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New CEO

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After 36 years of service we are sad to farewell Leanne Harris who will retire in October 2022.

From the Chairman's Desk

By Allison Smart

Helen Lorigan (left), Leanne Harris (right)

Starting in 1986 and assuming the role of General Manager in 2015, Leanne has steered LCU through a tumultuous period in the financial services sector. Some of her major achievements include:

  • Introduction of new payment channels (Apple Pay, Google Pay, New Payments Platform - Osko, and LCU’s Banking App)
  • Website redevelopment, changeover of hosted systems data centre, upgrade to core banking and loan origination systems, and implementation of the CDR Regime (Open Banking)
  • Operational enhancements including the implementation of an automated Risk and Compliance management system and new financial accounting software
  • Under Leanne’s leadership, LCU’s assets have grown from $166m to $246m and capital from $12m to $16.7m

Both the LCU team and directors of LCU cannot describe how thankful we are for Leanne’s efforts and the constant dedication she has shown to LCU and our members. Leanne will continue to work with Laboratories Credit Union until 30 October 2022 in the capacity of Finance Manager.

We are also excited to welcome Helen Lorigan who assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer on the 9th of May 2022. This is Helen’s latest role in an extensive career of CEO and senior executive general management positions across many of Australia's largest finance organisations.

Helen will be in touch over the coming months as she is keen to hear directly from you. She has plenty of new opportunities for us to pursue so that LCU can continue to grow and meet the needs of our members in the coming years. LCU is seeking to attract a range of new members across various cohorts as well as exceed the expectations of our current members with an unparalleled service offering and exciting new products.

Most recently Helen was a Managing Partner and Head of the Wealth Sector at Sapien Ventures, a venture capital company with partners based in Sydney, Silicon Valley, Melbourne and Shanghai. While there she was appointed to three fintech company Advisory Boards: HashChing, Investfit and Moroku.

Helen has led a number of key initiatives across superannuation, banking, self-directed advice and funds management which involved the identification, sourcing and curating of high quality fintech and online marketplace start-ups for potential investment.

Before this, Helen held the position of CEO of Elders Financial Planning, formed as a Joint Venture between ANZ and Elders, an Australian global agricultural corporation in 2009. Helen has also held executive general manager leadership roles in wealth management and banking with the ANZ Group, CBA and MLC.

Helen holds a Bachelor of Commerce from UNSW, is a Graduate of the AICD, a Senior Fellow of FINSIA and has served as a Director, Responsible Manager and Advisory Board member on numerous financial services Boards and Australian Financial Services Licences. In 2019, Helen was also appointed as a Director of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia and in October 2021, was appointed as a Director of Nimble Money Limited.
  

 

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