Our People

Board of Directors

Stephen Nugent

STEPHEN NUGENT

Member and owner since 2002

B Bus. (Marketing), Grad Cert Internet Mkt., AFAMI, JP, AMP (Harvard)

Chair of Directors,

Chair of Corporate Governance and Remuneration Committee

Mr Nugent joined the Board as a Director in May 2002. Stephen has more than 40 years experience in the banking, finance and insurance industries and was formerly the Chief
Customer Officer for The Hospital Contributions Fund of Australia Limited (HCF). Stephen is also a Director of the Customer Owned Banking Association and the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network.

Stephen brings to the Board a wide range of experience in project and operations management, process improvement and reform programs focused on digital transformation, sales, marketing, customer service, retail banking, financial and property management, hospitality, retirement aged and home care, strategic planning and compliance. 

Jacki Johnson

JACKI JOHNSON

Member and owner since 2005

BAppSc (OT), EMBA (AGSM), GradDip Safety Science, FAICD

Member of Corporate Governance and Remuneration Committee

Ms Johnson is currently enrolled as a Phd candidate at University of Wollongong researching the role Board of Directors play in creating societal value.

In September 2022 Jacki was appointed as City Commissioner – Illawarra- Shoalhaven Greater Cities Commission NSW Government. Jacki is also the Managing Director of her own consulting practice, Focusing Moments Pty Ltd, primarily consulting in strategy.

Jacki has recently been appointed to the faculty of the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainable Leadership, Australian Business Programme. She is also a member of Chief Executive Women and a Fellow of the Institute of Company Directors.

Former roles include CEO IAG NZ, CEO The Buzz Insurance (IAG), Group Executive People, Performance and Reputation (IAG) Co Chair United Nations Environment Financial Initiative, Co Chair Australia Sustainable Finance Initiative and Steerco member Resilient Sydney, President of the Insurance Council of New Zealand, Chair of the Christchurch Recovery Chief Executives’  meeting, and Executive Director IAG NZ.

Jacki has been publicly recognised for her leadership. In 2022 Jacki has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance and in 2015 the NZ Herald in December named her as NZ Executive  of the Year. She is a former Non Executive Director of the New South Wales WorkCover Authority and the Personal Injury Education Foundation.

Stephen Lowndes

STEPHEN LOWNDES

Member and Owner since 1999

B. Rur. Sc. (Hons) UNE, MAMI

Member of Corporate Governance and Remuneration Committee

Mr Lowndes was appointed to a casual  vacancy on the Board in March 2001 and elected as Chair from July 2008 to November 2015. Stephen has 30 years experience in data analysis, systems development, policy formulation, strategic planning, executive management and industry representation, gained in the Commonwealth Public Service, Private Health Insurance, Aged Care and Health industries. Stephen has served on the Boards of the Australian Friendly Society Association, the Australian Health Services Alliance, the Australian Health Insurance Association, Health Services Association of NSW and a number of not-for-profit community services organisations.

Stephen was formerly a member of  the Management Board of Manchester Unity Credit Union, Chief Executive of Manchester Unity Australia Ltd, CEO of the Aged and Community Services Association of NSW and ACT, a peak industry association representing not -for-profit aged care providers and Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Rehab,
a not-for-profit specialist rehabilitation  and disability hospital. He is currently the CEO of the Family of League Foundation.

Gary Thompson

GARY THOMSON

Member and owner since 1979

Grad.Dip.Corp.Man, MBA, GAICD, MAMI

Member of Corporate Governance and Remuneration Committee

Mr Thomson joined the Board of  Community First Credit Union as a Non-Executive Director in December 2016. He was previously a Director and Chair of Manly Warringah Credit Union Ltd since 2006. Gary has a broad range of experience in strategic planning, risk management, executive management and governmental relations.

Gary semi-retired in July 2018 but was  previously employed as a Project Director at Singleton Council from 2017 to 2018. From 2010 to June 2017 he was Assistant General Manager at Singleton Council following 3 years working as a consultant in the areas of town planning and business reorganisation particularly related to waste management. Prior to this he worked for Warringah Council for 28 years where his final role was as Director of Customer and Community Services.

He has extensive Board experience  having previously been a member of the Glen Street Theatre Board of Directors and Hunter Resource Recovery Board of Directors. He is currently a Director of Balmain Rugby League Football Club and Balmain District Junior Rugby League Club. He is the owner of Thomson Planning and Project Management providing executive advice to private and public enterprises.

Deborrah Lambourne

DEBORRAH LAMBOURNE

Masters of Applied Finance (Macquarie University), CA.

Director

Deborrah Lambourne is a senior executive with experience in the professional services, financial services, including corporate & consumer banking, higher education and government sectors.

Deborrah has held the position of Chief Operating Officer in the Australian Curriculum Assessment Reporting Authority (ACARA), a COAG initiative; Chief Operating Officer (Community Portfolio) and Director Financial Strategy & Planning at the University of Sydney; and Head of Credit & Risk Planning at Australian Guarantee Corporation Limited (Westpac Group) and Head of Portfolio Risk Management, Commercial & Retail Banking, at Westpac Banking Corporation Limited.

Peter Bourke

PETER BOURKE

Economics degree with majors in Accounting and Computing. CA.

Director

Mr Bourke joined the Board in mid 2023. Peter Bourke was educated in Sydney and has an Economics degree with majors in Accounting and Computing. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accounts and a Member the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Peter is a senior executive with International Experience across a number of sectors including Professional Services, Financial Services Telecommunications, Retail and Logistics.

Peter’s most recent experience has been as the Chief Information Officer for a major Global Conglomerate.

Peter is an Advisor and Board Member to a number of companies both in Australia and Internationally.

David Rowe

DAVID ROWE

BA Commerce (Economics and Finance), Graduate Diploma of Accounting and Executive MBA from the AGSM.

Director

Mr Rowe joined the Board in mid 2023. David Rowe is a senior finance executive with extensive experience in treasury, corporate advisory and strategy, M&A, financial risk management, liquidity and balance sheet optimisation and investor relations.

David was Group Treasurer for Stockland, where he was responsible for managing the balance sheet and financial risks of the Group, in particular funding and liquidity, hedging and capital management. In addition to this role, he was also General Manager, Corporate Procurement and Investment Adviser for the Stockland Care Foundation, providing investment insights and advice to the Foundation.

David has also been Group Treasurer for AMP Limited, where he was responsible for the treasury activities of the AMP Group, including AMP Bank. Together with this role, he was also Chair of the AMP Investment Committee and Director, M&A. David has also been Group Treasurer for AXA Asia Pacific Holdings Limited and held senior treasury, finance and accounting roles for Pacific Dunlop Limited, Australian Wheat Board and Westpac.

David is a Fellow of the Australian Corporate Treasurers Association and Chair of their Technical Committee, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics and Finance), a Graduate Diploma of Accounting and an Executive MBA from the AGSM.


Senior Management Team

Anthony Perkiss


ANTHONY PERKISS

CPA, MBA, BComm (Accy), GAICD, FCPA

Chief Executive Officer & Company Secretary

Anthony Perkiss is a senior management and finance executive with more than 30 years’ experience across the mutual banking, retail banking and investment banking industries both in Australia and the United Kingdom. Anthony joined Illawarra Credit Union as the CFO & Company Secretary in 2012, before being appointed as Deputy CEO in 2016, and then CEO in May 2019. Following the merger between Illawarra Credit Union and Community First on 1 February 2025, Anthony then became CEO of Community First Bank.

Anthony is a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) and holds a Masters of Business Administration from Deakin University, a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) from University of Wollongong and has completed an Executive Leadership Program from Stanford University (USA) in 2015. Anthony is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and a Fellow of the Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountants (CPA).

Hung Truong

HUNG TRUONG

Member and Owner since 1999

B. Commerce (Accounting), FCPA

Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary

Hung joined Community First in December 1999 and over the years has progressed through the organisation in a number of key roles in finance. Currently Hung is the Chief Financial Officer with oversight of the finance and accounting function; covering financial management; budgeting; taxation; treasury; prudential and statutory reporting. He is also responsible for the collections, corporate services and company secretarial functions.

Deborrah Lambourne

ALETIA FYSH

B.Bus (Marketing), Grad Cert (MBA)

General Manager – Marketing and Product

Aletia has held various roles across marketing, sales and contact centre management. She has over 20 years experience in financial services marketing.  She joined Community First in 2006 and as the General Manager of Marketing and Product, is currently responsible for all facets of marketing including brand, communications and advertising, while also overseeing end to end product management across the brands that Community First operates.

Peter Bourke

BENJAMIN IRONS

MBA, B. Business (International Business). Dip. F.S. (Financial Planning)

General Manager – Member Experience

Ben joined Community First in 2013, bringing extensive experience in the finance industry to various roles within the sales and distribution teams. Ben currently serves as the General Manager – Member Experience. In this role, Ben oversees the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the company’s sales, service, and distribution channels across the brands the Community First operates.

David Rowe

KAMRAN SAEED

Master of Laws (LLM) and Chartered Accountant CIA, CFSA, CCSA Certified Internal Auditor and Financial Services Auditor

Chief Risk Officer

Kamran joined Illawarra Credit Union in 2023 and has over 20 years experience in Assurance, Risk and Compliance including regulatory compliance, predominantly in the Finance Services sector.

Hung Truong

MICHAEL ANASTASI

B. Commerce (Accounting), Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand

Chief Operating Officer