Board of Directors
STEPHEN NUGENT
Member and owner since 2002
B Bus. (Marketing), Grad Cert Internet Mkt., AFAMI, JP, AMP (Harvard)
Chair of Directors,
Chair of Corporate Governance and Remuneration Committee
Mr Nugent joined the Board as a Director in May 2002. Stephen has more than 40 years experience in the banking, finance and insurance industries and was formerly the Chief
Customer Officer for The Hospital Contributions Fund of Australia Limited (HCF). Stephen is also a Director of the Customer Owned Banking Association and the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network.
Stephen brings to the Board a wide range of experience in project and operations management, process improvement and reform programs focused on digital transformation, sales, marketing, customer service, retail banking, financial and property management, hospitality, retirement aged and home care, strategic planning and compliance.
JACKI JOHNSON
Member and owner since 2005
BAppSc (OT), EMBA (AGSM), GradDip Safety Science, FAICD
Member of Corporate Governance and Remuneration Committee
Ms Johnson is currently enrolled as a Phd candidate at University of Wollongong researching the role Board of Directors play in creating societal value.
In September 2022 Jacki was appointed as City Commissioner – Illawarra- Shoalhaven Greater Cities Commission NSW Government. Jacki is also the Managing Director of her own consulting practice, Focusing Moments Pty Ltd, primarily consulting in strategy.
Jacki has recently been appointed to the faculty of the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainable Leadership, Australian Business Programme. She is also a member of Chief Executive Women and a Fellow of the Institute of Company Directors.
Former roles include CEO IAG NZ, CEO The Buzz Insurance (IAG), Group Executive People, Performance and Reputation (IAG) Co Chair United Nations Environment Financial Initiative, Co Chair Australia Sustainable Finance Initiative and Steerco member Resilient Sydney, President of the Insurance Council of New Zealand, Chair of the Christchurch Recovery Chief Executives’ meeting, and Executive Director IAG NZ.
Jacki has been publicly recognised for her leadership. In 2022 Jacki has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance and in 2015 the NZ Herald in December named her as NZ Executive of the Year. She is a former Non Executive Director of the New South Wales WorkCover Authority and the Personal Injury Education Foundation.
NURIA KELLY
Member and owner since 1989
Assoc Dip Accounting, Cert Financial Markets (SIA), Dip Law, Solicitor & Barristers Admission Board, MAMI
Member of Board Audit and Board Risk Committees
Ms Kelly joined the Board as an
Associate Director in May 2002 and was elected to the Board in 2003.
Nuria has more than 20 years experience in financial planning and management, with qualifications from the Securities Institute of Australia and an Associate Diploma in Accounting and a Diploma of Law. Nuria has retired as principal of a Financial Planning and Stockbroking Practice with Bridges Financial Services (IOOF) and brings to the Board her experience of working closely with Community First Members through her financial planning and stockbroking role. Nuria was also previously Head of Financial Services Sydney with RSM Australia (RSM Bird Cameron).
Recently she has been working as a Governance and Risk Management Consultant, assignments have included senior manager executive positions such as Head of Legal and Compliance for financial services firms. She is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and a member of the Institute of Public Accountants.
Nuria was also a Director of Foot of the Mountains Pty Ltd which owned retail businesses in the Blue Mountains up to December 2019.
STUART KORCHINSKI
Member and Owner since 2004
B. Comm (Honours), CPA, CA, MAMI
Member of Board Audit and Board Risk Committees
Mr Korchinski was appointed to the
Board in June 2004 to fill a casual vacancy. Stuart has spent the last 33 years in the accounting profession and the general insurance, superannuation, wealth management and related technology industries in a variety of leadership roles. He is a Chartered Accountant and former Managing Director of SuperChoice Services, ASX-listed Diversa Limited, CitiStreet Australia, Telstra’s KAZ Business Services, Australian Administration Services and Chief General Manager of Allianz’s personal insurance business. He is also a former non-executive director of Enhanced Payment Technologies, Thai Administration Services Co. Ltd and financial advice company, Money Solutions.
Stuart is currently an adviser to SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc., a global provider of software and services to the funds management, retirement and healthcare industries,
and Chairman of Global Edge Network Limited.
STEPHEN LOWNDES
Member and Owner since 1999
B. Rur. Sc. (Hons) UNE, MAMI
Member of Corporate Governance and Remuneration Committee
Mr Lowndes was appointed to a casual
vacancy on the Board in March 2001 and elected as Chair from July 2008 to November 2015. Stephen has 30 years experience in data analysis, systems development, policy formulation, strategic planning, executive management and industry representation, gained in the Commonwealth Public Service, Private Health Insurance, Aged Care and Health industries. Stephen has served on the Boards of the Australian Friendly Society Association, the Australian Health Services Alliance, the Australian Health Insurance Association, Health Services Association of NSW and a number of not-for-profit community services organisations.
Stephen was formerly a member of the Management Board of Manchester Unity Credit Union, Chief Executive of Manchester Unity Australia Ltd, CEO of the Aged and Community Services Association of NSW and ACT, a peak industry association representing not -for-profit aged care providers and Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Rehab,
a not-for-profit specialist rehabilitation and disability hospital. He is currently the CEO of the Family of League Foundation.
KENNETH PICKERING
Member and owner since 1968
Dip Fin Serv, Ass. Dip. Bus. Mgt., FAICD Dip, AARPI, FAMI, AIMM.
Chair of Board Audit and Board Risk Committees
Mr Pickering has been a Director since
1972 serving as Chair between 1984and 1992 and Vice Chair between 1992 and 2009. Ken has had a close affinity with the broader Credit Union movement through his service on CUSCAL’s National Membership Council between 1990 and 2000, as CEO Australasian Institute of Credit Union Directors between 1995 and 2005 and Executive Manager Professional Development for Australasian Mutuals Institute between 2006 and 2015.
Prior to this, Ken had 25 years’ experience at Sydney Water, including a number of executive management positions relating to the change management program from 1983-
93. Between 1993 and 2018 he was engaged in the provision of business management and consultancy services in both the customer owned banking industry and small business along with some property development projects.
Between December 2014 and July 2018 Ken served as Learning & Development Consultant for the Institute of Strategic Management and on the Advisory Board for that Institute. He is currently a Director/Trustee of a self-managed superannuation fund and Chair/Secretary Body Corporate Committee for a 60 Unit Residential & Holiday Letting Resort.
He is a Graduate of the Diploma Course, has been a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors for 29 years and in 2016 was admitted as an Associate of the Australian Risk Policy Institute.
ROCKY SCOPELLITI
Member and owner since 2013
Grad.Dip.Corp.Man, MBA, GAICD, MAMI
Member of Board Audit and Board Risk Committees
Mr Scopelliti joined the Board as a
Non-Executive Director in March 2013. Rocky is the Chief Scientist – Government at Optus where he leads the creation of world class thought leadership and innovation to advise enterprises on the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He is also an Adjunct Professor at UTS, and former member of the Australian Payments Council.
A distinguished Futurologist, author and international keynote speaker, Rocky has contributed to the World Economic Forum’s Disruptive Innovation in Financial Services Program, delivered keynote addresses at events such as Mobile World Congress and published sixteen thought leadership research reports and books on digital disruption
that have become internationally recognised.
Rocky has more than twenty years senior management experience in the information technology and financial services sectors with Telstra Corporation and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia covering product development, strategy, business development, marketing and research.
Educated in Australia and trained in the United States, at Sydney University and Stanford University, Rocky has a Graduate Diploma in Corporate Management and a Master’s in Business Administration. He is also Graduate and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
GARY THOMSON
Member and owner since 1979
Grad.Dip.Corp.Man, MBA, GAICD, MAMI
Member of Corporate Governance and Remuneration Committee
Mr Thomson joined the Board of
Community First Credit Union as a Non-Executive Director in December 2016. He was previously a Director and Chair of Manly Warringah Credit Union Ltd since 2006. Gary has a broad range of experience in strategic planning, risk management, executive management and governmental relations.
Gary semi-retired in July 2018 but was previously employed as a Project Director at Singleton Council from 2017 to 2018. From 2010 to June 2017 he was Assistant General Manager at Singleton Council following 3 years working as a consultant in the areas of town planning and business reorganisation particularly related to waste management. Prior to this he worked for Warringah Council for 28 years where his final role was as Director of Customer and Community Services.
He has extensive Board experience having previously been a member of the Glen Street Theatre Board of Directors and Hunter Resource Recovery Board of Directors. He is currently a Director of Balmain Rugby League Football Club and Balmain District Junior Rugby League Club. He is the owner of Thomson Planning and Project Management providing executive advice to private and public enterprises.
JOHN TANCEVSKI
Member and Owner since 2005
B.Comm (Accy), FCPA, MBA, GAICD
Chief Executive Officer & Company Secretary
Member Corporate Governance and Remuneration Committee
John joined Community First in May 2005 as Chief Executive Officer. He has spent over half his career working in senior and general management positions with medium and large sized credit unions and previously had a diverse background in the steel, manufacturing, oil and health industries.
John has extensive experience in strategic planning, corporate governance and secretarial duties; finance and treasury; risk management; compliance and information technology. John is a Director of TransAction Solutions Limited (TAS), a facilities management company, and is also a member of the Board Audit and Risk Committee at TAS.
John holds a Masters of Business Administration degree and is a Fellow of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants (CPA).
HUNG TRUONG
Member and Owner since 1999
B. Commerce (Accounting), FCPA
Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary
Hung joined Community First in December 1999 and over 16 years has progressed through the organisation in a number of key roles in finance. Currently Hung is the Chief Financial Officer with oversight of the finance and accounting function; covering financial management; budgeting; taxation; treasury; prudential and statutory reporting. He is also responsible for the collections corporate services and company secretarial functions.
