Board

We have a Board of seven members who are appointed by the Governor of South Australia.

The Board's role is to monitor, influence and approve the overall direction and performance of ReturnToWorkSA.

Greg McCarthy, Chairman

Greg has extensive experience in Statutory Classes of Insurance, most recently as a CEO of ReturnToWorkSA and previously at senior executive general management level for national private sector insurers in both CTP and Workers Compensation.

He has also worked as a consultant, business owner, board director (including two as Chairman) as well as on stakeholder management.

His extensive experience includes:

  • Former Director Motor Accident Commission of South Australia
  • Former CEO ReturnToWorkSA
  • Former Chairman NSW WorkCover Authority
  • Former Chairman NSW Home Builders Warranty Insurance Scheme
  • Former Chairman NSW Occupational Health and Safety and Workers Compensation Advisory Council
  • Former Chairman NSW Home Building Advisory Council
  • Former Director StateCover Mutual (an APRA approved specialist local government workers compensation insurer)
  • Former National General Manager for both CTP & Workers Compensation private sector insurers
  • Consultant to Statutory Authorities in NSW and SA
  • past owner operator of a large Australia wide rehabilitation provider WIMS (now Konekt).

He was appointed to the Board in March 2019.

Hon John R Rau SC

Hon John R Rau SC is a Barrister and former SA Deputy Premier and Attorney-General. He has more than 36 years of experience in the legal profession and in Government, both federal and State.

John served as the member for Enfield from 2002–2018 and has performed a wide variety of ministerial roles. In his capacity as Minister for Industrial Relations, he was the architect responsible for overhauling the Return to Work scheme in 2014.

In 2016 he was appointed Senior Counsel by the SA Supreme Court. His interests include employment law, industrial law, personal injuries, medico-legal issues, governmental relations and compensation law.

His insight into the reasons for the design of the Scheme will be of immeasurable value to the Board as it seeks to meet the challenges confronting the Scheme. He was appointed to the Board in November 2021.

Dr William (Bill) Griggs, AM, ASM

As an intensive care, aeromedical, and trauma physician, Dr Griggs has over 30 years' experience in managing cases of serious injury from all causes.

He has completed an MBA, is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and is a current member of the Super SA Board. He was previously Chair of the Motor Accident Commission Board.

Dr Griggs has particular interests in injury prevention, in optimising outcomes for those who have been physically and/or psychologically injured, and in corporate systems and their governance. He was appointed to the Board in November 2013.

Elizabeth Perry, AM

Elizabeth has over 15 years of experience as a board member across the public, commercial and not for profit sectors with particular experience in the legal and insurance, arts and education industries.

Elizabeth also has more than 35 years' experience as a lawyer in providing legal advisory and strategic advice to employers regarding all aspects of employment law and held positions as Partner at EMA Legal and Finlaysons.

Elizabeth has held various and diverse board appointments including Member (former Chair) of the RAA Group and RAA Insurance Ltd and RAA Insurance Holdings Board and Member of the Federation of International Automobile Associations World Council for mobility, as well as Deputy Chancellor at Flinders University. Previous board roles include the South Australian Museum and a sporting association.

She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and member of various law associations. She was appointed to the Board in February 2019.

Narelle Borda

Narelle has more than 14 year of experience in quality management and technical management roles in South Australian food manufacturing businesses.

She is currently a member of SA-based Macro Group Australia (formerly Macro Meats) executive management team, with responsibilities covering food safety, work health and safety, induction and training, quality, financial, animal welfare and environmental compliance.

Narelle’s detailed working knowledge of national business operations, including export and domestic food manufacturing, transport and logistics, clothing, footwear and accessories, brings a unique and valuable perspective to the ReturnToWorkSA Board. She was appointed to the Board in November 2021.

Kim Cheater, BEc, FCAANZ, FAICD

Kim is an experienced Non-Executive Director. He is Chair of the SA Museum and Alwyndor Aged Care. He is also on the Board of Sarah Group, Flinders University, RAA Group and RAA Insurance as well as Independent Chair of the Audit Risk & Investment Committee for Minda Inc and the Chair of the Warriparinga Advisory Team. Kim was formerly Deputy Chair of UnitingCare Wesley Bowden.

Kim is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

Kim was a partner at PwC for nearly 20 years and former Managing Partner of the Adelaide Office. He led the Governance, Risk and Cyber Security business in Adelaide for many years as well leading the Financial Services and the SA Government practice.

Kim led PwC’s national Reconciliation Action Plan efforts for over 10 years which included achieving “Elevate” status from Reconciliation Australia.

Karen Atherton

Karen has over 35 years experience in industrial relations, public policy and public sector management. In addition to a broad scope of industrial relations work ranging from collective bargaining, industrial advocacy and activist development over the last decade, improving the level of accountability and transparency in government has been an important element of her work.

Karen worked for nearly 20 years in the Australian Public Service, primarily in areas of employment and industry assistance in the Commonwealth Employment Service before taking on a formal role with the Community and Public Sector union (CPSU). She recently retired from her position as the National Political Coordinator of the CPSU.

Working in the trade union movement for over two decades at both the state and national level has given Karen firsthand experience on the importance of strong and sustainable workplace health, safety and injury compensation schemes. Combined with her experience in employment and training policy and program delivery, Karen will bring the perspective of working people to the ReturnToWorkSA Board. She was appointed to the Board in November 2022.