Safety, Return to Work and Support Board
The Motor Accidents Authority is part of the Safety, Return to Work and Support Division (SRWSD).
The SRWSD was formed under the Safety, Return to Work and Support Board Act 2012, which commenced on Wednesday, 1 August 2012.
The board oversees the schemes administered by the:
All SRWSD agencies report to the Minister for Finance and Services.
Board members
Michael Carapiet, Chair
Michael Carapiet is Chairman of SAS Trustee Corporation, a non-executive Director of Southern Cross Media Limited, and is also on the board of Macquarie Specialised Asset Management.
Michael was Chairman of Workers Compensation Insurance Fund Investment Board and Chairman of WorkCover Authority Board.
Formerly with the Macquarie Group, Michael held a number of senior executive roles including Global Head of Advisory and Specialised Funds, executive Director of Macquarie Bank Limited and executive Chairman of Macquarie Capital and Macquarie Securities.
Michael has a Master of Business Administration from Macquarie University.
Raymond Whitten, Deputy Chair
Raymond Whitten commenced practising law in 1972 and is a Solicitor Director of Whittens and McKeough Pty Limited. He has extensive experience in property, commercial transactions and all types of dispute work.
Raymond was Chairman of the National Stock Exchange of Australia Limited (“NSX”).
Raymond was previously Chairman of the Motor Accidents Authority, Chairman of the Workers Compensation and Work Health and Safety Council, Deputy Chairman of the Workers Compensation Insurance Fund Investment Board and Director of the WorkCover NSW Board.
Raymond is an Accredited Specialist in Business Law, Notary Public and Responsible Officer of a Nominated Adviser to the NSX.
Gavin Bell, Board member
Gavin Bell became Freehills’ Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner on 1 July 2005. Gavin commenced at Freehills in 1982 as a graduate solicitor and he became a partner in 1988.
Gavin is currently a member of the Advisory Council of the Australian School of Business and the Business Council of Australia. He was also a member of the WorkCover NSW Board and Workers Compensation Insurance Fund Investment Board.
Gavin completed his law degree at the University of Sydney and graduated in 1982. He undertook a Master of Business Administration (Executive) degree at the Australian Graduate School of Management and graduated in 1995.
Elizabeth Carr, Board member
Elizabeth’s career has covered senior executive management positions in Technology (IBM), Finance (Macquarie Group) and Government (Department State Development WA). Elizabeth’s focus is to maximise the inter-dependence of the private and public sectors in order to enrich the economic and social fabric of Australia and the international community. She is particularly interested in stimulating Public Private Partnerships with the dual goals of private profitability and good public governance – and ensuring private sector efficiency and profitability in the context of regulatory or legislative change.
Elizabeth has a BA (Hons) from UWA and a Master’s Degree from Harvard University. She is currently a Member of The Environmental Protection Authority (WA) and has a number of Not-For-Profit and Education Board positions (including Chairman - Macular Degeneration Foundation). Elizabeth was a member of both the WorkCover NSW Board and Workers Compensation Insurance Fund Investment Board.
Peeyush Gupta, Board member
Peeyush Gupta was the co-founder and inaugural Chief Executive Officer of Ipac Securities, a pre-eminent wealth management firm spanning financial advice and institutional portfolio management. He is currently a non-executive director on various boards, including MLC Advice and Licenses, Quintessence Labs and is chairman of State Super Financial Services and Charter Hall Direct Property. Peeyush also serves on a variety of non-profit boards, including being Executive-in-residence, Australian School of Business, UNSW and SIRCA. He was previously a member of the Workers Compensation Insurance Fund Investment Board.
Peeyush undertook a Master of Business Administration (Finance) degree at the Australian Graduate School of Management and graduated in 1985. Peeyush completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 2006.
Mark Lennon, Board member
Mark Lennon is Secretary of Unions NSW, and was appointed to that position in October 2008. Mark joined Unions NSW (formerly the Labor Council) in 1988 and has held the positions of Occupational Health and Safety Training Officer, Industrial Officer and Assistant Secretary, prior to becoming Secretary.
Mark was a member of the WorkCover NSW Board.
Julie Newman PSM, Chief Executive Officer
Julie Newman PSM is the Chief Executive Officer, Safety, Return to Work and Support Division.
In this role, Julie has accountability for the strategic direction of financial management, funds management, information technology and services, payroll, procurement, shared services, site services and fleet management for the Safety, Return to Work and Support Division.
Julie has developed a budgeting framework and introduced a new funding model which increased the level of financial accountability across the organisation. She also coordinated the upgrade and implementation of the financial reporting system and the budgeting and forecasting tool now used across the Authorities.
Julie’s broad experience in the NSW public sector spans over 40 years, including 26 years in senior management and leadership roles, in NSW Health and more recently the Safety, Return to Work and Support Division.
Julie was Acting Chief Executive, Safety, Return to Work and Support Division from December 2011 and was appointed Chief Executive Officer on 24 October 2012.
Julie has a Bachelor in Health Science Management from Charles Sturt University and is a qualified CPA.