HBF will draw on the expertise of Mark Barnaba, a current member of the Reserve Bank of Australia
Board, when it establishes a new Investments Committee in April 2019.
HBF Chairman, Tony Crawford, announced that Mr Barnaba will chair the new committee, bringing
added expertise to the oversight of HBF’s $1.7 billion investment portfolio. HBF Non-Executive Brent
Stewart and HBF CEO John Van Der Wielen will also sit on the new committee.
“We are absolutely delighted Mark has agreed to take on this important role for HBF,” Mr Crawford
said.
“Maximising investment returns while minimising risks is crucial to HBF’s financial performance. Our
ability to keep premium increases low is inextricably linked to the performance of our investments,
hence our decision to establish a new specialised committee to manage our investment portfolio,”
Mr Crawford said.
“In John Van Der Wielen we already have a Chief Executive with global investment expertise and
Mark’s appointment means we will now have one of Australia’s most astute and experienced
financial minds guiding our investment strategy.”
Mr Barnaba’s appointment was announced as HBF embarks on a transformative growth and
expansion strategy.
“Our new strategy sets lofty ambitions and we need the very best people across HBF. Mark is one of
the nation’s most credentialed, respected and sought-after business leaders. We’re delighted that
he’ll be joining us at this crucial time,” Mr Crawford said.
“We remain a not-for-profit health insurer with members at the heart of our decision-making but the
way we operate is changing. We intend to deliver more for our members by being more efficient
ensuring world’s best practice is implemented across our business. Mark’s appointment is one
tangible example of this,” he said.
Mr Barnaba, a former WA Citizen of the Year for Business, has national and global experience in
finance and commerce. He is currently Deputy Chairman at Fortescue Metals Group, a member of
the Reserve Bank of Australia Board, Chair of the Reserve Bank of Australia Audit Committee, Chair
of the UWA Business School Board, Adjunct Professor of Investment Banking and Finance, UWA, and
a senior adviser to Ernst & Young (Oceania). Mr Barnaba previously chaired the West Coast Football
Club, Black Swan State Theatre Company, Western Power Corporation and several ASX listed
companies.
He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (First Class Honours) from UWA, an MBA from Harvard Business
School (Baker Scholar) and an Honorary Doctorate of Commerce from UWA.