Sir Leo Hielscher AC

Independent Chairman

Sir Leo is the inaugural Chairman of the Austsafe Pty Ltd Board of Directors. He is an Independent Director and is Chair of the Investment Committee.

Sir Leo has over 50 years experience in the areas of Government, banking and finance, domestic and global financial markets and superannuation as an independent Company Director.

He was the Under Treasurer of Queensland for 14 years (1974 – 1988) and before that, Deputy Under Treasurer for 10 years. As Under Treasurer, Sir Leo was responsible for the preparation and management of the State Government’s financial arrangements required to fund the substantial public infrastructure needed to support the State’s economic development, including new railways, ports, terminals, towns and their associated services such as health, education, housing, electricity, water supply and services generally.

Sir Leo was awarded an Eisenhower Fellowship in 1973, a Knight Bachelor in 1987, an Honorary Doctorate of Griffith University in 1993, and a Companion in the Order of Australia (AC) in the General Division in 2004.

Today, Sir Leo is the chairperson of the Queensland Treasury Corporation (QTC) and a director of Independent Superannuation Preservation Fund (ISPF).

Ian Ballantyne

Employer Representative Director

Ian was appointed to the Austsafe Pty Ltd Board as an employer representative director on 28/5/1991 and is currently a member of the Fund’s Investment Committee.

Ian is the Chief Executive Officer of Canegrowers. Prior to his appointment with Canegrowers he was the Chief Executive Officer of North Queensland Enterprise Zone Corporation.

Prior to that, Ian was a senior officer with the Australian Army for twenty three years, where he was responsible for commanding an Operational Deployment Force Battalion.

He represents Canegrowers on various committees and is a Director of the Canegrowers Superannuation Fund, and a number of Canegrowers commercial subsidiaries including: Canegrowers Financial Services, Canecard and BCLJV Pty Ltd.

He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a graduate of the University of Queensland. He has previously been a Director of the Australian South Sea Islander Community Foundation Board of Advice.

John Bishop

Employer Representative Director

John was appointed to the Austsafe Pty Ltd Board as an employer representative director on 20/2/2003. He is currently the chairperson of the Fund’s Audit and Compliance Committee and is also a member of the Investment Committee.

John is the owner/manager of Bishop Farms and a director of Bishop Gardens. He is also the Chairman of Growcom, a member of the Drum Muster Committee and sits on the Policy Council and Board of the Moreton Bay Waterways and Catchments Partnership.

Robert (Bob) Boscacci

Member Representative Director

Bob was appointed to the Austsafe Pty Ltd Board as a member representative director on 29/7/1988. He is currently a member of the Fund’s Investment Committee and Audit and Compliance Committee.

Bob is the Northern District Secretary - Australian Workers’ Union of Employees (AWU) and has 26 years experience with the AWU.

Garry Ryan

Member Representative Director

Garry was appointed to the Austsafe Pty Ltd Board as member representative director on 12/2/2004. He is currently the Chairperson of the Claims Committee and a member of the Audit and Compliance Committee.

Garry is the Queensland President of the Australian Workers’ Union of Employees (AWU) and has 27 years of experience with the AWU.

Garry has held many positions on Boards and Committees such as the Workplace Health and Safety Board, State Public Sector Superannuation Scheme (QSuper), Workers Compensation Regulatory Authority Board (QComp),Training and Employment Board, Dalby Agriculture College, Workplace Health and Safety Rural Sector Standing Committee, Community Jobs Priority Committee (Toowoomba and South West Queensland), South West Queensland Regional Electricity Council and Queensland Rural Ministerial Advisory Council.

Charles Burke

Employer Representative Director

Charles was appointed to the Austsafe Pty Ltd Board as an employer representative director on 18/12/2007. He is currently a member of the Claims Committee and Audit and Compliance Committee.

He currently holds the position of Vice President of the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) and has occupied various other roles with the Federation in the past 7 years.

Charles is the Treasurer of AgForce and maintains his country roots, living on a property in Esk.

Rod Young

Member Representative Director

Rod was appointed to the Austsafe Pty Ltd Board as a member representative director on 1 July 2008.

He is the former Chairman of the Sugar Manufacturers of Australia Retirement Trust and has held positions as the Deputy Chairman and Chairman for the Association of Super Funds for Australia (ASFA).

Rod currently works for Bundaberg Sugar.

Keith Ballin

Member Representative Director

Keith was appointed to the Austsafe Pty Ltd Board on 1 July 2009.

Keith works for the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) as the District Secretary for Central Queensland. He has been employed by the AWU for more than 20 years and has held various positions in that time. 

The Rural Workplace Health and Safety Sub Committee, Bundaberg College of TAFE and Emerald Agricultural College Board are some other committees, to name a few, of which Keith also belongs.

Keith maintains his regional heritage living in Bundaberg.