What is a ‘Member’?
Members are the formal custodians of HCF and a key part of HCF’s governance framework. The eligibility criteria, term of office, along with the role and responsibilities are set out in the HCF Constitution and Member Charter. There are 2 types of Members:
- Elected Members – up to 16 individuals elected by Voting Policyholders eligible to vote.
- Board Members – 8 individuals consisting of the Chair of the HCF Board and 7 HCF Directors.
Role of Members
Members are the members of HCF. Policyholders aren’t members of HCF and have no rights or entitlements under the Constitution, beyond the right:
- for those Policyholders who are Voting Policyholders, to participate in the election of Elected Members; and
- to vote on a scheme of arrangement including other types of control transactions such as an amalgamation, merger, acquisition or consolidation of health benefit funds or a variation to the Membership structure of the Company.
As the Members of the Company for the purposes of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Act), Members also exercise powers that either the Act or the Constitution require and are reserved for a general meeting. These include:
- electing and/or removing directors
- appointing and/or removing the auditors
- approving amendments to the Constitution
- changing the company type
- setting the director remuneration pool and approving certain financial transactions (such as related party transactions).
Members must also attend information briefings convened by the Company.
As HCF is a company limited by guarantee, in the event it is wound up each Member undertakes to contribute up to $2 towards the property of the Company where required.
The Constitution prohibits the distribution of any property or profit of the Company to Members and requires that all surplus upon winding-up is given or transferred to a person or entity with similar objects to that of HCF.
List of Members
Elected Members
- Kelly Brown
- Sonia Casanova
- Rosalyn DeVries
- John Dunlop
- Allan Fraser
- Cindy Hansen
- Cheryl Hayman
- Fiona Jolly
- Clement Loy
- Susan Neill
- Russell Schneider
- Juliet Seifert
Director Members
- Terry Agnew
- John Barrington
- Michael Bassingthwaighte
- Mark Compton
- Catherine Hallinan
- Annette King
- Karen Price
