Executive team

Appointment date: March 2023. Cbus Member.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Commerce
• Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries
• Fellow of FINSIA.

Career overview:

Kristian was appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in June 2023. He is responsible for all aspects of Cbus Super and reports directly to the Board.

Prior to his appointment as CEO, Kristian Fok served as the Fund’s Chief Investment Officer (CIO) for 10 years. As CIO, Kristian was responsible for leading the Cbus investment strategy and worked closely with the Investment Committee of the Board. This included evaluating the market and investment opportunities that provide returns to members over the long term, managing investment governance and risk, implementing the investment strategy and monitoring the portfolio. Kristian led the development and implementation of Cbus’ hybrid internalisation strategy, which was announced in May 2023. It has seen the management of 38% of fund assets brought in-house and provided total cumulative costs savings for members of over $500 million.

Kristian also serves on the Board of the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors and is Chair of the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute. Kristian’s qualifications include Bachelor of Commerce, Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries Australia and Fellow of FINSIA.

Appointment date: May 2025. Cbus Member.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Commerce
• Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investments
• Masters of Applied Finance and Investments

Career overview:

Leigh Gavin joined Cbus in 2023 and prior to the Chief Investment Officer appointment had been Head of Portfolio Strategies and then Deputy CIO. Leigh is responsible for leading Cbus’ 5 year investment strategy and continues to build the differentiated hybrid investment model, working closely with the Investment Committee of the Board.

Leigh leads the Investment Leadership Team who oversee the management of the investment function and associated activities including progress against the strategy, developing and creating opportunities for our investment talent, fostering a strong culture, budget and recruitment oversight. As Head of Portfolio Strategies Leigh brought in new investment strategies, managing local and global portfolios.

Prior to joining Cbus Leigh had been Head of Investment Model Design at AustralianSuper after joining the Fund’s Total Portfolio Management team in 2021. He had been Chief Investment Officer at LUCRF Super from May 2016 to April 2021, joining from Frontier Advisors, where he was a Senior (Principal) Consultant from 2007 until 2016, after joining as an Analyst in 2002.

Appointment date: December 2025. Cbus Member.

Qualifications:

• Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors
• MBA, AGSM UNSW Business School
• Bachelor of Business, Accounting and Finance, UTS Sydney

Career overview:

Tim Elliott joined Cbus in 2025 and is responsible for leading financial management and performance overseeing finance, data and analytics, business risk and compliance, and investment enablement.

Tim joins Cbus with an extensive executive background in the financial services sector having led finance, strategy and transformation functions at major superannuation funds including Aware Super and ESSSuper. Prior to joining the Fund his previous roles included Chief Financial Officer at Housing Australia, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Transformation Officer at ESSSuper, Group Executive for Finance, Strategy and Transformation at Aware Super, and Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at StatePlus.

Tim holds an Executive MBA from The Australian Graduate School of Management, a Bachelor of Business in Accounting and Finance from the University of Technology Sydney, is a Fellow of CPA Australia a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and studied at the London Business School.

Appointment date June 2024.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Laws (Hons)
• Bachelor of Commerce

Career overview

Martha was appointed Chief Risk Officer in June 2024 and has significant commercial experience across institutional and investment banking, wealth, retail banking and commercial financial services. This includes oversight of relevant regulatory issues and management of compliance and operational risks.

Martha joined Cbus Super from Crown Resorts, where she was Group Executive General Manager, Compliance and Regulatory Affairs. Martha has also held senior risk-related positions at Westpac and National Australia Bank. Martha has also been a Ministerial Adviser to the Commonwealth Attorney General and a solicitor at King Wood Mallesons.

Appointment date: July 2024. Cbus member.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - University of Melbourne
• Executive Leadership Program - Harvard Business School
• RG146

Career overview:
Bernie was appointed as Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) in October 2024 to lead the business unit that oversees the strategy and public affairs programs supporting Cbus as they protect and grow members’ savings. He had been acting in the role since July 2024.

Bernie has extensive experience in leading the development and implementation of business strategy, corporate affairs and marketing programs in the superannuation environment. As Chief Executive at Industry Super Australia for six years, Bernie led an integrated model of marketing and advocacy programs that helped industry super funds remain competitive, protected the founding principles of super, and boosted member savings.

Bernie joined Industry Super Australia in 2013 as Director of Marketing and then assumed the role of Chief Operations Officer, before being appointed Chief Executive in 2018. Prior to working in super Bernie held a series of senior executive roles at WorkSafe Victoria, including leading award-winning marketing and communication programs that help protect workers lives and drive down the rate and cost of workplace injuries.

Appointment date: January 2026. Cbus Member.

Qualifications:
• Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), University of Sydney
• Graduate Certificate in Business, Swinburne University
• Advanced Diploma of Financial Planning, Kaplan
• Trustee Director Course (GAIST), Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees

Career overview:
Tom Garcia was appointed Acting Chief Member Officer in January 2026 and brings extensive executive experience across superannuation, risk, product, communications, policy and advocacy. He joined Cbus from AustralianSuper, where he held senior leadership roles including Head of Financial Crime, Privacy & Resilience and Head of Product & Communications, leading major fund-wide initiatives focused on member protection, product strategy and trusted communications.

Previously, Tom was Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST), representing the not-for-profit superannuation sector to government, regulators and industry while leading national policy, advocacy and governance reform. He is recognised for simplifying complexity, designing practical solutions and leading teams through change to deliver strong member outcomes.

Appointment date: September 2023. Cbus member.

Career overview:
Justine is Cbus Super's Chief People Officer, a critical role on the executive team responsible for driving the Fund’s culture and people performance. With more than two decades of experience in the superannuation industry, Justine has dedicated her time in the sector to aligning employee experience with member experience.

During her 10 years at Cbus Super, she has held key leadership roles in talent and employee experience, driving significant growth and transformation to uplift Cbus’ people to meet the needs of Cbus’ members. Passionate about leadership and diversity, Justine has a proven track record of fostering a positive workplace culture that promotes inclusion, excellence, and development at all levels.

Her commitment to enhancing organisational culture and talent has been central to shaping the Fund’s success, ensuring the values and standards delivered to members are reflected within the organisation’s culture.