Our Board is also responsible for overseeing governance and delivering accountable corporate performance for shareholders in accordance with the bank’s goals and strategic objectives.
Vicki Carter
BA (Social Sciences), Dip Mgt, Certificate in Executive Coaching, GAICD
Vicki lives, works and learns on the land of the Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation and was appointed Chair in May 2024. Vicki joined the Board in September 2018 and is also a member of the Board Risk Committee and the Board People and Culture Committee.
With more than 30 years’ experience in the financial services and telecommunications sectors, Vicki has held executive roles in distribution, strategy, operations, human resources and transformation. Her extensive skills in large‑scale people leadership, product, sales management, transformation delivery and risk management have been, and continue to be, valuable and contemporary contributions to the Board.
Vicki’s former roles include Executive Director, Transformation Delivery at Telstra, Executive General Manager Retail Bank at NAB, Executive General Manager Business Operations and General Manager People and Culture also at NAB, as well as senior leadership roles at MLC, ING and Prudential Assurance Co Ltd.
Other director and memberships:1
- Non‑Executive Director of ASX Limited (ASX:ASX) (February 2023 to present)
- Non‑Executive Director of IPH Limited (ASX:IPH) (October 2022 to present)
Richard Fennell
BEc, FCA, MAICD.
Richard lives, works and learns on the land of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains and was appointed Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director in August 2024.
With more than 35 years of experience in finance, consulting, and banking, Richard spent the early part of his career in finance and consulting, primarily with PwC in Australia and Asia. He joined the Bank in 2007, initially serving as Chief General Manager, Group Strategy until 2009, before stepping into the role of Chief Financial Officer, which he held from 2009 to 2018.
Most recently, Richard led the Consumer Banking Division from 2018 to 2024. In this role, he focused on the delivery of products and services through the Bank’s company‑owned and Community Bank branches, as well as a range of partner organisations including mortgage brokers and financial advisers.
Other director and memberships:1
- Director of the Adelaide Football Club (April 2017 to present)
- Member of Australian Institute of Company Directors
- Member of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand
- Member of Business Council of Australia
- Member of Australian Bankers Association
- Member of Mastercard Asia Pacific Advisory Board
Victoria Weekes
BCom (UNSW) LLB (UNSW), FAICD
Victoria lives, works and learns on the land of the Wangal people of the Eora Nation and joined the Board in February 2022.
Victoria is Chair of the Board Risk Committee and a member of the Board People and Culture Committee.
With more than 35 years’ experience in financial services, Victoria has held executive roles with major Australian listed companies and multinationals including Westpac Banking Group Limited (ASX:WBC), Citi, Allens and Jarden Morgan(now CS First Boston).
Victoria is a senior fellow and past president of professional standards body FINSIA, a chartered banker and was previously the Chair of the Australian Gender Equality Council. Victoria is a former Non‑Executive Director of URB Investments Limited (ASX:URB), a former Non‑Executive Director of Alcidion Group Limited (ASX:ALC) and former Chair of NSW Treasury Audit and Risk Committee.
Other director and memberships:1
- Director Avant Group Holdings (November 2025 to present)
- Director Avant Insurance Limited (APRA regulated) (November 2025 to present)
- Member of State Library of NSW Council (March 2014 to present)
- Member of ASIC Markets Disciplinary Panel (July 2011 to present)
- Chair of ASIC Markets Disciplinary Panel (2025‑2027)
- Independent Chair of Pinnacle Housing Partnerships Limited (September 2023 to present)
- Former Non‑Executive Director of Alcidion Group Limited (ASX:ALC) (1 September 2021 to 30 May 2025)
Alistair Muir
Dip. Comp Sci, BSC (Hons), MAICD
Alistair lives, works and learns on the lands of the Bidjigal and Gadigal people of the Eora Nation and joined the Board in September 2022.
Alistair is Chair of the Board Technology and Transformation Committee and a member of the Board People and Culture Committee.
An experienced digital executive and entrepreneur with more than 20 years’ experience working in financial services and technology, Alistair is currently the Managing Director of advisory business Vanteum and has helped a number of ASX50 and Fortune 500 companies to launch and scale new digital products and ventures, as well as advising several government departments in Australia and internationally on Fintech, innovation and emerging technologies such as AI.
Alistair holds a first‑class honours degree in computer science and postgraduate qualifications from both Harvard Business School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Other director and memberships:1
- Non‑Executive Director of Noble Oak Life Insurance (ASX:NOL) (July 2026 to present)
- Non‑Executive Director of Helia Group Limited (formerly Genworth Mortgage Insurance Australia Limited) (ASX:HLI) (December 2021 to present)
- Advisor to CSIRO on the commercialisation of science and technology (June 2016 to present)
- Member of ASIC’s Consultative Panel (June 2023 to present)
(Patricia) Margaret Payn
B.A (Honors) French and Pure Mathematics, ICAEW Fellow (FCA)
Margaret lives, works and learns on the land of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains and joined the Board in September 2023.
Margaret is Chair of the Board Audit Committee and a member of the Board Risk Committee. Margaret retired from the Board Technology and Transformation Committee effective 1 July 2026.
Margaret has extensive global experience across the financial services industry (banking and wealth management). Her experience covers roles in finance, strategy, operations, product and risk. She has worked for large publicly listed companies and their subsidiaries in the UK, Asia and Australia.
Margaret has previously held roles as the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of AMP Capital (at the time, a large public and private markets investment manager), Group Managing Director of Strategy and Marketing at ANZ Group Holdings Limited (ASX:ANZ), as well as senior finance roles at ANZ, Westpac Banking Group (ASX:WBC), Citigroup Australia and Schroders.
Margaret was a Non‑Executive Director of two investment companies listed in the UK, serving as the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committees of each company (JP Morgan Mid Cap Investment Trust until February 2024 and Albion Technology & General VCT until December 2024).
Margaret is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Abi Cleland
MBA, BCom/BA
Abi lives, works and learns on the land of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation and joined the Board in April 2024.
Abi is Chair of the Board People and Culture Committee and a member of the Board Technology and Transformation Committee.
With global expertise in strategy, digital, supply chain, M&A and operations, Abi has held senior corporate roles with Amcor, Incitec Pivot, ANZ, 333 Management and Caltex after starting her career at BHP. From 2012 to 2017, Abi established and ran an advisory and management business, Absolute Partners, focused on strategy, innovation, and disruption.
Abi was previously a Non‑Executive Director of Orora Limited (ASX:ORA),
a Non‑Executive Director of Sydney Airport Corporation, Chair of Planwise AU, a Non‑Executive Director of Swimming Australia and on the Lazard PE Fund Advisory Committee.
Other director and memberships:1
- Non‑Executive Director of Coles Limited (ASX:COL) (November 2018 to present)
- Non‑Executive Director of Computershare Limited (ASX:CPU) (February 2018 to present)
- Former Non‑Executive Director of Orora Limited (ASX:ORA) (1 February 2014 – 30 September 2024)
Daryl Johnson
MBA, BBus (FinEc), GAICD
Daryl lives, works and learns on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi‑wurrung and Bunurong Boon Wurrung Peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and joined the Board in September 2024.
Daryl is a member of the Board Audit Committee and the Board Risk Committee.
With more than 40 years’ banking and finance experience in Australia, Asia and New Zealand, Daryl’s most recent executive role was as CEO of Rabobank New Zealand, which he held from June 2016 to December 2017.
From 2009 to 2014, Daryl held senior roles at National Australia Bank, including CEO of NAB Asia, Executive General Manager of NAB Business and General Manager of Corporate Banking. Earlier in his career, Daryl held senior roles at ANZ, including Managing Director Business Banking. Daryl was a Director of Beyond Bank from February 2019 to August 2024.
Other director and memberships:1
- Non‑Executive Director of Credit Corp PNG (June 2022 to present)
- Former Non‑Executive Director of Cuscal Limited (ASX:CCL) (24 February 2021 to 31 July 2024)
Travis Dillon
MBA MAICD
Travis lives, works and learns on the land of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains and joined the Board in February 2025.
Travis is a member of the Board Audit Committee and the Board Technology and Transformation Committee. Travis resigned from the Board Risk Committee effective 1 July 2026.
With extensive commercial and strategic experience, expertise in business strategy, change management, operational management and equity capital markets and decades of experience in Australian agriculture and agribusiness, Travis was CEO and Managing Director at Ruralco Holdings Limited (ASX:RHL) from 2015 to 2019.
Travis is an experienced Non‑Executive Director and was previously the Chair of Clean Seas Seafood Limited (ASX:CSS) from October 2020 until November 2024.
Other director and memberships:1
- Chair of Select Harvests Limited (ASX:SVH) (November 2021 to present)
- Chair of Australian Grain Technologies (January 2024 to present)
- Former Chair and Non‑Executive Director of Clean Seas Seafood Limited (ASX:CSS) (21 October 2020 to 7 November 2024)
BEN Board Committee Composition
| Non-Executive Directors | Audit | Risk | People & Culture | Technology & Transformation |
| Vicki Carter | Member | Member | ||
| Victoria Weekes | Chair | Member | ||
| Alistair Muir | Member | Chair | ||
| Margaret Payn | Chair | Member | ||
| Abi Cleland | Chair | Member | ||
| Daryl Johnson | Member | Member | ||
| Travis Dillon | Member | Member |
Richard Fennell
BEc, CA, MAICD.
Richard lives, works and learns on the land of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains.
Richard was appointed Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director in August 2024 and has more than 35 years of experience in finance, consulting, and banking.
Richard began his career in finance and consulting, primarily with PwC across Australia and Asia. He joined the Bank in 2007, leading the Group Strategy Division until 2009, before serving as the Bank’s Chief Financial Officer from 2009 to 2018. Most recently, Richard ran the Consumer Division between 2018 and 2024.
Richard is the Executive Sponsor of the Bank’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), supporting our reconciliation efforts and ensuring the Bank delivers the outcomes identified in our RAP.
A keen supporter of sport and the arts in South Australia, Richard has been a Director of the Adelaide Football Club since 2017 and was previously Deputy Chair of the Board of Governors of the Helpmann Academy.
Sarah Bateson
BBus, GAICD
Sarah lives, works and learns on the land of the Dja Dja Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation.
Sarah joined the Bank in March 2020 and is responsible for the Group’s Brand, Marketing and Communications division.
Sarah is a customer‑obsessed marketing leader with extensive experience across the finance, entertainment, retail, and gaming industries. BT Finance, GE Money, Laura Ashley, and Crown Resorts have all benefited from her marketing expertise, commercial acumen and proven ability to deliver strong business growth.
With over 20 years of experience across marketing and communications,
Sarah has a strong track record of developing high‑performing teams, building multi‑discipline alignment, delivering complex digital transformations and driving marketing impact.
Sarah is the Executive Sponsor of the Bank’s BEN Pride Committee and is passionate about diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Andrew Morgan
BCom, FCPA, GAICD
Andrew lives, works and learns on the land of the Dharug people. Andrew joined Bendigo and Adelaide Bank in June 2022.
With more than 30 years of global financial services experience behind him, Andrew joined the bank from Colonial First State where he was Chief Financial Officer.
Prior to Colonial First State, Andrew was Chief Financial Officer and Acting Managing Director of MLC Wealth. He also spent nine years at Commonwealth Bank, including four years as Chief Financial Officer of its Business and Private Banking and Bankwest businesses.
Andrew has considerable banking experience and throughout his career he has demonstrated the ability to transform, simplify and create value for the businesses he has been involved with.
Andrew is the Executive Sponsor of the Bank’s BEN Ability employee network group, supporting the Bank to reduce barriers and create accessible and inclusive environments for all people.
Kerrie Noonan
BCom, AIAA, G FIN, GAICD
Kerrie lives, works and learns on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi‑wurrung and Bunurong Boon Wurrung Peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation.
Appointed Chief Risk Officer in February 2025, Kerrie has over 30 years of experience in the banking and financial sector.
Kerrie is an experienced Chief Risk Officer with extensive banking and financial services experience in both Australia and the United Kingdom. Kerrie was previously Chief Risk Officer for Direct Insurance Australia IAG and prior to that held a number of senior roles at National Australia Bank across risk management and business lending.
Throughout her career Kerrie has overseen a range of complex and demanding transformational initiatives, uplifting and embedding risk management capability while delivering sustainable outcomes and improved customer experiences.
Kerrie is an Actuary, has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne and has completed the Executive Development Program at The Wharton School.
Kieran O'Meara
BSc, PgDip, MBCS
Kieran lives, works and learns on the land of the Dja Dja Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation.
Appointed Chief Technology Officer in April 2025, Kieran has over 25 years’ experience in software engineering, digital transformation and technology.
His most recent role prior to joining the Bank was Chief Information Officer and Head of Software Engineering and IT at Telstra Group. He has also held several technology executive and consulting roles in the UK and Australia.
Kieran holds a degree in Management Science (Technology) and has postgraduate qualifications in Information Technology, specialising in Object Oriented Software Engineering and AI.
Adam Rowse
Adam lives, works and learns on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Bunurong Boon Wurrung people of the Eastern Kulin Nation.
Adam joined the Bank in July 2022 as its Chief Customer Officer Business and Agribusiness. From March 2026, Adam expanded his leadership to include the Consumer Banking Division on an interim basis. Adam leads the Bank’s customer divisions where he ensures customers have the support they need to grow their businesses. He is leading the transformation of these two divisions to help the Bank achieve its aim of being Australia’s better big bank.
Prior to taking up his role with the Bank, Adam spent 14 years at Barclays Bank in the UK where he held senior roles across Retail, Business and Corporate Banking.
Before joining Barclay’s Bank Adam spent more than a decade at NAB. Adam, who was raised on a farm in Gippsland, Victoria, is based in Melbourne.
Xavier Shay
BInfTech
Xavier lives, works and learns on the land of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation.
Xavier joined the Bank’s Executive team in September 2024 and leads the Group’s Digital division that has digital capability across our brands. He has a deep understanding of both financial technology and industry disruption.
Xavier spent nearly seven years in the United States building global fintech Square where he most recently led their Payments Engineering and Analytics teams.
He was subsequently a leadership consultant to executive teams in the Bay Area. Prior to his move to San Francisco, Xavier led the development of a number of large commercial projects in Australia including at the Conversation, Clear Grain and ASX‑listed global market online marketplace Redbubble.
Xavier has been instrumental in building and scaling Up since he returned to Melbourne and joined Up in 2019.
Xavier is the Executive Sponsor of the Bank’s Multicultural@BEN employee network group, supporting the Bank to create a workplace where cultural diversity is celebrated, inclusion is embedded, and all employees feel a sense of belonging.
Bruce Speirs
B.Com, CA, MBA, GAICD
Bruce lives, works and learns on the land of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains.
As Chief Operating Officer, Bruce is focused on improving efficiency, reducing complexity and strengthening the Bank’s processes.
His background includes over 9 years working for Ernst & Young in the UK, USA and Australia before joining the Bank in 2004. During this time Bruce has held various senior leadership roles in finance and business, including Executive Partner Connection responsible for third‑party banking and Executive Business Banking. Bruce has been part of the Bank’s executive team since April 2015 and has served as the Chief Operating Officer since February 2022.
Bruce is the Executive Sponsor of the Bank’s Women@BEN employee network group, supporting the Bank to advocate for the female experience, empower the female workforce and shine a light on leadership capability.
Bruce is a fellow of Chartered Accountants, MBA and AICD Graduate.
Fiona Thompson
BEc, LLB, GAICD
Fiona lives, works and learns on the land of the Dharug people.
Fiona was appointed Chief People Officer in December 2024 and has over 30 years of experience in financial services. A seasoned finance professional having spent several years at Suncorp and AMP, Fiona has previously held roles such as Chief Risk Officer, Associate General Counsel and Group Executive of People, Culture and Advocacy.
Known for her unique experience across multiple professional disciplines, Fiona has a proven track record in risk management and enterprise enabling functions, particularly in developing and implementing strategy for HR, Risk, ESG and Legal Functions whilst simultaneously delivering cultural change with a focus on growth and innovation.
She invests heavily in building positive work environments and driving team performance and is passionate about providing the incentive and opportunity for people to have rewarding careers in the financial services sector.
