An executive leadership team comprising of the following members oversees the day-to-day operations and ongoing development of Defence Bank.
Skills and experience
Rob joined Defence Bank as Chief Executive Officer in July 2024, bringing with him a wealth of financial and executive leadership experience from across the banking, wealth management and insurance sectors.
Prior to his appointment at Defence Bank, Rob was CEO of Catholic Church Insurance, MD of ANZ Private Bank, and the CEO of ANZ Trustees. In addition, he has also held senior leadership roles in ANZ Expatriate and Migrant Banking and Esanda Auto Finance.
Rob has a strong member and values driven focus. He leads through purposeful strategies that build organisational capability and support a meaningful connection with members. Rob has a deep understanding of people, processes, and technology, along with complex regulated environments.
In addition to his role at Defence Bank, Rob sits as Director on a number of boards and associations including the Edmund Rice Education Victorian Schools and the Italian Australian Foundation. He is a graduate of the Williamson Community Leadership Program.
Skills and experience
Dean joined Defence Bank as Chief Financial Officer in 2011. His primary responsibility is the bank’s financial and regulatory reporting, management reporting and budgeting, funding and capital management. He also acts as Company Secretary to Defence Bank.
Dean has more than 20 years’ local and international experience in financial roles including Financial Controller for ME Bank, and Asia-Pacific Regional Financial Controller for GMAC Financial Services.
Dean is a Fellow of CPA Australia and the Financial Services Institute of Australasia, and a graduate member of AICD. Dean holds a BCom from the University of Western Australia majoring in Accounting and Economics.
Skills and experience
With more than 25 years’ experience in the financial services sector, Kristen Bugeja leads Defence Bank’s people strategy and supports the bank to deliver its strategic objectives. Kristen is a certified member of the Australian HR Institute.
Kristen has extensive experience in cultural change, strategic leadership and in developing the capability of Defence Bank employees. She has successfully enhanced the bank’s employee value proposition through the connection of reward and recognition initiatives to the Bank’s purpose and strategic direction. Kristen is passionate about the employee experience and ensuring Defence Bank is a truly great place to work for our amazing people.
Under her stewardship, Defence Bank was the Winner of the award for Best Reward and Recognition Program and an Excellence Awardee in the Employer of Choice category at the 2024 Australian HR Awards. Defence Bank’s People and Capability team was also named in the HR Director Australia’s Innovative HR Teams list for 2023.
Skills and experience
Marnie is responsible for Defence Bank’s Frontline Branch and Lending teams as well as the Lending Operations, Member Operations, Member Direct and Member Care divisions. These teams have a direct line to our members and are the front face of Defence Bank. Marnie is also the sponsor of our Lending Journey Continuous Improvement Program.
Since joining in 2021, Marnie has led the transformation of Defence Bank’s Lending ecosystem and led the Member and Growth teams through a period of outstanding growth and innovation targeted at removing friction and simplifying the experience for our members and people.
Marnie was Interim CEO in the period February to July 2024 during which time she worked with management and the board on a strategy which will see Defence Bank continue to double down on our bond and accelerate growth.
Marnie has worked in the financial services sector for over 25 years, and whilst having worked with a broad spectrum of customers from institutional through to retail, her passion is for the everyday Australian and helping people create a better life through good financial decisions.
SFFin, FGIA, FACP
Chartered Banker
Skills and experience
Sean joined Defence Bank as Chief Digital and Technology Officer in October 2023. He is an experienced senior executive and Non-Executive Director with extensive experience in the banking and technology sectors. He has held senior executive roles with global information technology firms. His banking career has seen him hold senior leadership roles in both major and regional banks.
In his current role Sean leads Defence Bank’s Business IT team. His team is focused on enabling Defence Bank’s digital transformation with an emphasis on member experience, risk management and information security.
Sean strives to make a contribution to the wider community. He is an ambassador for Melbourne City Mission and its flagship fund raising event, Sleep at the ‘G. In addition he is an adjunct senior lecturer at Central Queensland University where he lectures on Banking and Finance as part of the University’s MBA programme.
Skills and experience
Mano has been Chief Risk Officer at Defence Bank since October 2013. He is primarily responsible for the development and oversight of the bank’s Risk & Compliance Management Framework. Mano leads a team who collaborates with executives and their teams providing guidance and advice on the implementation of these frameworks. This second line function remains independent of the business and provides the Board and the Risk & Compliance Committee with assurance and insights around the management of our current and emerging bank-wide risks including credit risk oversight and financial crime. In addition, Mano and his team has responsibility for the implementation of the Strategic Internal Audit plan using an outsourced model and procurement of adequate Group Insurance policy coverage.
Prior to joining Defence Bank, Mano worked at NAB - directly with the Business Banking CRO and with the Group Executive Business Banking as secretary to its Risk Committee and responsible for risk governance.
Mano is a graduate member of the AICD.