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Board of Trustees

The MSB Board of Trustees

A Board of five Trustees is responsible for managing the MilitarySuper Scheme. These five Trustees include:

  • An independent chairperson (appointed by the Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence)
  • Two employee representatives (one officer and one other-rank member) nominated by the Chief of the Defence Force and appointed by the Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence
  • Two employer representatives who are experienced in government policy and administration (appointed by the Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence).

With the exception of the two current employer representatives, Trustees hold office for a period of up to three years, and can be re-appointed to these positions. When the two current employer representatives cease office, their replacements will be appointed for terms of up to three years. Trustees are removed in the same way they are appointed.

The MSB Board ensures that the Scheme is operating according to the rules specified in the Scheme’s Trust Deed, and according to superannuation law. The Trust Deed is the Scheme’s governing legal document. It sets out the duties of the Trustees to all Members and the responsibilities and powers of the MSB Board. These include directing the Scheme’s investments, managing Member communications and ensuring the smooth administration of the Scheme.

To assist in fulfilling its duties, the Board delegates specialist responsibilities to committees. The committees give additional focus to significant functions, monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and performance of these functions and make recommendations to the Board. The committees comprise:

  • Investment Committee
  • Audit and Risk Management Committee
  • Communication Committee
  • Reconsideration Committee
  • Invalidity Classification Committee

Current Trustees

Photo of Mr Tony Hyams, Chairman of the Board

Chairman

Mr Tony Hyams
Trustee since 1 September 2007

Mr Hyams was formerly Chief Executive Officer of the Credit Suisse Group in Australia and is now a senior advisor to the Group. He is a director of the Australian Government Employees Superannuation Trust , Chairman of its Investment Committee and Deputy Chairman of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. He is also director of several private sector organisations. He has degrees in Law and Commerce from the University of Melbourne and brings to the role of Chairman an extraordinarily broad knowledge and understanding of investment an financial matters. In addition to his role as Chairman of the Board, he also serves as Chairman of the Investment Committee.

Photo of Gabriel Szondy

Minister's Appointments

Mr Gabriel Szondy
Trustee since 1 August 2007

A former senior partner and head of the superannuation tax practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Melbourne, Mr Szondy has over 30 years experience in the audit and taxation profession and superannuation industry and is widely acknowledged as one of the foremost superannuation experts in Australia. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Fellow of the Taxation Institute of Australia and a Fellow of the Association of Superannuation Funds in Australia (ASFA). Mr Szondy is a member of the Victorian Executive Group of ASFA and immediate past Chairman of its National Taxation Policy Committee. He is also an independent director of CARE Super. He currently serves as Chairman of the Audit and Risk Management Committee.

Photo of Mr Felix Bleeser

Mr Felix Bleeser
Trustee since 1 March 2005

Mr Bleeser is a former Assistant Secretary Continuous Improvement in the Defence Chief Finance Office and was also previously the Director General Defence Occupational Health Safety and Compensation. He has extensive experience in personnel policy and management in Defence, and has been a member of numerous Defence review bodies, including the review of the Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Scheme, the Defence Efficiency Review and the Strategic Review of Defence Personnel Policies into the 21st Century. He is a past Director of the superannuation policy in Defence and an alternate Member of the Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Authority, the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission and the Government's Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission. He is a member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee.

Photo of Brigadier Bob Brown CSC

Australian Defence Force Nominees

Brigadier Bob Brown CSC
Trustee since 18 October 2007

Brigadier Bob Brown served for 35 years in the Australian Army, as an Infantry officer, including service with the United Nations and in Iran and Iraq.  His appointments included Director General Personnel Policy, Headquarters Joint Operations Command Project and  Joint Combined Training Capability. He is currently the head of GHD's Defence business stream.  He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has previous experience as an Alternate Trustee of the MilitarySuper Scheme.  He currently serves as Chairman of the Military Superannuation Communication Committee.

Photo of WOFF Robert Swanwick JP, MAICD

WOFF Robert Swanwick JP, MAICD
Trustee since 22 September 1997

Warrant Officer Swanwick is a Loadmaster with No. 37 Squadron at RAAF Base Richmond. He has served throughout Australia and overseas for 28 years as a Loadmaster, has been posted to Air Force and Army units, and attached to Navy establishments. He holds diplomas in frontline management and aviation and has extensive training in investment and superannuation administration. Over the past ten years, he has held the position as the other Rank Trustee, and is a Member of the Military Super Board's Audit and Risk Management Committee and a Member and former Chairman of the Military Superannuation Communication Committee.