HCF Board

Annette King
FAICD, FIAA, BEcon (Actuarial)
Chair, Non-Executive Director

Ms King was elected Chair of the Board of HCF in November 2025, having been a Non-Executive Director since November 2022. Ms King is also Chair of the Nomination Committee.

Ms King is an experienced non-executive director with extensive experience across financial services and technology in Asia-Pacific, serving member organisations, large private companies (ASX100 equivalent), rapidly-growing technology companies and not-for-profit organisations. She has chaired committees for audit, risk and compliance, people and culture, nominations and has been a member of technology & data, investment, insurance and other committees. She has prior experience as a CEO of a Significant Financial Institution. Her passion is serving businesses with sustainable growth through differentiated client and member experience and digital/technology/data enablement. She is a qualified actuary, and formerly served as the President and Chair of the Actuaries Institute.

Ms King has over 30 years’ experience in financial services across Asia-Pacific. Prior to becoming a non-executive director, she had a successful track record as a CEO, CFO and Chief Marketing Officer and VP of Client Centricity of significant financial institutions, as well as being a founder/entrepreneur. Ms King has served large, highly-regulated multi-national companies (Swiss Re, AXA, Manulife, Mercer, MLC Superannuation) and innovative fintech companies (AFG, FNZ, Galileo Platforms). Her focus is on business growth through differentiated client and member experience, organisational culture and innovation via data, digital and technology enablement.

Her career commenced in a mutual, member-owned organisation and she has served on member organisations in the non-for-profit sector in Australia and Singapore, as well as being a (fiduciary) trustee director on superannuation funds with 2 million members and $200 billion in assets. In addition to responsibilities in Australia and New Zealand, Ms King has lived and worked for 14 years in Asia in both executive and non-executive director roles.

She currently serves on the boards of TAL Dai-ichi Life Australia Pty Ltd, TAL Life Limited, TAL Life Insurance Services Limited, Australian Finance Group (ASX:AFG) and U Ethical Investors. Her previous boards include Swiss Re, HCF Life Insurance Company Pty Ltd, MLC Superannuation, FNZ wealth management technology and Chair of Galileo Platforms. She is a member of the AICD’s APRA Forum, a member of the Actuaries Institute Public Policy Council Committee and a member of Chief Executive Women. She was President of the Life Insurance Association of Singapore, served on the Singapore Actuarial Society and the Hong Kong Advisory Committee for the AICD.

She is a Fellow of the Actuaries Institute, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and has a Bachelor of Economics from Macquarie University, majoring in actuarial science.

Terry Agnew
MBA, MSc, BE (Hons), FAICD, FAIM, SF Fin
Non-Executive Director

Mr Agnew was appointed to the Board of HCF in October 2019. Mr Agnew is Chair of the People, Culture & Remuneration Committee and a member of the Audit and Finance Committee and Nomination Committee. Mr Agnew joined the Board of HCF Life in December 2024 and was elected Chair in July 2026.

He is an experienced Director, Chair and CEO with a strong track record and involvement with successful and growing organisations. The strategic differentiation and sustainable success of these organisations is built on a foundation of brand, culture, safety and innovation. He has worked across a range of industries including insurance, financial services, travel and tourism, education, disability and care and membership organisations.

Mr Agnew is President of the WA Division of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is Chair of MDA National Insurance and was a Founding Member of CEOs for Gender Equity. He is a Pro-Chancellor of Curtin University Council and the Chair of the Kalgoorlie Campus Council which includes the Western Australian School of Mines. Additionally, he Chairs the Expert Advisory Panel of the AAA Road Safety Research Program. He is the former Chair of Flip Insurance Pty Ltd, the former Chair of the Business Council of Cooperatives and Mutuals (2017–2023), the former Deputy Chair of Infrastructure WA and a former Director of RAA Insurance.

Mr Agnew is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and of the Australian Institute of Management, a Senior Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (FINSIA) and a Member of Engineers Australia (formally known as the Institution of Engineers Australia). Mr Agnew was educated in Adelaide, Perth and Boston and his qualifications include MBA, M.Sc., B.E. (Hons) and the Harvard AMP. He is an Honorary Doctor of Curtin University.

John Barrington
BComm, LLB, GDAFI, FAICD
Non-Executive Director

Mr Barrington was appointed to the Board of HCF in November 2014 and as a Director of the Corporate Trustee of the HCF Research Foundation in April 2017. Mr Barrington is a member of the HCF Risk, Compliance & Sustainability Committee (Chair from March 2015–July 2026), the Audit & Finance Committee, the Nomination Committee and the Investment Committee. He was Acting Managing Director of HCF between March and July 2017. He was appointed to the Board of HCF Life Insurance Company Pty Ltd in February 2019 and is a member of the HCF Life Risk & Compliance Committee (Chair from May 2019–June 2026) and the Audit & Finance Committee.

Mr Barrington was Principal of Barrington Legal, a Sydney law firm, with more than 40 years’ experience in insurance law, superannuation, banking and finance. He was formerly General Counsel for the National Mutual Life Association, Chief Executive of CUNA Mutual Limited and Mutual Community Limited. Mr Barrington served as Chair of Intrinsic Value Investment Limited and Albert Court Aged Care Edgecliff. Until January 2017, he was Chair of Meridian Lawyers and a Director of Guild Group Holdings.

Mr Barrington brings deep expertise in financial services and private health insurance, including financial oversight, regulatory compliance, policy frameworks and governance. His experience includes advising clients, working in highly regulated organisations and serving as a Council Member of the Private Health Insurance Administration Council (PHIAC), giving him unique insights from industry and regulatory perspectives.

Michael Bassingthwaighte AM
FAICD
Non-Executive Director

Mr Bassingthwaighte was appointed to the Board of HCF in October 2019 and is a member of the Nomination Committee and the People, Culture & Remuneration Committee. He was appointed Chair of the Investment Committee in September 2023.

Mr Bassingthwaighte spent his entire executive career in private health insurance, having retired in mid-2018 after 36 years as CEO of Peoplecare Health Limited.

Mr Bassingthwaighte co-founded the IT company HAMB Systems Limited (HAMBS) and developed it as a collaborative provider of technology services for 24 health insurers. He was Chair of HAMBS from inception for 25 years, until 2018.

Mr Bassingthwaighte also co-founded the Australian Health Service Alliance (AHSA) which provides hospital and medical service contracting, data management and clinical advisory services for 28 health insurers. Through senior voluntary roles with Members Health Funds Alliance (MHFA), he made significant contributions to health policy development. Mr Bassingthwaighte is currently a Director of the Illawarra Retirement Trust (IRT), a large not-for-profit retirement village, aged care and home care service provider with centres in Sydney, Canberra, the Sunshine Coast in QLD and the Illawarra and South Coast of NSW.

Past Directorships include Coordinare (the Primary Health Network for South Eastern NSW), Defence Health, Members Own Health Funds, the Illawarra Business Chamber, the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), the Australian Health Services Research Institute (AHSRI) and the NSW Health Funds Association. He also served as an industry advisor to PHIAC, the private health insurance regulator prior to its functions being transferred to APRA. Mr Bassingthwaighte is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, an Honorary Fellow of the University of Wollongong and was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2013 for significant service to the private health insurance industry and the community of the Illawarra Region.

Mark Compton AM
BSc, MBA, FAICD, FCHSM, FAIM, FRS (NSW)
Non-Executive Director

Professor Compton was appointed to the Board of HCF in June 2024 and as a Director of the Corporate Trustee of the HCF Research Foundation in July 2024. Professor Compton is a member of the HCF Investment Committee, HCF Risk, Compliance & Sustainability Committee and HCF Nomination Committee.

Professor Compton is an experienced Non-Executive Director, Chairman and CEO, predominantly in healthcare and life sciences organisations in both listed and unlisted companies and in the not-for-profit sector. Through his diverse experiences in executive and non-executive roles, Professor Compton has developed a passion for values-driven organisations with a strong, positive corporate culture.

He previously served as Chairman of the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research. He was a Non-Executive Director of Macquarie University Hospital, Independent Practitioner Network Limited and the Australian Private Hospitals Association.

Professor Compton was appointed as a Non-Executive Director (from October 2014) and Chairman (from November 2015) of Sonic Healthcare Limited. He also chairs the Advisory Board of Communio Limited (NZ) and is Chairman of St Luke’s Care, a not-for-profit health and aged care organisation (from November 2017).

Professor Compton’s primary community commitment has been St John Ambulance, where he has served as a volunteer for 50 years. In June 2019, he was appointed Lord Prior of the worldwide Order and Chairman of St John International. Before his appointment as Lord Prior, Professor Compton was the national Chairman and Chancellor of the Order of St John in Australia.

Professor Compton is an Adjunct Professor in Healthcare Leadership at Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University, Sydney. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Australasian College of Health Services Management, the Australian Institute of Management and the Royal Society.

He was awarded the Centenary Medal of the Commonwealth of Australia for services to the community and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in January 2010 for services to health, hospitals, medical research and St John Ambulance. He was appointed as Knight in the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem (Order of St John) in 2004 and promoted to Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of St John in 2017. He has also been awarded the Queens Platinum Jubilee Medal and the Coronation Medal at the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.

Amanda Hagan
GAICD, SIA, BSc (Business Information Technology)
Non-Executive Director

Ms Hagan was appointed to the Board of HCF in February 2026. Ms Hagan is a member of the Risk, Compliance & Sustainability Committee, Nomination Committee and Chair of the Technology & Data Committee.

Ms Hagan has over 30 years’ experience across financial services, healthcare, energy and technology, including CEO and executive leadership roles in private health insurance and retail energy. Her experience is evenly split between mutual organisations and privately owned and ASX-listed companies.

Ms Hagan has deep private health insurance experience, including more than 11 years as CEO of Healthcare at Australian Unity with responsibility for its retail and corporate health insurance, dental, optical, allied health and hospital in the home businesses.

Ms Hagan also served as a Group Executive of Technology/Chief Technology Officer at two APRA-regulated organisations, overseeing cyber security, architecture, technology operations, digital and data.

She has held board positions with the Australian Health Service Alliance, Ramsay Home Health, Members Own Health Funds, Private Healthcare Australia and 1st Group (ASX: 1ST).

Ms Hagan has over 30 years’ experience in highly regulated, competitive retail markets, with expertise in brand, marketing, customer experience, channel optimisation, innovation and the use of technology and data to provide a competitive edge.

She also has deep experience in call centre and back-office operations, as well as organisational risk management and consumer regulation.

As the executive responsible for retail energy at Australia’s fourth largest energy retailer, Ms Hagan led a major business transformation, including development of a new customer information system, customer portal and app, as well as data and call centre technology.

Ms Hagan holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Information Technology from the University of NSW and was a Co-op Scholar.

Catherine Hallinan
BA (Hons), MBA, SF Fin, FAICD
Non-Executive Director

Ms Hallinan was appointed to the Board of HCF in February 2019 and is Chair of the Risk, Compliance & Sustainability Committee, a member of the Audit & Finance Committee, the Nomination Committee, the Investment Committee and the Technology & Data Committee.

Ms Hallinan has extensive expertise across the financial services industry, spanning insurance, investments, banking, strategy and planning, and mergers and acquisitions.

She is currently a director of Insurance Manufacturers Australia and SCOR Global Life Australia. Ms Hallinan was Chair of the Board of HCF Life (2019–2026), having been appointed as a Non-Executive Director in June 2011. She has previously served as a Non-Executive Director for Flip Insurance Pty Ltd (2021–2025), St. Catherine’s Aged Care Services, Lawcover Insurance Pty Limited and as Chair of Gateway Bank. Her former executive roles included General Manager, Wealth Strategy at St George Bank and General Manager, Investment Management & Life at Zurich Australia.

Robin Low
FCA, FAICD, BCom
Non-Executive Director

Ms Low was appointed to the Board of HCF in February 2026. Ms Low is Chair of the HCF Audit & Finance Committee and a member of the HCF Risk, Compliance & Sustainability Committee, HCF Nomination Committee and HCF Technology & Data Committee. Ms Low was also appointed to the Board of HCF Life in February 2026. Ms Low is Chair of the HCF Life Audit & Finance Committee and a member of the HCF Life Risk & Compliance Committee.

Ms Low is an experienced non-executive director with extensive experience on the boards of ASX-listed companies, Federal Government entities and not-for-profit companies. Ms Low was with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) for over 27 years where she was a partner in audit and risk, specialising in financial services, in particular audit, risk and mergers and acquisitions of insurance companies. In her career with PwC, Ms Low worked with leading financial institutions in Australia and the UK.

Since leaving PwC over ten years ago, she has served on six ASX-listed company boards, two Federal Government entities and a number of not-for-profit organisations. Ms Low is drawn to organisations where she has a strong alignment to their purpose and believes in their sustainable growth prospects.

Ms Low’s current ASX-listed company board roles are with Appen Limited and Articore Limited. She has previously served on the boards of ASX listed companies: AUB Group Limited, IPH Limited, Marley Spoon SE and CSG Limited. She has chaired the audit and risk committee for all these organisations. She has also been a member of a number of listed company people and culture committees.

Ms Low’s other board appointments have included Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation and the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board, where she was Deputy Chair. In the not-for-profit sector, her current board appointments include Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, the Sax Institute and Yalari. Her past not-for-profit appointments include Sydney Medical School Foundation, Public Education Foundation, Primary Ethics and YWCA. She currently serves on the University of Sydney Finance Committee and is shortly to join its Senate. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Reporting Committee and is an AICD mentor.

Ms Low is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and a Fellow of the AICD. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of New South Wales, Sydney. She is a former registered company auditor and was approved to audit life and general insurance companies.

Karen Price
MBBS, PhD, FRACGP
Non-Executive Director

Adj Professor Karen Price was appointed to the Board of HCF in November 2023 and is a member of the Nomination Committee, the People, Culture & Remuneration Committee and the Technology & Data Committee. She was appointed Chair of the Corporate Trustee of the HCF Research Foundation in November 2025, having been a Non-Executive Director since November 2023.

Professor Price, PhD Monash, is the past President of the RACGP (2020–2022). She’s a clinician of 30 years, including successful small business ownership, medical director of a corporate practice and now working in a multi-doctor practice with team-based allied health, and non-GP medical specialists.

She sat on the national board of the RACGP during 2020–2022, which is a 50,000+ member-led not-for-profit organisation. This included serving the national finance and risk committee, the people culture and remuneration committee and the federal elections and advocacy committee.

Prior to this, Adj Professor Price was Deputy Chair of the Victorian Council and RACGP Victorian Chair of the Women in General Practice. These roles involved high-level strategic decision making, while managing risk and effective delivery of member-focused outcomes. There was also a considerable role in national media including public and private meetings with the Prime Minister, federal and state health ministers, and federal and state health department staff to deliver health system outcomes for the Australian people. She participated in the 10-year primary healthcare plan, the Medicare taskforce and the inaugural 10-year cancer roundtable for improving patient-focused outcomes.

Adj Professor Price has a PhD on GP collaborative practices and is involved in ongoing research projects. She will be serving in a voluntary capacity on the inaugural Innovation and Enterprise Advisory Board at Melbourne University, Faculty of Medicine.

She won the inaugural leadership and health advocacy award from the Australian Federation of Medical Women in 2021, a Family Medicine research award in 2016 and a medical student teaching award in 2011 and was added to the AMA honour roll of fellows for outstanding services to the medical community in 2026. Her abiding interest remains the power of human collaboration and potential, her family and values-based living.

She has served as a Non-Executive Director of the World Organisation of Family Doctors in 2023-2025, a Global Family Doctors and not-for-profit organisation promoting equitable healthcare around the world and is serving on the AMA Victorian GP policy advisory committee after recently completing a term at AMA Federal Council as Chair of AMA GP Council. She continues moderating and facilitating her own GP education forum, “GP’s Down Under,” which is a registered charity in a voluntary capacity.

Lorraine Thomas
University of Portsmouth (UK), H.N.D, Geography
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director

Ms Thomas was appointed as CEO & Managing Director of HCF in July 2025, bringing more than a decade of deep experience within the organisation. Having joined HCF in early 2015, she has held various roles, including Chief Officer Product & Innovation, Chief Officer Product & Diversified Business and Chief Operating Officer. Ms Thomas was appointed as a Director of HCF Life Insurance Company Pty Ltd, Flip Insurance Pty Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary of HCF Life), and as a Director of the Corporate Trustee of The HCF Research Foundation on 1 July 2025.

Ms Thomas has over 20 years’ experience in innovative, customer-centric product delivery and business strategy. She has played a key role in driving organisational transformation, leading high-performing teams to achieve outstanding results, and improving member outcomes through innovation and service excellence. Responsible for Product Innovation, HCF Life and HCF’s International Business, she has also led key strategic initiatives supporting HCF’s 2025 Strategy.

Known for her inclusive leadership style and long-term vision, Ms Thomas remains committed to putting members at the heart of everything HCF does and building a healthier future for Australians by expanding access to affordable, high-quality care.

Ms Thomas’ appointment reflects HCF’s ongoing commitment to leadership continuity, member-first values and long-term sustainability.

As CEO & Managing Director, Ms Thomas will focus on delivering HCF’s 2030 strategy, investing in digital capability, strengthening partnerships across the health system and continuing to advocate for fairness in private health insurance.

Ms Thomas is a Director of Private Healthcare Australia and Members Health Fund Alliance Limited.