BA, CA, GAICD, SF FIN
BOARD MEMBER | Appointed 8 February 2019
Member, Audit, Finance, Risk Management and Compliance Committee

Alan has over 40 years Australian and global experience in the banking, finance and securities Industry. His career includes 16 years at Citigroup and 10 years with the Australian Securities Exchange in senior executive finance and risk positions.

Following the completion of his executive career in 2017, Alan has become an experienced non-executive director serving on Boards in the retail banking, insurance and superannuation sectors. He currently serves as the Chair of the Australian Military Bank as well as being a non-executive director at FINSIA.

FINSIA member since 12 October 1992.

BA, GDipAppFin (SecInst), MIB, FCG, FGIA, SF FIN
BOARD MEMBER | Appointed 27 May 2021
Member, Disciplinary Committee

Andrew McNeil has been a FINSIA member for over 22 years, and has over 35 years of diversified financial services experience, and 20 years of investment management experience throughout Australia and the United States.

He is founder of the Yarmouth group of companies and provides corporate advice to middle market financial markets participants including AFSL holders and ASX listed companies. His clients include investment managers, fintech and proptech companies.

He is a former lecturer for the FINSIA Master of Applied Finance degree across real estate, investment management, strategic management and structuring financial products.

FINSIA member since 18 July 2002.

BA, DipBank, MInstD, SF FIN
BOARD MEMBER | Appointed 27 May 2021
Member, Audit, Finance, Risk Management and Compliance Committee
Member, Disciplinary Committee
Member, Nominations & Remuneration Committee

Carolyn Kidd is the Chief Risk Officer for Sky City Entertainment Group, having formerly been CRO for Westpac New Zealand, and is an experienced Financial Services Leader with a strong track record in transformational change, including leading risk culture and regulatory programmes.

With more than 30 years’ experience in the sector in New Zealand and Australia, she is passionate about risk management as a key enabler for strategic success and providing the best outcomes for customers, communities and stakeholders.

FINSIA member since 27 February 1991.

BEc, MHRM, DBA, CA, GAICD, SF FIN
BOARD MEMBER | Appointed 26 May 2022
Member, Nominations & Remuneration Committee

Chris is a highly experienced executive with over 35 years’ experience in banking, wealth management and insurances. She began her career at Deloitte, and has held senior management positions at Citigroup, ANZ, NAB and Australian Unity.

Chris’ signature approach to business is her focus on customer centric strategy and business design. One of her proudest achievements was the founding of Women In Banking and Finance, a not-for-profit organisation that supports women in their careers.

In her most recent executive role, Chris was the CEO of the Retail Platform at Australian Unity, where she had accountability for the group’s bank and private health insurance companies. Chris retired from this executive role in March 2024. Chris has extensive Board experience, including previously holding Board positions on Australian Unity Bank Limited, Australian Unity Health Limited, JB Were and BNZ Life. She was also a member of the Sydney University Business School Advisory Board.

FINSIA member since 14 January 1993.

BComm, CA, GAICD, F FIN
PRESIDENT | Appointed 26 May 2022
BOARD MEMBER | Appointed 28 May 2020
Chair, Nominations and Remuneration Committee
Member, Director Nominations Committee

David has more than 25 years’ experience in Australia, New York and the Middle East. David has a strong knowledge of the financial services sector, having worked with a broad cross section of the industry, including banks, brokers, exchanges, fintechs, leasing companies, payment providers, private equity and non bank financiers.

He is also a recognised regulatory expert, having advised a range of local and international banks.

David joined the FINSIA board on 28 May 2020 and was appointed as President on 26 May 2022. David has previously served as a member of the FINSIA Consumer Finance Advisory Group and as Chair of the FINSIA Institutional Markets Council.

FINSIA Member since 12 March 2004. 

BComm, M App Fin, FCA, Chartered Banker, GAICD, SF FIN
VICE PRESIDENT | Appointed 20 April 2020
Member, Nominations & Remuneration Committee

Grant is the Executive General Manger, Business Lending at Commonwealth Bank of Australia with more than 20 years’ experience in business banking..

Grant led the Regional & Agribusiness Banking team for five years and was appointed to his new role in Business Lending in 2021. He has been with the Commonwealth Bank since 2005 leading product, operations and relationship teams in business banking. Prior to joining Commonwealth Bank, Grant was a General Manager with McCarroll Automotive Group and prior to that was a Senior Accountant at KPMG.

He is also a Director of the Australian Business Growth Fund (AGBF) and has also been a member of the CEO Circle since 2012. Grant Cairns joined the FINSIA Board in early June 2019 and then was appointed as Vice President to the FINSIA Board in April 2020.

FINSIA Member since 28 March 2019.

BEc, CPA, MAICD, F FIN
BOARD MEMBER | Appointed 26 May 2022
Member, Audit, Finance, Risk Management and Compliance Committee

Paul left National Australia Bank in January 2025 where he was the Chief Credit & Market Risk Officer, to pursue a non-executive career. He has extensive experience across global markets, risk management, governance and financial markets infrastructure.

Prior to Joining NAB in 2016, Paul had a number of senior roles with Commonwealth Bank across financial markets, corporate finance, and risk management. His earlier career included roles in both Australia and Asia with Bank of America, UBS, and Midland Bank.

In terms of industry governance, Paul is a past Chairman of the Australian Financial Markets Association (AFMA) and served as a Director of CLS Group Holdings Limited. Paul has been a FINSIA Board member since 26 May 2022.

FINSIA member since 17 September 2021.

BEc, MBA, FCPA, SID, Certified Chair, GAICD, F FIN
BOARD MEMBER | Appointed 26 May 2022
Chair, Audit, Finance, Risk Management and Compliance Committee

Rod has worked in financial services and been a FINSIA member for over 41 years, primarily with the Westpac Banking Group of companies. For the last 21 years of his executive career, he has been a CFO or COO in various roles domestically and globally with the last eight years in Institutional Banking. Prior to that, his extensive experience has been in Retail and Business Banking at Westpac and St George Bank. While CFO at Westpac International, Rod had responsibility for teams in eight countries.

Rod has over 17 years’ experience as a director, beginning with RAMS Financial Group and then extending to Westpac and St George subsidiaries. He is a director at Newcastle Greater Mutual Group and has expanded his director and advisor roles into other industries over the last three years.

FINSIA member since 18 September 1980.

B(AppSc) Land Economics, GAICD F FIN
BOARD MEMBER | Appointed 29 May 2023
Member, Disciplinary Committee

Vanessa has worked in the banking industry for over 20 years, predominately in executive roles with the Commonwealth Bank, and most recently as the Chief Operating Officer and now Deputy CEO at the Australian Banking Association.

Vanessa’s executive experience spans banking, government and not-for -profit sectors, holding roles in strategy, business transformation and organisational development predominantly with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. She previously held the position of the CEO for the YWCA NSW – leading a significant structure change from a federated model to a united national organisation.

FINSIA member since 30 October 2019.

BComm, MTax, CA, F FIN
CEO & MANAGING DIRECTOR | Appointed 26 April 2022

Yasser has served as FINSIA’s Chief Executive & Managing Director since April 2022. Previously, he was Chief Executive of the Australian Investment Council from November 2013 to April 2022 where he was responsible for leading the strategic direction of the organisation’s work in representing the private capital investment industry in Australia.

Prior to joining Australian Investment Council, Yasser was the General Manager of Policy and Advocacy for Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand.

He has more than 25 years’ experience as a business adviser and public policy expert, through his previous roles with PwC, Rio Tinto, Frasers Property Australia, as well as the Department of Treasury in Canberra.

In April 2016, Yasser was appointed by the Federal Government to the Medical Research Future Fund Advisory Board where he advises on the strategy and priorities for medical health research funding from the $20B fund.

FINSIA Member since 4 May 2022.