Governance - WorkCover WA

The WorkCover Western Australia Authority (the Board) is responsible for governance of the Agency; the provision of independent advice to the Minister and State Government; and the approval of certain service providers. Constituted under section 94(1) of the Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981, the Board is authorised to use and operate under the trading name ‘WorkCover WA’.

The Chief Executive Officer, who is a member of the Board, directs the operations and day-to-day administration of WorkCover WA through the implementation of the Board’s strategic direction. The Chief Executive Officer and all other staff of WorkCover WA are employed under the provisions of the Public Sector Management Act 1994.

This section includes information on the WorkCover WA Board and our compliance with Public Interest Disclosure and Freedom of Information legislation.

WorkCover WA Board

The WorkCover WA Board, under section 95 of the Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981, consists of the Chairman and six members:

One person appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Minister as a member and chairman of the Board and referred to as a nominee member.
The Chief Executive Officer of WorkCover WA.
The Chief Executive Officer of the department of the public service of the State principally assisting the Minister charged with the administration of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984.
Four people appointed by the Governor, on the recommendation of the Minister, as members of the Board and referred to as nominee members of whom: one is a person experienced in employers’ interests; one is a person experienced in workers’ interests; one is a person experienced in insurance matters; and one is a person experienced in accounting and financial management.

Click here to view the latest WorkCover WA Annual Report.

Board profile

Chairman
	Chairman – appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Minister Ms Sharryn Jackson was appointed as Chairman of WorkCover WA’s Board from 4 January 2020. Ms Jackson has extensive Board Governance and strategy experience relevant to industrial relations, workplace health and safety and workers’ compensation.
Members
	Member – Chief Executive Officer of WorkCover WA Mr Chris White was appointed CEO of WorkCover WA in November 2019. Mr White has more than 35 years’ experience in workers’ compensation and occupational safety and health policy in WA. Mr White has held senior policy and management roles at both WorkCover WA and WorkSafe WA. Mr White holds a Master of Arts (Public Policy) from Murdoch University.
	Member – Chief Executive Officer of the department of the Public Service of the State principally assisting the Minister charged with the administration of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984. Mr David Smith commenced as a member of the Board on 1 July 2017. He is the Director General of the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety. Previously, David was appointed Acting Director General at the Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC) in August 2016, where he had been the Deputy Director General since August 2008. Before DPC, Mr Smith was a member of the Corporate Executive of the Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF), with responsibility for economic policy. He was in the DTF in a variety of positions for 12 years. David also has more than 20 years of experience in the Commonwealth public service, including the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and an overseas posting with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He has also worked with a private economic consultancy in London.
	Member – Experienced in employers’ interests Mrs Peta Libby, was appointed to the WorkCover WA Board from 30 December 2018 for a three year term. Mrs Libby is a geologist with over 25 years’ experience in mineral exploration and business management, and holds a Bachelor of Science (Geology) from the University of Western Australia . She is the recipient of the WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy 2018 Outstanding Woman in Resources Award and is Managing Director and founder of Digirock. Mrs Libby sits on the Australian Prospectors and Miners’ Hall of Fame board, the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies’ Safety Committee, and the Wedge Island Protection Association’s Heritage and Membership Sub-Committees. She is past vice-chair of Earth Science Western Australia and served on the Mining Industry Advisory Committee, a statutory advisory committee for mine safety in WA, for six years. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and the Australian Drilling Industry Association.
	Member – Experienced in insurance matters Mr Llewellyn Jones was appointed to the WorkCover WA Board on 4 January 2020. Mr Jones has more than 10 years’ experience in the insurance industry and is the Executive Manager (Western region) Workers Compensation Suncorp Insurance Group (GIO).
	Member – Experienced in workers’ interests Mr Owen Whittle was appointed to the WorkCover WA Board on 4 January 2014, and was reappointed for a further three years on 30 December 2017. Mr Whittle is currently the Assistant Secretary of UnionsWA, with responsibility for workers’ compensation and occupational health and safety matters. Mr Whittle was previously employed by the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union and is a member of the ACTU’s Occupational Health and Safety Committee.
	Member – Experienced in accounting and financial management. Mrs Victoria Wilmot was appointed to the WorkCover WA Board on 4 January 2005 and on 4 January 2020 was reappointed for a further three year term. Mrs Wilmot had a 24 year career at the University of Western Australia where she held various roles including Business Manager Finance and Resources, Associate Director Treasury and Investments and the Deputy Director Financial Services. Mrs Wilmot is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (FINSIA) and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).