Board of directors
Senior management team
In 2016 we made a change to our corporate structure and new appointments to our senior management team.
In March we introduced a new business unit, Technology Innovation and Strategy which reflects our greater focus on innovation and our ambition to become a world class technology company.
We made a number of important external appointments with Stephen Elop and Kevin Russell joining the company, as well as Alexandra Badenoch who will join us in August. We also announced three internal appointments with Cynthia Whelan, Joe Pollard and Will Irving joining the senior leadership team.
We farewelled Gordon Ballantyne, Karsten Wildberger and Tracey Gavegan from Telstra. Stuart Lee stood down from the role of Group Executive Telstra Wholesale and has since given notice of his retirement, and Kate McKenzie also recently announced her retirement from Telstra. We thank our outgoing executives for their service and the significant contributions they have made to Telstra.
John P Mullen
Age 61
BSc
Non-executive Director since July 2008, Chairman effective 27 April 2016 and last re-elected in 2014. Chairman of the Nomination Committee and previously Chairman of the Remuneration Committee.
Mr Mullen has been the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Asciano Ltd since 2011 and he will be fully transitioning from these obligations in the near future. Mr Mullen has worked for more than two decades in a multitude of senior positions with different multinationals in the logistics industry including 10 years with the TNT Group – two years of those as its Chief Operating Officer. From 1991 to 1994, he held the position of Chief Executive Officer of TNT Express Worldwide. Mr Mullen joined Deutsche Post DHL Group in 1994, becoming Chief Executive Officer of DHL Express Asia Pacific in 2002 and joint Chief Executive Officer, DHL Express in2005. Mr Mullen was then Global Chief Executive Officer, DHL Express, from 2006 to 2009.
Directorships of listed companies (past three years):
Director, Asciano Ltd (from 2011), Brambles Limited (2009-2011).
Other directorships/appointments:
Member, Australian Graduate School of Management (from 2005) and Councillor of the Australian National Maritime Museum (from 2016).
Andrew R Penn
Age 53
BEc, MBA (Kingston), AMP (Harvard), FCCA, HFAIPM
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director since 1 May 2015.
Mr Penn joined Telstra in 2012 as Chief Financial Officer. In this role, he was responsible for strategy, mergers and acquisitions, treasury, internal audit, risk management, tax, corporate planning, reporting and analysis, external reporting and investor relations. In addition, as Group Executive, International, he was responsible for expanding Telstra’s operations outside Australia. Mr Penn is an experienced executive with a career spanning more than 30 years. Prior to joining Telstra, he was with AXA Asia Pacific in a variety of positions around Asia for 20 years, including Group Chief Executive (2006-2011), Chief Executive Officer Australia and New Zealand, Group Chief Financial Officer and Chief Executive for Asia. Mr Penn has also contributed widely to not-for-profit and community organisations.
Other directorships/appointments:
Life Governor and Foundation Board member, Very Special Kids (from 2003). Member, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Advisory Council, The Big Issue Advisory Group, and Ambassador, Amy Gillet Foundation.
Craig W Dunn
Age 52
BCom, FCA
Non-executive Director appointed 12 April 2016. Member of the Audit & Risk Committee.
Mr Dunn is a highly regarded business leader with more than 20 years’ experience in financial services, pan-Asian business activities and strategic advice for government and major companies. Mr Dunn was Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of AMP from 2008 to 2013 and held various roles at AMP in a 13-year career including Managing Director of AMP Financial Services, Managing Director for AMP Bank and head of Corporate Strategy and M&A.
Previously he was at Colonial Mutual Group from 1991 to 2000, including Managing Director for EON CMB Life Insurance in Malaysia and senior roles in Group Strategy, M&A and Finance. He has also served as a member of the Federal Government’s Financial System Inquiry in 2014 and the Consumer and Financial Literacy Taskforce.
Directorships of listed companies (past three years):
Director, Westpac (from 2015).
Other directorships/appointments:
Chairman, Stone and Chalk Limited (from 2015), The Australian Ballet (from 2015 (Director from 2014)) and the Australian Government Fintech Advisory Group (from 2016). Director, Jobs for NSW (from 2016). Member, ASIC External Advisory Panel (from 2015) and NSW Government Financial Services Knowledge Hub (from 2015).
Peter R Hearl
Age 65
B Com (UNSW), MAIM, GAICD, Member – AMA
Non-executive Director since 15 August 2014, elected in October 2014. Chairman of the Remuneration Committee and member of the Nomination Committee.
Mr Hearl is an experienced company director with substantial international experience as a senior executive in the fast moving consumer goods sector. Mr Hearl served in senior executive roles with Yum! Brands Inc from 1997 to 2008, including Chief Operating and Development Officer for Yum! Brands globally from 2006 until 2008.
He previously worked for PepsiCo Inc in Sydney and London reaching regional vice-president level, as well as in various roles with Exxon in the United States and Australia.
Directorships of listed companies (past three years):
Director, Santos Ltd (from 2016), Treasury Wine Estates (from 2012) and Goodman Fielder Ltd (2010-2015).
Other directorships/appointments:
Member, UNSW’s Australian School of Business Alumni Leaders Group and previously honorary Chairman of the US-based UNSW Study Abroad-Friends and US Alumni Inc.
Russell A Higgins AO
Age 66
BEc, FAICD
Non-executive Director since September 2009 and last re-elected in 2015. Member of the Audit & Risk Committee and Remuneration Committee.
Mr Higgins is an experienced company director who has worked at very senior levels of both government and private sectors. He has served on the boards of a wide range of listed companies, private companies, government business enterprises and international organisations, including as Chairman of the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme and the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute and a Director of Ricegrowers Limited (SunRice). From 2003 to 2004, he was Chairman of the then Prime Minister’s Energy Task Force and prior to that he was Secretary of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. In 2006, Mr Higgins was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for service to the community in financial management and accountability, microeconomic reform and science and innovation.
Directorships of listed companies (past three years):
Director, APA Group (from 2004), Argo Investments Limited (from 2011) and Leighton Holdings Limited (2013-2014).
Chin Hu Lim
Age 57
B Applied Science, Dip EEE
Non-executive Director since August 2013 and elected in October 2013. Member of the Nomination Committee.
Mr Lim is an experienced company director and has almost 30 years of experience in the technology sector across the Asia Pacific Region. He is the Managing Partner of Stream Global Pte Ltd, a venture fund providing seed funding for technology start ups.
He was CEO of Frontline Technologies Corp Inc., a Singapore Exchange listed company, from 2000 to 2008 and BT South East Asia from 2010 to 2011. Previously, he was Managing Director for Sun Microsystems in Singapore and country director for Sun in Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam during the 1990s, after a career in Hewlett Packard in the 1980s.
Directorships of listed companies (past three years):
Director, Kulicke & Soffa Industries Inc (NASDAQ: KLIC) (from 2011), Keppel DC Reit Pte Ltd (from 2014).
Other directorships/appointments:
Director, Heliconia Capital Management Pte Ltd (from 2014), Citibank Singapore Ltd (from 2013), G-Able (Thailand) Ltd (from 2011) and Changi General Hospital & Integrated Health Information Systems (from 2009). Member, Singapore Stock Exchange Listings Advisory Committee (from 2015) and Infocomm Development Authority – Personal Data Protection Advisory Committee (from 2013). Fellow, Singapore Institute of Directors.
Nora L Scheinkestel
Age 56
LLB (Hons), PhD, FAICD
Non-executive Director since August 2010 and last re-elected in 2013. Chairman of the Audit & Risk Committee.
Dr Scheinkestel is an experienced company director with a background as a senior banking executive in international and project financing. She consults to government, corporate and institutional clients in areas such as corporate governance, strategy and finance. She is also an Associate Professor in the Melbourne Business School at Melbourne University and a former member of the Takeovers Panel. Dr Scheinkestel has served as Chairman and Director in a range of companies across various industry sectors including utilities, AMP Limited and its funds management and banking subsidiaries, Mayne Group Limited and Mayne Pharma Limited, Medical Benefits Fund of Australia Ltd, Newcrest Mining Limited and North Limited. In 2003, she was awarded a centenary medal for services to Australian society in business leadership.
Directorships of listed companies (past three years):
Chairman, Macquarie Atlas Road Limited (from 2015 (Director from 2014)), Director, Macquarie Atlas Roads International Limited (from 2015), Stockland Group (from 2015), Orica Limited (2006-2015), Insurance Australia Group Limited (2013-2014), Pacific Brands Limited (2009-2013) and AMP Limited (2003-2013).
Margaret L Seale
Age 55
BA, FAICD
Non-executive Director since May 2012 and last re-elected in 2015. Member of the Audit & Risk Committee.
Ms Seale has more than 25 years’ experience in senior executive roles in Australia and overseas, including in consumer goods, global publishing and the transition of traditional business models to adapt and thrive in a digital environment, and in sales and marketing. She was Managing Director of Random House, Australia (with managerial responsibility for Random House New Zealand) and President, Asia Development for Random House Inc, the global company. She was Chief Executive Officer of The Macquarie Dictionary and Lansdowne Publishing (1997-1999), and also of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (1994-1997). She served on the boards of the Australian Publishers’ Association, the Powerhouse Museum, the Sydney Writers Festival and on the Council of Chief Executive Women, chairing its Scholarship Committee (2011-2012).
Directorships of listed companies (past three years):
Director, Scentre Group Limited (from 2016), Ramsay Health Care Limited (from 2015), Bank of Queensland Limited (from 2014).
Other directorships/appointments:
Chairman, Penguin Random House Australia and New Zealand (from 2015 (Director from 2001).
Steven M Vamos
Age 58
BEng (Hons)
Non-executive Director since September 2009 and last re-elected in 2015. Member of the Nomination Committee and the Remuneration Committee.
Mr Vamos has more than 30 years’ experience in the information technology, internet and online media industry.
He led Microsoft Australia and New Zealand from 2003 to January 2007 before moving to the United States to become the company’s online business head of worldwide sales and international operations. Previously, he was Chief Executive Officer of ninemsn. Mr Vamos also worked for Apple Computer in the 1990s after spending 14 years in senior management roles at IBM Australia.
Directorships of listed companies (past three years):
Director, Fletcher Building Limited (from 2015), David Jones Limited (2012-2014).
Other directorships/appointments:
Chairman, JobVibe (from 2016). Director, eGeneration Investments Pty Limited (from 1999), Medibank Private Limited (2011-2014). Member, Advisory Board of the University of Technology Sydney Business School (from 2011).
Trae A N Vassallo
Age 44
BSc, MSc, MBA (Stanford)
Non-executive Director elected 13 October 2015.
Ms Vassallo is an experienced technology executive, investor and advisor based in the USA with a successful track record in the technology and venture capital sectors.
She is also a strategic advisor to Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB), where she was a general partner. She serves on the Board of Directors of Enlighted Inc., a private company which provides smart energy efficiency solutions, and on the advisory board of several early stage technology companies.
Over 10 years at KPCB Ms Vassallo played a leading role in KPCB’s investments in a number of successful companies including Nest Labs (acquired by Google), Dropcam (acquired by Google) and Opower (acquired by Oracle).
Previously Ms Vassallo was a cofounder of Good Technology, a KPCB portfolio company (acquired by Motorola) that provides end-to-end wireless email services to enterprise customers. Ms Vassallo began her career at IDEO, where she developed ground breaking products for companies including Palm and Dell. She holds 13 patents across a broad array of technologies and disciplines.
Other directorships/appointments:
Director, Enlighted Inc. (from 2011).
Andrew Penn
Chief Executive Officer
Mr Penn became Chief Executive Officer in May 2015. Prior to his appointment as Chief Executive, Andrew led the Finance and Strategy and International teams as Chief Financial Officer and Group Executive International.
Warwick Bray
Chief Financial Officer
The Finance and Strategy team is responsible for corporate planning, accounting and administration, treasury, risk management and assurance, corporate security, investor relations, capital planning and delivery, billing and credit management, procurement and supply chain and mergers and acquisitions.
Alexandra Badenoch
Group Executive, Human Resources
Human Resources is responsible for organisational effectiveness and capability; talent and succession management; implementation of people and culture initiatives; leadership development; health, safety and environment; workplace relations and all employment and remuneration policies and practices that work towards making Telstra a great place to work and its people a source of competitive advantage.
David Burns
Acting Group Executive, Global Enterprise and Services
Global Enterprise and Services provides enterprise and Government customers in Australia and around the world with leading networks, advanced products and solutions, together with supporting services to enable the connected business world.
Stephen Elop
Group Executive, Technology, Innovation and Strategy
The Technology, Innovation and Strategy (TIS) team is responsible for leading the company strategy and driving the innovation portfolio through the Chief Technology Office and Chief Scientist. TIS is also responsible for the Telstra Software Group, which was created to drive long term global growth where software is disrupting traditional business – this includes a focus on high growth areas such as intelligent video solutions and building a thriving digital ecosystem via our start up accelerator program muru-D®.
Will Irving
Group Executive, Telstra Wholesale
Telstra Wholesale is responsible for telecommunication products and services delivered over Telstra networks and associated support systems to non-Telstra branded carriers, carriage service providers and internet service providers as well as nbnTM. Telstra Wholesale also buys services from nbn co and other carriers on behalf of the whole company.
Carmel Mulhern
Group General Counsel, Telstra Legal Services
Telstra Legal Services Group provides operational and strategic legal support and advice to the Board and the company, including on corporate governance and compliance, contracts, consumer law, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues and dispute resolution.
Joe Pollard
Group Executive, Media and Chief Marketing Officer
Telstra’s media portfolio encompasses a range of partnerships, content and platforms across subscription TV, streaming video, music, plus leading sport and news. The Chief Marketing Office provides marketing leadership and execution, including stewardship of the brand, cross-enterprise research, insights and analytics and Telstra’s sponsorship portfolio.
Brendon Riley
Acting Chief Operations Officer, Telstra Operations
Telstra Operations is responsible for the planning, design, engineering, construction, operation, maintenance, service installation, security and restoration of Telstra’s networks, solutions, information technology systems, property and facilities. The group is also responsible for the negotiation and delivery of Telstra’s commercial agreements with nbn co.
Kevin Russell
Group Executive, Telstra Retail
Telstra Retail brings together Telstra’s core domestic activities covering consumer, business, sales, fixed and mobiles, and services over the nbnTM.
Tony Warren
Group Executive, Corporate Affairs
Corporate Affairs is responsible for Telstra’s internal and external communications, government relations, regulatory affairs and sustainability, including the Telstra Foundation.
Cynthia Whelan
Group Executive, International and New Businesses
International and New Businesses includes some of Telstra’s key growth opportunities including Telstra Health, Home and Premium Services, Connected Business, Ventures and Energy. The group is also responsible for the company’s international operations as Telstra expands its presence in global markets.