Our Board

The role of our Board

Our Board is responsible for overseeing the strategic direction and management of our global investment portfolio of over $46 billion as at 31 December 2025. The Board:

• Oversees the management of the GES Fund and administration of our GESB schemes under the State Superannuation Act 2000
• Monitors achievements against objectives and ensures we comply with superannuation related legislation and policies
• Sets high standards of governance, with a focus on risk, return, diversification, liquidity and sustainability
• Undertakes continuous education to achieve best practice operating standards outlined by the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA)

Our Board members

Our operations include investment management, administration of the defined benefit, accumulation and retirement schemes. This takes a high and varied level of board expertise and experience, gained across diverse industry and government environments.

As at May 2026, our GESB Board has seven directors led by our independent Chair, Jo Gaines. Three employer directors are appointed by the Governor of the State of Western Australia, and three member directors are appointed through elections conducted by UnionsWA.

All Board directors are non-executive directors appointed for a maximum of five years and eligible for reappointment.

• Chair – Jo Gaines
• Member Director – Anne Gisborne
• Member Director – Bruce Hawkins
• Employer Director – Warren Bird
• Employer Director – Janice Jones
• Member Director – Janine Freeman
• Employer Director – Gillian Nathan
• Board Secretary – Lucia Barrett

Previous Directors

• Employer Director – Virginia Christie

Jo Gaines - Chair

Ms Gaines was appointed as Chair of the Board for a five-year term expiring on 18 October 2026.

Ms Gaines is an experienced leader and strategic policy director, having previously worked as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Premier of Western Australia.

For more than 10 years, Ms Gaines served as Branch Assistant Secretary for the Community and Public Sector Union/Civil Service Association (CPSU/CSA).

Ms Gaines has worked with government, private sector and non-government organisations to drive reforms in a diverse range of fields including job creation, economic diversification, energy, training, child protection, health, contracting and procurement, and climate change. She was a leader in the development of the WA Recovery Plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ms Gaines is currently serving as Executive Director of Gaines Advisory, an international strategic advisory and board search firm, and is a Director of DevelopmentWA, a Non-executive Director of Australian Vanadium Limited (ASX:AVL), and the Deputy Chair of CinefestOZ.

Ms Gaines qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Australia and a Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety from the Curtin University. She is also a Graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Anne Gisborne - Member Director

Ms Gisborne was appointed to the Board as a Member Director in February 2017, for a period of three years. She was reappointed for a second three-year term in February 2020 and a further three-year term expiring in February 2026. She has been elected for a fourth three-year term, effective 8 February 2026.

For more than 15 years, Ms Gisborne was an executive member of the State School Teacher's Union (SSTUWA), which looks after WA teachers in the workplace and promotes public education to the wider community.

Ms Gisborne was President of SSTUWA from 2008 to 2013 and was appointed trustee of the organisation as part of this role. While at SSTUWA, her responsibilities included executive board compliance, financial management, appointments and management of staff, policy development, and strategic planning.

Between 2005 and 2013, Ms Gisborne was a member of UnionsWA Council and Executive. In addition to completing two terms as President of UnionsWA, she undertook compliance, financial management, appointments and management of staff, policy development and strategic planning. Concurrently, she served as an executive member of the Australian Education Union.

Ms Gisborne became an independent member of the Education Department of WA’s Audit and Risk Committee in 2024.

Ms Gisborne is employed by Edith Cowan University. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, and a Diploma of Education from the University of Western Australia.

Bruce Hawkins - Member Director

Mr Hawkins was first appointed as a Member Director to the Board for a three-year term on 1 July 2018. He was reappointed for a second three-year term, effective 4 July 2021. He has been appointed for a further three-year term expiring in July 2027.

His professional experience includes working in the public sector in a number of different roles. Previously, Mr Hawkins worked as a Principal Compliance Officer for the Department of Health. He is also President of the North Suburban Community Cricket Umpires Association, in a voluntary capacity.

Mr Hawkins is currently a CSA Representative on the Public Service Appeal Board, and provides advice to businesses about public health.

Mr Hawkins was Treasurer for the Community and Public Sector Union/Civil Service Association (CPSU/CSA) for 13 years and is now life member.

Mr Hawkins graduated from TAFE with a Diploma of Management (Business). He is also a Graduate of the Advanced Trustee Director course from the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees.

Warren Bird - Employer Director

Mr Bird was appointed to the Board as Employer Director in November 2022, for a term of five years. Mr Bird is also the Chair of the GESB Investment Committee.

Mr Bird was previously an independent member of GESB’s Investment Committee for 10 years, having been first appointed in June 2013. He has over 30 years' experience in finance and investment roles, including six years as Executive Director at Uniting Financial Services (until 2021). Prior to this, he worked at Colonial First State for a combined 16 years, first as Head of Fixed Interest and later Co-head of Global Fixed Interest and Credit.

Mr Bird has recently been appointed as Independent Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee for the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District. He has previously been a Board member, Chair of the Investment Committee and member of the Finance Committee at WorldShare, an overseas aid charity, and has undertaken consulting roles to several financial institutions.

His qualifications include a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) from the University of Sydney and a Cert IV in Workplace Training and Assessment from the Australian School of Commerce and Management.

Janice Jones - Employer Director

Ms Jones was appointed to the Board for a five-year term to 22 March 2027. This is her first term serving on the Board.

In her current role as an Actuarial Educator at the Actuaries Institute, she designs and delivers post graduate education in professionalism, investments, superannuation and retirement incomes.

As a Director and Actuary at PricewaterhouseCoopers from 2004 to 2022, Ms Jones advised trustee boards, companies and government departments on super, employee benefits and investments.

She also has experience providing strategic advice to the WA Department of Treasury on public sector super policy, and actuarial and advisory services for the NSW public sector superannuation schemes. Other areas of expertise include strategic planning, risk management, investment strategy and tender management for corporate and statutory super funds.

Ms Jones is an independent member of the Investment Committee of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA.

Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts (Mathematics) from the University of Western Australia, a Graduate Diploma in Management from the Australian Graduate School of Management, Diploma in Financial Services (Financial Planning) and Fellowship of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia. She is also a Graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Janine Freeman - Member Director

Ms Freeman was appointed to the Board to fill a casual vacancy in April 2022. She was elected as a Member Director to the Board for a three-year term, commencing 5 May 2022. Ms Freeman has been elected for a further three-year term, commencing 5 May 2025.

As a social equity advocate and former WA Member of Parliament, Ms Freeman served her diverse community for 13 years as the Member for Mirrabooka. She has spent her career representing working people and their families, including the role of Assistant State Secretary of UnionsWA.

Ms Freeman has extensive board and committee experience, joining her first board in 1993. She has been Chair of the WA Legislative Assembly Education and Health Committee, Member of the WA WorkCover Board, and Deputy Chair of the industry superannuation fund, HESTA.

Currently, Ms Freeman is the independent Chair of Fair Food WA (auspiced by the Western Australian Council of Social Service), and Board Member of Anglicare WA, and Water Corporation.

Ms Freeman holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Western Australia, a Certificate IV in Finance Services (Superannuation) from the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety Management from Curtin University. She has also completed a Company Director’s Course through the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Gillian Nathan - Employer Director

Ms Nathan was appointed to the Board as an Employer Director on 12 May 2026 for a term of five years. This is her first term serving on the Board.

She has over 20 years’ experience in taxation, governance, financial reporting and management accounting across the public and private sectors.

Ms Nathan currently serves as a Board Member of the WA Small Business Development Corporation, where she sits on the Audit and Risk Committee. She is also a Finance Director for non-profit Yourtoolkit.com, where she is Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, overseeing financial governance, audit processes and risk management frameworks.

As Founder Director at Simple Solutions Accounting Services, Ms Nathan leads a professional services company delivering taxation, advisory and company secretarial services for a diverse portfolio of clients, working closely with the ATO, ASIC and other key regulatory bodies.

Previously, she held executive roles in South Africa including Divisional Director – Corporate Affairs at Liberty Life and Chief Operating Officer at Car Service City, where she led transformation, stakeholder engagement and business growth initiatives.

Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) Honours from the University of South Africa, where she also completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (Accounting and Economics).

Ms Nathan holds Chartered Accountant designations in both Australia and South Africa and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Virginia Christie - Employer Director

Ms Christie was appointed to the Board as Employer Director in October 2019, for a term of five years. She was re-appointed for a second term, which expired on 25 November 2025.

Ms Christie has extensive board experience. She currently holds the role as one of three Governing Body Members of Western Australia's regulator of utilities, the Economic Regulation Authority. She has previously served as a Non-executive Director of Keystart Loans Ltd, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA, a member of the Foundation Board of Management at St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School and was a State Advisory Council member for CEDA WA.

Ms Christie has over 20 years of public policy experience, including almost 20 years at the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and four years at the Commonwealth Treasury. She was previously on the RBA Superannuation Board of Trustees and Head of the RBA WA office for almost a decade.

Ms Christie’s qualifications include an Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Foundations of Directorship, a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) from the University of WA, and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute.