Our Board of Directors

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Graeme Yeo (BBus. CPA) is the Chair and non-executive director of First Option Bank. Graeme has extensive senior executive experience in finance, corporate strategy and banking at large private and public institutions and has participated in the running of community not-for-profit organisations. He was a director of TABNSW Credit Union for over 25 years. Graeme’s interests include travel, most sports, community activities and family.

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Annette Mathews holds a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Technology in Sydney and a Company Directors Diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Annette has more than 20 years board experience in the banking sector and extensive senior executive experience across the public, private and sports sectors. Annette is an active volunteer with several educational and community sports and recreation organisations.

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Tony McAvaney has been a member of First Option for over 40 years and on the board for 10 of those. He holds an Honours Degree in Engineering, a Bachelors Degree in Commerce and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is also involved with a not-for-profit organisation providing support services under the NDIS. Tony enjoys hiking, jogging, reading and supporting groups encouraging people to get involved in these activities.

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Dharmendra Kumar has been a director of First Option for more than 14 years. Working in Australia and overseas with organisations in the energy and transport sectors, his areas of expertise are risk, corporate governance and compliance. His professional background is in financial planning and analysis. Dharmendra lives in Melbourne where he currently works in the sustainable infrastructure solutions industry

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Gregory Moore has been a director of First Option Bank for 24 years. Now retired, he worked for 45 years with TAB of NSW, the last 40 as an Agent. Greg is a Life-Member of the TAB Agents' Association of NSW where he held the Senior Executive positions of President and Secretary for 25 years. When not watching his ten grandchildren on the sporting fields of Western Sydney he is a keen golfer and a member of the Australian Turf Club.

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Cathryn Garrigan holds a Masters of Business Administration from the Australian Graduate School of Management (UNSW) and a Graduate Diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Cathryn has 20 years board experience as non-executive director. She worked for over 15 years as a senior risk and compliance executive with Westpac’s Group Operations. Cathryn enjoys playing bridge, walking and reading.  

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Tim Matthews is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of the Certified Practicing Accountants and holds a Degree in Business. He is currently Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Risk Committee. Tim worked for 35 years in senior finance roles for a large multinational corporation. Now retired, he enjoys gardening, reading, farming and pursuing a 50-year passion in equestrian sports.  

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Matthew Chivers holds a Diploma of Business Administration and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Marketing. Early in his career he worked at CBA, Chase AMP Bank and Natwest Bank PLC before pivoting to the IT Sector where he held senior sales and marketing positions. Matthew lives in Sydney where he runs TAB Agencies and holds the position as Secretary of the TAB Agents Association of NSW, a registered union of employers.

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Lorna Clerkin earned a science degree in Chemistry and Microbiology from University College in Dublin, as well as an MBA from Deakin Uni. In her professional life she has been a food technologist for Cadbury before working with Mondelez and Kraft as a product scientist developing new chocolate products. Lorna was also the Chairman of the Cadbury Old Gold Credit Union which merged with other credit unions to form First Option Bank. She lives with her family in Melbourne.