About Us

Our Board Members

Member-Elected Directors

Jane Whiter
President and Chairperson | GAICD, MRMIA

  • Appointed as Board Member: 18 May 2023

  • Appointed as President: 13 May 2024

Jane Whiter is an innovative and diversified executive leader and board director, demonstrating a blend of competencies across government, not for profit and the private sector. Deep experience leading diverse and geographically dispersed multi-disciplinary organisations and teams in broad scope corporate, regulatory and business operations. Jane has a unique breadth of expertise gained from her involvement in various industries including construction, consulting, Saas, NGOs and insurance.

As president and Chair of RMIA, Jane will provide strategic direction and oversight, furthering the mission to promote risk management and business preparedness across Australasia. Jane is committed to industry excellence and aims to inspire and empower the risk management community to navigate uncertainty with confidence and resilience.

Jane champions initiatives to foster innovation, diversity and equity. She hopes that her passion for membership, mentorship, and knowledge sharing will inspire all professionals to pursue education and understanding of and in risk management, ensuring a collective contribution to society’s sustainability and resilience.

Key Areas of Expertise:

· Strategy & Performance

· Operational Excellence

· Enterprise Risk Management

· Program & Project Delivery

· Policy, Planning & Governance

Education & Qualifications:

· Masters Business Administration

· Graduate Certificate Psychology of Risk

· Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting)

· Bachelor of Nursing

· Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD)

Leah Tran
CPRM

  • Appointed: 06 May 2025

Leah Tran is a strategic risk leader with over 17 years of experience across the financial services and technology sectors. As the global Head of Technology Risk, she brings deep expertise in technology transformation, operational risk, product management, and start-up environments.

She has advised Australia’s Big Four banks, government agencies and insurers, leading enterprise risk strategies and building resilient frameworks that enable sustainable growth and regulatory confidence. Leah is known for aligning risk with business ambition, positioning resilience as a driver of performance rather than a constraint.

A commercially minded leader, she bridges technology and risk disciplines to enable informed, cross-functional decision-making. Her ability to lead through complexity has made her a trusted advisor to boards and executives.

Beyond her role, Leah actively mentors emerging professionals and champions diversity and inclusion across the tech and finance sectors, helping shape a more dynamic and representative future for risk leadership.

Key Areas of Expertise:

· Driving Strategic Growth

· Shaping Risk-Informed Innovation in Technology and Products

· Strategic Stakeholder Leadership in Complex Risk Environments

Education & Qualifications:

· Certified Practising Risk Manager (CPRM)

Angela Scarfo
Head of Risk & Compliance | BA (Legal Studies), LLB, GradDip (Legal Practice), CPRM, MAICD

  • Appointed: 06 May 2025

Angela is an accomplished leader in governance, risk, and compliance with nearly two decades of experience across various industries. Known for embedding strong risk culture, she has led the design and implementation of enterprise risk frameworks, and promoted strategic, purpose-led governance.

A qualified legal professional with a current practising certificate, Angela brings a blend of technical expertise and practical insight. She is passionate about capability uplift and aligning risk practices with organisational goals.

Angela has served as Secretary and Vice President of RMIA’s SA/NT Chapter and was a mentor in the inaugural RMIA mentoring program. She is dedicated to supporting the next generation of risk leaders and giving back to the profession.

With a collaborative style, strategic mindset, and commitment to excellence, Angela brings energy, enthusiasm and insight to the RMIA Board.

Outside of work, Angela enjoys reading, walking, and spending time with her three boys. As a Board member, she is focused on advancing the profession through strategic growth and member engagement.

Key Areas of Expertise:

· Risk Management

· Compliance Management

· Governance

· Corporate Strategy

Education & Qualifications:

· Bachelor of Arts (Legal Studies)

· Bachelor of Laws

· Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice

· Certified Practising Risk Manager (CPRM)

Kerri Stephens
Head of Risk Management | GAICD, GradCert - Psych Risk, CPRA, ANZIIF (Snr Assoc.)

  • Appointed: 13 May 2024

Kerri is an adaptive, collaborative executive leader with over 20 years of experience spanning risk, resilience, governance, compliance, and insurance. Her career spans across diverse sectors, including agriculture, insurance, government critical infrastructure, tourism, for-purpose healthcare and defence. Kerri works with global and national organisations, applying a strategic lens and systems-thinking to navigate uncertainty and embed sustainable change.

Currently Head of Risk Management at ASC Pty Ltd (Australia’s sovereign submarine builder), she partners with executives and boards positioning risk as a business enabler—empowering smarter, data-driven decisions aligned with strategic objectives. Her postgraduate qualifications in the Psychology of Risk further underpin her influential leadership style, stakeholder engagement, and passion for creating high-performing, risk-aware cultures.

As a Board Member, she brings deep cross-sector experience, a curious mindset, and commitment to creating long-term value through governance, culture, and performance.

Outside of work she plays tennis, enjoys live music, rides a Vespa and orders a skim flat white.

Key Areas of Expertise:

  • Board & Executive Advisory

  • Strategic Risk Management 

  • Organisational Resilience

  • Stakeholder Engagement / Influence

  • Governance and Culture

Education & Qualifications:

  • Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD)

  • Postgraduate Certificate in the Psychology of Risk, Australian Catholic University

  • Certified Professional Risk Associate (CPRA)

  • ANZIIF (Senior Associate) - Certified Insurance Professional

Sharon Wilkes
CPA, CPRM

  • Appointed: 13 May 2024

Sharon is a Certified Practicing Accountant and Risk Leader with over two decades of experience in Finance, Governance, Strategy and Innovation, and Enterprise Risk across both the public and private sectors. She has held leadership roles in risk management, governance, and compliance, demonstrating a strong commitment to supporting risk-based decision-making. Sharon is passionate about integrating innovation with ethical governance practices to achieve optimal outcomes for all stakeholders.

Outside of work, she enjoys playing golf, travelling, reading and cooking. Sharon is an RMIA Board member and Chair of the Audit Committee.

Key Areas of Expertise:

· Risk Management

· Taxation and Compliance

· Financial Management

Education & Qualifications:

· Bachelor Degree in Business/Arts (Japanese), Swinburne University

· Certified Practising Accountant (CPA)

· Advanced Diplomas of Risk Management, Business Continuity & Governance, Risk & Compliance

· Certified Practising Risk Manager (CPRM)

Sherie Walczak
Group Risk & Assurance Manager | MBA, CPRM, AMIIA, AdvDipAcc, DipWHS, DipQA

  • Appointed: 13 May 2024

Sherie Walczak is an experienced senior leader with over 20 years of expertise in risk, safety, and compliance management. As the Group Risk and Assurance Manager at Flinders Port Holdings Group, she is dedicated to unlocking the full potential of the business by driving strategic outcomes, fostering innovation, and leading transformative change. With a transformational leadership style, Sherie focuses on the uplift of organisational strategies, systems and processes to align with strategic objectives while maintaining compliance within a positive workplace culture. Her approach is deeply rooted in customer-centric values, staff wellbeing and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Sherie is honoured to serve as an RMIA Board member, contributing to the advancement of the risk profession. It reflects her dedication to supporting members and the broader professional community, ensuring meaningful impact and continued excellence. It is her opportunity to give back to the community that has given me so much.

In her spare time Sherie loves music, gardening and travelling to new places to experience and learn about new things.

Key Areas of Expertise:

· Governance

· Risk

· Resilience

· Compliance

· Insurance

· Work Health & Safety

· Assurance

Education & Qualifications:

· Master of Business Administration - Strategic Human Resources

· Certified Practicing Risk Manager (CPRM)

· Advanced Diploma of Accounting

· Diploma of Work Health & Safety

· Diploma of Quality Auditing

Independent Directors

David Butters
MRMIA

  • Appointed: 7 March 2024

David has 25 years' global executive search experience prior to a decade within Investment Banking, including setting up a trading floor-based risk management function incorporating operational, market and counterparty credit risk. Prior to founding Heath & Ford, David worked for a major global search firm focusing on senior governance professionals across Europe, Middle East, Asia and North America.
 
A value-based professional, with deep subject matter expertise, who engages with the utmost integrity.  

Andrew Wood
Managing Director, GAICD, LLB (Law), Cert 3 & 4 PT, MRMIA

  • Appointed: 9 July 2021

After two decades founding and leading boutique executive search firms in Australia, Andrew founded Neo Talent. He is known for his extensive industry networks and outstanding market reputation.

Andrew has successfully led hundreds of key appointments and is recognised for his practical, honest, and consultative approach. He has partnered with many Executive leaders and CRO’s to secure exceptional leadership talent and build high performing teams.

Andrew advises on market trends and talent acquisition strategies, and he is passionate about helping organisations address contemporary challenges, including workforce diversity, evolving workplace dynamics, and organisational culture.

Andrew is a keen sportsman, golfer and qualified personal trainer. He is an advocate of finding balance across work and life and enjoys spending time with his family.

As an RMIA Independent Board member, he helps increase the visibility and awareness of the organisation through his risk leadership network.

Key Areas of Expertise:

· Executive Search & Talent Acquisition

· Talent Advisory & People Strategy

· Diversity & Inclusion

Education & Qualifications:

· LLB Law Degree – University of Liverpool, UK

· Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD)