Your Board members

 

The role of the LGIS Board is to provide overall strategic direction and take governance responsibility for achieving the projects and interests of the Scheme and its members.​ 

WALGA appoints the LGIS Board to provide strategic direction and governance for the member-owned mutual indemnity scheme, which serves Local Government across WA.

Chair Ms Mary Woodford - Independent Director

Mary has had a career in law, health and corporate governance having worked as special counsel, general counsel and company secretary concurrently with non executive directorships in the public and private sector.

Her senior executive roles have been in legal education and law reform advocacy across all areas of law.

Her experience in non executive roles has been with an emphasis on leadership, organisational risk & compliance, strategy and corporate governance with experience as a board and committee chair. 

Currently Mary is Board Chair of Lifestyle Investment Securities Pty Ltd and General Counsel and Company Secretary for a large not for profit delivering youth justice, mental health and family domestic violence programs. 

Her past directorships have been in insurance, financial services, aged care, education, training and community services.  Mary is a Fellow of the  Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Governance Institute of Australia.

Ms Kelly Hick FAICD - Independent Director

Kelly's extensive Board and Committee Member experience encompasses governance roles in mutual organisations, higher education, tourism, local and state government entities and the health sector.

A former lawyer, Kelly also has a career background of senior executive level roles in member-based organisations and professional services firms together with private and public sector legal and allied health experience and currently operates a consultancy practice specialising in governance training, strategy and facilitation.

Kelly is currently Council Member, Member & Policy Committee Member, RAC WA; Board Member, Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association; Independant Chair, Audit and Risk Committee, Burswood Park Board; Divisional Council Member, (WA) Australian Institute of Company Directors and Member ECU SW Campus Advisory Board.

Kelly's previous governance roles include Deputy Chancellor/Governing Council Member, ECU; Chair, Legislative Committee, ECU; Deputy Mayor/Council Member, City of Busselton; Board Member, Lishman Health Research.

Ms Sarah Van Gent - Independent Director

Sarah is an experienced and accomplished Board Director and finance professional. Sarah has served on a range of Boards, including as Chairperson of the Women's Legal Service WA. Sarah was recently appointed as the Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary of SensesWA. Prior to this, Sarah was a Director at EY, where she was responsible for managing audits, including of mutual schemes and other finance and insurance sector entities.

Sarah is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a current member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, among other qualifications.

Mayor Mark Irwin AM – WALGA President

WALGA President Mark Irwin was born and raised in Scarborough and was first elected as a Councillor for the City of Stirling in 2015 and has served as Mayor since 2017.

President Irwin has a deep understanding of WALGA having previously served on WALGA State Council from 2021-2023, before being re-elected as a Zone Delegate of the WALGA Northern Metropolitan Zone and to State Council in 2025.

President Irwin holds a degree in science from UWA, a Diploma in Management, and has completed both the Berkeley Executive Leadership Program and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course.

He has previously served on government and community boards, most notably as President of Surf Life Saving WA and currently on the board of Warriapendi Primary School.

Across his career, President Irwin has forged strong relationships with Local, State and Federal Governments, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to leadership and community service.

Mr Nick Sloan - WALGA CEO

Nick's extensive experience at executive level in state government includes roles across regional and metropolitan Western Australia. During this time, Nick has managed complex policy agendas at both state and local government level. Most recently Nick was the Executive Director, Planning and Service Delivery at the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. Nick has wide-ranging board experience previously serving as Deputy Chair on the Western Australian Local Government Grants Commission and Board member of the Western Australian Institute of Sport.

Mr Ben Rose - Shire of Manjimup

Ben has been appointed as the new LGIS Director representing Non-metropolitan Officers. Ben is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Shire of Manjimup. He has over 15 years experience in WA metropolitan and regional Local Governments of varying sizes. He has also served in executive professional roles across State Government, the private sector and UK Local Government. 

President Chris Antonio- Shire of Northam  

Chris is the President of the Shire of Northam, a role he was first elected to in 2017. Chris has extensive experience in Local Government, serving as a WALGA State Councillor, chair of the Avon-Midland Cone of Councils, chair of the Local Emergency Management Committee, and Shire Councillor since 2015. Chris has over 20 years of experience in Agribusiness Finance, having worked with a major Australian Bank as a specialist. Chris has almost 40 years of experience within his family Farming Operation and is now the CFO of this Agribusiness.

Chris has also worked for more than a decade as a sessional lecturer specialising in Agribusiness Business Planning and Risk Management. Chris holds a Bachelor of Business (Agribusiness), is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and holds various Diplomas, or Graduate Diplomas in Local Government, Financial Planning, and Business Frontline Management. Chris also serves on a range of community boards, including the Avon Community Development Foundation.

Mr John Pearson - City of Rockingham

John is the Director Corporate Services at the City of Rockingham, a position he has held for over 10 years. He has held positions as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Manager at the Shire of Derby/West Kimberly and commenced his career at the Shire of Halls Creek. John leads a complex team in delivering services to over 140,000 residents and has extensive strategic leadership experience in both regional and rapid growth outer metropolitan local governments.

Cr Paul Kelly - Town of Claremont

Joining the LGIS Board again in May 2020 Cr Kelly previous experience as board member and chairperson of the LGIS Board during the global financial crisis makes him a valuable addition. His local government expertise includes periods on the WALGA Finance and Services Committee, WALGA deputy president, WALGA Development Trust chairperson, WALGA state councillor and Chairperson of the Western Metropolitan Regional Council deputy chairperson and councillor. He has been a councillor at the Town of Claremont since 1995, served as deputy mayor for a decade and made a life member of WALGA for his services to the association. Cr Kelly was Executive Director of the Economic Regulation Authority, has considerable experience as a senior executive and board member, and is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.