia.

Committees: Audit and Compliance

Mick Stephens has worked in the forestry industry and related fields for more than 30 years as a resource economist, including a two-year secondment to the Canadian Forest Service and senior roles in the Australian Government in research and policy including with the CSIRO and the Australian Bureau of Agricultural Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES).

Working across public policy, research and advocacy in the forestry, agriculture and regional development sectors, Mr Stephens has assessed a range of market and supply chain issues impacting these sectors including climate change and sustainability.

He has also worked in public administration as Deputy Administrator of Norfolk Island and has experience across a range of national and international forums including as former Director of International and State Relations (Forests Branch) with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

He is currently the CEO of Timber Queensland.

Mr Stephens has a degree in economics, postgraduate qualifications in applied science and a Master of Forestry.

Committees: Investment committee

Nominated by: DTM Timber