Over our long history we have enjoyed an extraordinary calibre of Board members including five former High Court judges, eight former Victorian Supreme Court judges including three Chief Justices and two former Prime Ministers.

  • Francis E. Stewart (1888 to 1895)

    Accountant and Company Manager. Equity Trustees' first Chairman. Formerly General Manager Goldsborough Mort, later Managing Director of Younghusbands Row.  

  • Sir George Fairbairn (1888 to 1889)

    Pastoralist, politician, businessman. He also held positions on the Boards of Union Bank, Dalgety and AMP. Later he became a Member of the Legislative Assembly, then a Federal Member and a Senator. He was also the Agent-General in London between 1924 and 1927.  


  • Edward Fanning (1888 to 1917)

    Merchant and businessman. He served the 22 years on the Board as Chairman. He also held positions on the Boards of NZ Loan and Mercantile, London Bank, CUB and Colonial Mutual Life.  


  • Sir Henry E.A. Hodges (1888 to 1889)

    Barrister. He served on the Board until his appointment to the Supreme Court. He was an active member of the Council of Melbourne Grammar.  


  • Dr. John Madden (1888 to 1893)

    Chief Justice of the Colony of Australia, Lieutenant Governor and the Chancellor Melbourne University between 1907 and 1918.  


  • Hon. Robert Reid (1888 to 1893)

    Businessman and politician. He retired upon his appointment to the State Cabinet of the Patterson Ministry where he held Defence and Health portfolios. Previously, he was Director of Robert, Reid & Co, importers and wholesalers.  



  • Oliver Vial (1888 to 1895)

    A prominent Melbourne tea merchant with other business interests including Jumbunna Coal Co. in South GippsIand.  


  • Hon. Henry Bournes Higgins (1889 to 1906)

    Barrister, politician and jurist. He served on the Board until his appointment to the High Court. As President of Arbitration Court in 1907, he gave the landmark 'Harvester Judgement' which established the principles of the Basic Wage (7 shillings per day, equivalent to 35 cents).  


  • Hon. Matthew Lang (1890 to 1893)

    Member of the Victorian Legislative Council and Mayor of Melbourne from 1889 to 1892. He was also a prominent wine merchant.  



  • Theyre A'B Weigall (1893 to 1898)

    Barrister. He later became Acting Judge of the Supreme Court. He was President of LTAV from 1909 to 1925, President of the Melbourne Club in 1912 and on the council of Melbourne Grammar. 



  • John Burnett Box (1894 to 1905)

    Barrister. He retired upon his appointment to the County Court. From 1888, he was editor of Victorian Law Reports for 17 years. 

  • Edward Trenchard (1896 to 1904)

    Agent and Company Director. He was stock and station agent with branches in northern Victoria and the Riverina. He was also on the Board of National Bank Australasia and Chairman of National Mutual Life.  


  • Hon. Donald MacKinnon (1898 to 1932)

    Barrister and politician. He served on the Board until he died in 1932. During the last 15 years of his tenure he held the position of Chairman. As a young barrister, he assisted in the consolidation of the colony's statute law. From 1914, he was the Victorian Attorney General and later Director of Recruiting for WWI. From 1923 to 1924, he was the Australian Commissioner to the USA. 

  • Hon. Robert G. McCutcheon (1904 to 1918)

    Printer and politician. He was a State backbencher and Director of Mason Firth & McCutcheon printer. He was also President of the Melbourne Chess Club.  


  • William Campbell Guest (1905 to 1909)

    Barrister and businessman. He served until he was appointed Commissioner of Titles from 1910 to 1930. He was also Chairman of T.B. Guest & Co biscuit manufacturers. 



  • Sir William Hill Irvine (1907 to 1918)

    Politician and jurist. Served until appointment as Chief Justice of Victoria where he served for 17 years and earned the nickname 'Iceberg' Irvine. He became Premier of Victoria in 1902 and later Attorney General.  


  • John James Falconer (1909 to 1928)

    Company Manager. He was the former General Manager of Australian Mercantile Land & Finance Co.  


  • Stewart G. McArthur (1910 to 1920)

    Barrister and jurist. He served until his appointment to the Supreme Court. He was a prominent member of the Melbourne Club.  


  • Viscount Stanley Bruce (1918 to 1921)

    Federal Treasurer (1921 to 1923) and Prime Minister (1923 to 1929). Bruce relocated Federal Parliament from Melbourne to Canberra.  


  • Sir Edward F. Mitchell (1918 to 1941)

    Barrister and businessman. He served as Chairman from 1932 to 1941. His interests included a pastoral station in East Gippsland and the Lawn Tennis Association Melbourne Cricket Club of which he was President in 1933.  



  • Albert S. Austin (1919 to 1928)

    Chairman of Riverina Wool Growers & Graziers Association. He had an active interest in the International Red Cross and YMCA

  • Sir John Latham (1919 to 1935)

    Politician and jurist. He retired upon his appointment as Chief Justice High Court of Australia. Earlier, he held general retainers with several companies. In 1925 he became the Federal Attorney General and, in 1932, he was the Australian representative to Geneva disarmament conference.  



  • Ivor William Evans (1924 to 1935)

    Formerly a Bank Manager. Later became Managing Director of Evan Evans Tents & Flags. As a schoolboy in 1901, he designed what eventually became the Australian flag. 


  • Sir Stephen Morell (1929 to 1943)

    Chairman from 1941 to 1943. He was a Board member of CUB and Victoria Insurance. He was also Lord Mayor of Melbourne from 1926 to 1928. The Morell Bridge over the Yarra River is named in his honour. 


  • Colonel Allan Spowers (1929 to 1965)

    Journalist and company director. He was Vice Chairman from 1955 to 1965. He was also Chairman of Colonial Mutual Life and Moran & Cato and on the Board of CapeI Court, Felt & Textiles. He served in both WWI and WWII. 


  • Sir H. Alan Currie (1933 to 1942)

    Pastoralist and businessman. Vice Chairman. Breeder of fine wool merinos; keen member Victorian Racing Club and VATC. Served in WWI in France and Belgium.  


  • Joel Fox (1933 to 1936)

    The Manager of Equity Trustees for 45 years from its inception

  • Major-General (Sir) Edmund F. Herring (1936 to 1944)

    Soldier and jurist. He resigned upon his appointment as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He was a Rhodes Scholar in 1912, then barrister and lecturer. Through WWII he held a succession of important commands. He later became Lieutenant–Governor of Victoria.  


  • Sir Wilfred K. Fullagar (1940 to 1945)

    Barrister. He served the last two years on the Board as Chairman, resigning upon his appointment to the Supreme Court. He was also on the Board of The Argus and Australasian.  


  • Sir Clifden H.A. Eager (1941 to 1968)

    Barrister and politician. He was Chairman from 1945 to 1968. From 1943, he was President of the Legislative Council for 15 years. He was also on the Board of Pearl Assurance and Australian Cement Co.  


  • Sir William C. Angliss (1943 to 1955)

    Founder of the vast Angliss Meat empire, he financed a hospitality school in Melbourne. He was also a Member Victorian Legislative Council from 1912 to 1952.  


  • Sir Thomas S. Nettlefold (1944 to 1956)

    Businessman. Lord Mayor of Melbourne 1942 to 1945. Managing Director of T.S. Nettlefold manufacturing engineers. 


  • George A. Caro (1945 to 1965)

    Wine merchant and Company Director. He was also on the Board of Alliance Assurance, Mildara Wines and Chairman of Gollins, Herald & WeekIy Times.


  • Sir James B. Tait (1945 to 1980)

    Barrister and Company Director. He served 34 years; the last 12 as Chairman. He was a longstanding member of Victorian Bar Council and Chairman of Barristers Chambers. He was also on the Board of Austin Motor Co (Australasia) and Colonial Mutual Life, Group Holdings.  


  • John S. Gale (1956 to 1964)

    Company Manager. He was the General Manager of Dalgety & NZ Loan, on the Board of Gollins & Co and a trustee of William Buckland Foundation.  



  • Sir Ninian Stephen (1964 to 1970)

    High Court of Australia Judge from 1972 to 1982 and Governor-General of Australia from 1982 to 1990.  


  • Gordon Landy (1965 to 1970)

    Chartered Accountant. He was also on the board of Westinghouse Brake Co. He was the father of John Landy, the runner.  


  • Robert Money (1969 to 1981)

    Company Manager. He worked for 42 years with Equity Trustees, the last 20 as Manager. He was on the Boards of ARC Industries and Reg Hunt–Rhodes Motors.  


  • William O. Harris (1970 to 1973)

    Barrister. He resigned upon his appointment to the Supreme Court. During WWII, he was a member of the Royal Australian Navy before entering legal practice and becoming the President of the Victorian Bar Council.  


  • Sir John L. Knott (1972 to 1997)

    Administrator and Company Director. He was the Director General of Posts and Telegraphs. He was Chairman of Saab-Scania and Jennings Industries and Vice-Chairman of ACI. He also sat on the Board of Nicholas International.


  • Richard K. Fullagar (1974 to 1975)

    Barrister. He resigned upon his appointment to the Supreme Court. He was a member of the Royal Australian Navy and later ran a legal practice. He was the son of W.K. Fullagar, a Director from 1940 to 1945.  


  • Richard H. Searby QC, MA (OXON) (1975 to 2000)

    Chairman from 1980 to 2000. Admitted to practice as Barrister and Solicitor in Victoria in 1956. Associate to Sir Owen Dixon, Chief Justice of Australia, between 1956 and 1959. Became one of Her Majesty's Counsel in 1971. Practiced as a barrister largely concerned with commercial, corporate and constitutional matters and as well with taxation, industrial property and trade practices law. Director of BRL Hardy Limited, Amrad Corporation Limited, Woodside Petroleum Ltd and Times Newspapers Holdings Limited (UK). He was also Chancellor of Deakin University, Chairman of News Corp and served on the Boards of Ansett, Shell and CRA.  


  • Sir Ernest W. Coates (1978 to 1997)

    Administrator and Company Director. He was the Permanent Head of Victorian Treasury, Commissioner of SSB and served on the Board of Kinnears Ltd.  


  • James B. Leslie (1980 to 1997)

    He was Chairman of Qantas, Boral, Christies Australia and Mobil Oil as well as Chancellor of Deakin University.  


  • Jack D. Booth (1986 to 1997)

    Banker and Company Director. He was the Managing Director and Chief Executive National Australia Bank. He was also on the Boards of McPhersons Ltd and ACI Ltd.  


  • Anthony G. Hiscock (1996 to 2001)

    He was admitted to practice as a Barrister and Solicitor in Victoria in 1962 and a Partner at Hedderwicks, Fookes and Alston Solicitors between 1967 and 1984. He has been a Partner at Arthur Robinson and Hedderwicks since 1984. 


  • Raymond A. Orloff (1997 to 2001)

    Employed with Smorgon Group since 1959 in various administrative and finance roles. Director of Smorgon Consolidated Industries.  


  • John J. D'Arcy B.Com (2001 to 2002)

    Vice Chairman from 1998 to 2001. Non–Executive director since 1989. He was associated with the media industry for 38 years including a position as the Managing Director of The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd from 1985 to 1988. He was Chairman of HSBC Asset Management Australia Ltd and Director for the Centre for Molecular Biology and Medicine.

  • Ross Illingworth B.Bus (HR), GAICD, CFP (2003 to 2006)

    Non–Executive Director from 2003 to 2006. He has had extensive experience in the stockbroking industry since 1986, involving institutional dealing, charitable foundations, investment companies, capital markets and private clients. He has held a number of senior positions in leading investment institutions in the securities industry. 


  • Philip Molyneux B.Econ, FCA (1992 to 2007)

    Chairman from 2003 to 2007. Philip was involved in non–executive roles in both the not-for-profit and corporate sectors. He was Chairman of listed bio-tech research and development company, Anadis Limited and was Director of the listed company, Pro Medicus Limited. His other directorships included Australian National Academy of Music and the Centre for Eye Research Australia Limited. He was a trustee of the Eye Research Foundation, the Ansell Ophthalmology Foundation and The Monash University Accident Research Foundation



  • Barry Jackson B.Com (Hons), MAICD (2002 to 2010)


    Non–Executive Director from 2002 to 2010. He is a former Managing Director of Pacifica Group Limited and Chief Executive of BTR Nylex's Building Products Group. He is a Director of Paperlinx Limited and was previously a Director of St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research, CSR Limited and Alesco Corporation Limited.


  • John McConnell B.Com, FAICD, FAIM, F.Fin (2002 to 2010)


    Non–Executive Director from 2002 to 2010. He has more than 35 years’ experience in banking and finance with the ANZ Banking Group in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, where his roles included Managing Director of Corporate Banking and Retail Banking and Deputy Managing Director of Esanda Finance Corporation Ltd. He is a Director of ASG Group Ltd and previously a Chairman of Guilford Investments Ltd, Director of Housewares International Ltd and Kew East Financial Services Ltd. He was a founding Director of Family Business Australia Ltd and the Melbourne Community Foundation, and a past member of the Epworth Medical Foundation.



  • Peter Williams Dip.AII, MAICD, FAIM (2003 to 2010)


    Managing Director from 2003 to 2010. Peter came to Equity Trustees with broad experience in investments, insurance and superannuation, having worked in Australia and internationally with the listed insurance company, AXA (previously National Mutual Ltd). In 2000, Peter was appointed General Manager, Superannuation & Portfolio Services at Perpetual Limited. Directorships include NM Superannuation Pty Ltd including two years as its Chairman and two years as the National President of the Trustee Corporations Association of Australia. Peter was a Director and Vice–Chairman of the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. In February 2005, he was appointed to the Board of the Australian Baseball Federation and in August 2009, he was appointed to the Board of Olympic Park Sports Medical Centre Pty Ltd.

  • David F. Groves B.Com., M.Com., CA, FAICD (2000-2015)

    David is a director of Pipers Brook Vineyard Pty Ltd and Tasman Sea Salt Pty Ltd. Since march 2015, he has been a member of the Australian Rugby Foundation Advisory Board. David is a former director of Tassal Group Limited, GrainCorp Limited, Mason Stewart Publishing, Camelot Resources NL and a former executive with Macquarie Bank Limited and its antecedent, Hill Samuel Australia.

  • Robin B.O. Burns (2010 - 2016)

    Managing Director from March 2010 - July 2016. Prior to joining Equity Trustees Robin held positions of, Chief Executive Officer of Equipsuper Pty Ltd, General Manager, Corporate Affairs and Chief Executive, Risk Insurance AXA Asia Pacific. A former Managing Director of Prudential-Bache Securities (Australia)

  • J.A. (Tony) Killen OAM B.A., FAICD, FAIM (2007 to 2018)

    Chairman from August 2007 to October 2018. Prior to joining Equity Trustees, Tony was a former Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AXA Asia Pacific Holdings Ltd, having had a 36 year career with the National Mutual/AXA group. He was also Chairman of Australia’s largest not-for-profit health services provider, Sisters of Charity Health Service Ltd. Tony was also a non-executive director of listed company IRESS Market Technology Ltd and Chairman of Sisters of Charity Community Care Ltd, and Chairman of Templeton Growth Fund Ltd.

    In 2011, Mr Killen was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.



  • The HON. Jeffrey G Kennett AC (2008 TO 2020)

    Chairman from October 2017 – October 2020. Jeff has held Chairman positions at Open Windows Software Pty Ltd, CT Management Group Pty Ltd and The Torch. He has also held Directorship positions at Amtek Corporation Pty Ltd and Seven West Media. He is also a member of the National Co-Design Group and Australian Volunteer Support Trust.

    Jeff was the founder of Beyond Blue, the national depression, anxiety and suicide initiative, and was Chairman of that organisation from 2000 - 2017. Jeff is Patron of The Royal District Nursing Service and Sovereign Hill Ballarat, and is associated with many other community organisations.

    He was an Officer in the Royal Australian Regiment, serving at home and overseas. He was Premier of the State from 1992 to 1999 and Leader of the Opposition 1982-1989 and 1991-1992. Also, he was a Member of the Victorian Parliament for 23 years.

    Jeff was awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia in 2005.


  • Alice JM Williams B.Comm., FCPA, FAICD, ASFA AIF, CFA
    (2007 TO 2020)

    Non-Executive Director from September 2007 to October 2020. Alice has held Director positions at Cooper Energy Limited, Djerriwarrh Investments Limited, Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB), Defence Health, Tobacco Free Portfolios Limited, Port of Melbourne Corporation, Guild Group, Air Services Australia, State Trustees Limited, Western Health, the Australian Accounting Standards Board, Telstra Sale Company, V/Line Passenger Corporation, Barristers’ Chambers Limited and Victorian Funds Management Corporation. She previously held senior management positions in the financial services sector, including NM Rothschild and Sons (Australia) Limited and JP Morgan Australia.

    Alice was Chair of the Remuneration, Human Resources and Nominations Committee and a member of Equity Trustees’ Responsible Entity Compliance Committee.

  • Kevin J. Eley CA, F FIN, FAICD (2011 TO 2024)

    Kevin J. Eley CA, F FIN, FAICD 

    Non-Executive Director from September 2011 to October 2024. Kevin is a Chartered Accountant, a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

    He has over 30 years’ experience in management, financing and investment and has worked for a major international accounting firm, two investment banks and was CEO of HGL Limited where he remains as a non-executive director.

    Kevin is a non-executive director of Milton Corporation Limited and Pengana Capital Group Limited. Kevin is also a member of the Milton Investment Committee.