HCF Life Board

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

Ms Hallinan joined the Board of HCF Life in June 2011, was appointed Chair in October 2019 and is also a member of the Audit & Finance Committee and the Risk & Compliance Committee. She was appointed to the Board of HCF in February 2019 and is a member of the Audit & Finance Committee, the Risk, Compliance & Sustainability Committee, the Nomination Committee and the Investment 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. 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.

Terry T. 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 Nomination Committee. Mr Agnew joined the Board of HCF Life in December 2024 and is a member of the Risk and Compliance Committee.

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 a Councillor for the WA Division of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is also a Director of RAA Insurance, MDA National Insurance, MDA National, Deputy Chair of Infrastructure WA, and was a Founding Member of CEOs for Gender Equity. He is a member of the Curtin University Council and also 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 and is on the Advisory Board of Arvela (formerly Future Green Solutions). He is the former Chair of Flip Insurance Pty Ltd (2021 – 2025) and the former Chair of the Business Council of Cooperatives and Mutuals (2017 – 2023).

Mr Agnew is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management, Senior Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia (Finsia) and Member of the Australian Institute of Engineers.

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 M. 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 Chair of the HCF Risk, Compliance and Sustainability Committee and a member of 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 Limited in February 2019, is Chair of the HCF Life Risk & Compliance Committee and a member of the HCF Life Audit & Finance Committee.

Mr Barrington was the Principal of Barrington Legal, a law firm located in Sydney, with more than 40 years in practice specialising 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 has extensive experience (both strategically and operationally) in financial services and private health insurance, in particular relating to financial oversight, regulatory requirements, policy frameworks and governance. He has previously served as a Council Member of the Private Health Insurance Administration Council (PHIAC).

Mr Barrington brings a unique perspective given his background of advising clients, working in organisations subject to complex regulatory requirements and providing regulatory oversight in a senior governance role within a regulatory body.

Robin Low
FCA, FAICD, BCom
Non-Executive Director

Ms Low was appointed to the Board of HCF Life Insurance Company Pty Ltd in February 2026. Ms Low is Chair of the Audit & Finance Committee and a member of the Risk & Compliance Committee. 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 and HCF Nomination 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 & 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 twelve years ago, she has served on six ASX listed 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 also believes in their sustainable growth prospects.

Ms Low’s current ASX listed company boards 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 and currently chairs a listed company people and culture committee.

Ms Low’s other board appointments have included Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation and Auditing and Assurance Standards Board, where she was deputy chair. In the not-for-profit sector her current appointments are to 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 New South Wales audit committee. 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 has a Bachelor of Commerce from University of New South Wales. She is a former registered company auditor and was approved to audit life and general insurance companies.

Lorraine Thomas
University of Portsmouth (UK)
H.N.D
Geography, 01/1998
Executive Director

Ms Thomas was appointed as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of HCF in July 2025, bringing with her 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 serves as a Director of HCF Life, Flip Insurance Pty Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary of HCF life Insurance Company Ptd Ltd), and the Corporate Trustee of The HCF Research Foundation.

Ms Thomas has over 20 years of 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, Lorraine 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 & MD, 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 also a Director of Private Healthcare Australia.

Tim Thorne
MBA,DMS
Non-Executive Director

Mr Thorne was appointed to the board of HCF Life Insurance Company Pty Ltd in July 2025. He is a member of the HCF Life Risk & Compliance Committee.

Mr Thorne has over 25 years’ experience as a corporate executive. He was formerly a member of the executive team at TAL Dai Ichi Life where he spent a decade serving in a variety of roles culminating in running the largest division and tripling its size in four years.

Previously he was Director of Innovation at Cancer Research UK where he founded Stand Up to Cancer UK, a partnership with Channel 4 Television, where has since raised 100s of millions of dollars for medical research.

Other roles included Director of Group Innovation for RBS (now NatWest Group) and CEO of leading growth and innovation consultancy Edengene. He originally trained to be a doctor at St. George’s Hospital Medical School in London before gaining an MBA from the University of Westminster.

With experience across multiple sectors in the UK, US, Europe and Asia, Mr Thorne brings a unique expertise in growth and innovation for businesses operating in complex regulatory environments.