Based in the Melbourne head office of Australian Unity, Kirsten commenced on 1 June and is responsible for Group Governance Services, including legal and company secretarial affairs, risk management and compliance.
Kirsten is an experienced lawyer who has worked as a senior executive, general counsel and company secretary with a number of significant Australian companies, including Sigma Pharmaceuticals, TRUenergy, Smorgon Steel Group and WMC Resources.
She is past Victorian President of the Australian Corporate Lawyers Association, a former council member and chair of the Ethics Committee of the Law Institute of Victoria and is a director on several boards, including Hadsel Grace & Associates, MEGT Australia and the Women's Circus.
Kirsten holds a Bachelor and Masters of Laws from Melbourne University and is a graduate member of Chartered Secretaries Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Rohan Mead, Group Managing Director of Australian Unity, described Kirsten's skills and interests as an excellent fit for the company.
"We are delighted to have someone of Kirsten's calibre joining us at this important stage in the growth of the company. Kirsten's experience and knowledge in the areas of corporate law, ethics and corporate governance will add valuable depth to our leadership and operations,"Mr Meadsaid.
Kirsten takes over from Verran Fehlberg who has moved to the Netherlands with his family.
Australian Unity provides health care, financial planning, investment, and retirement living services to more than 400,000 Australians. Australian Unitys history as a trusted mutual organisation dates back more than 165 years. It has grown organicallyby continually evolving and providing the services and products needed by the communities it servesas well as through successful strategic mergers and diversification into new business opportunities. Its business approach can be summed up as developing and providing healthcare, financial and lifestyle services capable of making a difference to the wellbeing of members, customers, employees and communities.
