Leadership

Mr Mead was appointed Group Managing Director of Australian Unity Limited on 1 July 2004. As Group Managing Director, he is a member of most subsidiary boards and several committees. Mr Mead is chair of the Business Council of Co-Operatives and Mutuals Limited (BCCM). He is also chair of the Business Council of Australia’s Health and Care Economy Committee and a member of its Indigenous Engagement Committee. Mr Mead is a director of the Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) and Private Healthcare Australia Limited (PHA).

Prior to joining Australian Unity, Mr Mead was employed by Perpetual Trustees Australia Limited (1996–2003) in a range of senior roles.

Ms Bowden joined Australian Unity in February 2017. Ms Bowden led the Group’s transformation agenda to reshape the enterprise operating model, putting the customer front and centre and driving new and more efficient ways of working.

In September 2018, Ms Bowden was appointed to Group Executive—People & Culture. She was responsible for leading the Group’s people function including culture and capability, performance and remuneration, workplace health and safety, shared services and internal communications. Ms Bowden also led the Group’s inclusion and diversity, workplace giving and employee wellbeing strategy.

In July 2022, Ms Bowden became the Group Executive—Home Health, our integrated healthcare company to support Australians to live and age well at home. Prior to joining Australian Unity, Ms Bowden was the director of People Solutions Group Pty Ltd, a boutique consulting firm focused on operating model design and transformational change.

Ms Bowden brings to Australian Unity diverse industry experience, having successfully led and supported people functions in complex, commercial environments in banking, insurance, media and healthcare. Previous clients and employers include News Limited, Suncorp, ANZ and Ramsay Health Care.

Mr Chesterman joined Australian Unity in June 2012. Mr Chesterman undertook senior roles in the People & Culture function before transitioning into a commercial role as General Manager for Branch Operations for almost five years.

Mr Chesterman was also acting Executive General Manager for Home and Disability Services for a year during that time. In 2022, Mr Chesterman was appointed as the Group Executive—People & Culture. Prior to Australian Unity, Mr Chesterman held multiple senior roles with KPMG across People & Culture and Strategy. Mr Chesterman has a Bachelor of Business from Queensland University of Technology.

Mr Gay joined Australian Unity in 2022 with over 25 years of experience in global roles, spanning banking and financial services, logistics and education. His expertise includes digital transformation, technology strategy, enterprise architecture, program delivery and strategic outsourcing. Previously he was the chief information officer with QBE, the chief digital officer with BetEasy and chief information officer with ME Bank.

He also had six years in senior technology roles with GE Capital. Mr Gay holds a Masters of entrepreneurship and innovation from Swinburne University of Technology and was named Finance CIO of the year in 2017 in the iTnews Benchmark Awards.

Ms Honig joined Australian Unity in February 2016. In her role as Group Executive— Governance, Ms Honig is responsible for managing the Group’s legal, compliance, risk, and secretariat function. She is also secretary for all Group subsidiary boards.

Prior to joining Australian Unity, Ms Honig worked for GE for 15 years, five of those years with GE Capital in the role of general counsel, overseeing the provision of legal services to GE Capital’s commercial finance, consumer finance and insurance businesses in Australia and New Zealand.

Ms Honig brings to Australian Unity her executive experience in legal, compliance and company secretary functions and has worked abroad as Counsel for GE Indonesia, in operations which included transportation, energy and GE Capital. Prior to joining GE, Ms Honig was at KPMG for five years and undertook her legal training in tax at KPMG.

Ms Kerr joined Australian Unity in September 2017 and is the Group Executive—Wealth & Capital Markets for the Australian Unity Group. She is responsible for all of Australian Unity’s social infrastructure, financial services and investment activities, spanning investment management, trustee services, life investment bonds, as well as the Group’s property, development and capital market activities.

Ms Kerr is a board member of many of its operating entities, and in April 2024, she was appointed to the Financial Services Council (FSC) Board and is a member of the FSC Standards Oversight & Disciplinary Board Committee. Prior to joining Australian Unity in September 2017, Ms Kerr’s experience covered financial services, infrastructure and human services design and delivery.

Mr Mann joined Australian Unity in April 2012. He is currently the Group Executive— Finance & Strategy and Chief Financial Officer, having previously been the Deputy Head of Finance and Group Treasurer.

Mr Mann has oversight of the Group’s statutory, management and tax reporting along with strategy, treasury and capital management. Mr Mann also has oversight of the Residential Aged Care business. Prior to joining Australian Unity, Mr Mann worked in the United Kingdom for ten years on large-scale migration projects for Lloyds TSB, Royal Bank of Scotland and Merrill Lynch Investment Managers.

Mr Mann commenced his professional career, becoming a chartered accountant while working at KPMG Melbourne and also Foster’s Group Limited. Mr Mann has completed the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program.

Ms Harwood joined Australian Unity in July 2002, undertaking several senior roles spanning governance, commercial operations, strategy and advocacy across the Group’s financial services, health insurance and group operations.

In 2022, Ms Harwood was appointed to the role of EGM—Health Insurance, overseeing the health insurance business, and more recently to the role of Group Executive—Health Insurance in 2024. Ms Harwood is a passionate advocate on health reform, focusing on enhancing affordability, ensuring sector sustainability and strengthening the health system for Australian Unity’s members.

Prior to Australian Unity, Ms Harwood held roles in financial services. Ms Harwood has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Diploma of Financial Planning.