New WorkCover Queensland Board announced

The Palaszczuk Government has announced the new WorkCover Queensland Board, which includes a mix of fresh talent and experience to ensure the workers’ compensation scheme remains the best in Australia.

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace said current WorkCover Queensland Board Director Flavio Gobbo, a Director of Employers Mutual, had been appointed Chairperson.

Ms Grace said fellow WorkCover Queensland Director Ros McLennan - General Secretary, Queensland Council of Unions – had been appointed Deputy Chairperson.

“Ms Gobbo was chairperson of the former workers’ compensation regulatory authority and will bring to the position a wide range of legal and management experience,” Ms Grace said.

“She has all the right credentials as Chairperson from her roles in general counsel, corporate governance and dispute resolution, particularly in insurance and recoverable damages.

“I’d like to congratulate Ms Gobbo and Ms McLenann on their appointments to the board that’s responsible for the commercial policy and management of WorkCover Queensland. All nine directors have extensive experience in business, industry, law and industrial relations.

“Between them they bring to the table extensive experience as company directors and not-for-profit board experience.”

Ms Grace said WorkCover Queensland’s premium and benefits package would deliver annual cost savings to Queensland businesses of $58.7 million.

“The WorkCover benefits package will increase the early payment discount available to employers from 3 per cent to 5 per cent,” she said.

“In addition to this we’re covering the WorkCover premiums for apprentices - businesses won’t pay a cent in WorkCover premiums on the apprentices they hire.

“WorkCover Queensland will also maintain the average premium rate of $1.20 per $100 in wages paid, the lowest average premium rate of any Australian state.”

WorkCover Queensland Board (2017/18)

Ms Flavia Gobbo. Chairperson, Director of Employers Mutual, Deputy Chair of Rowing Australia and Board member of SecondBite, a not for profit national food rescue organisation. Former director of the workers’ compensation regulatory authority.

Ms Ros McLennan Deputy Chairperson, General Secretary, Queensland Council of Unions Ms McLennan has been a director of WorkCover Queensland since 2016. Ms McLennan is a Director of Safe Work (Queensland), a Trustee of Sunsuper and is a Member of the ACTU Executive.

Mr John Crittall. Director of WorkCover Queensland since 2012. He is currently the Chair of the Building Employees Redundancy Trust, Director of Mates in Construction, Chair of Construction Income Protection Limited and Chair of Electro Group.

Ms Kerriann Dear. CEO of the Queensland Working Women’s Service Inc. since 2003 and has a background in industrial advocacy and social work.

Mr Ian Leavers - Director of WorkCover Queensland since 2014. Mr Leavers is currently General President and CEO of the Queensland Police Union, a position he has held since 2009. Mr Leavers is a director of the Queensland Police Credit Union.

Ms Alison Quinn - CEO of RetireAustralia, a multistate aged care service provider. Ms Quinn has significant leadership experience in the banking, finance and property development sectors.

Mr Michael Roche - Principal of Michael Roche Advisory and former CEO of the Queensland Resources Council. Mr Roche is on the board of the Australian Institute of Business and Economics and Mine Super (formerly AusCoal Super), and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ms Lyn Rowland - Chief Human Resources Officer for Queensland Health from 2012 to 2014 and now runs Rowland Reynolds Consulting, a human resources consulting firm.

Mr Ben Swan - Queensland Branch Secretary, Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) and formerly the AWU’s National Industrial Officer and Industrial Advocate. Mr Swan is the chair of Sunsuper, a director of Chifley Financial Services and a director of Tree of Knowledge Training.

For further information go to www.worksafe.qld.gov.au

Media contact: Martin Philip 0427 919 548