Executive leadership team
Acting in the best interests of the membership is a principle that drives everything we do. It’s been at the foundation of our purpose since we were established 130 years ago and it continues to guide the way we look to support our members, today and into the future.
Natasha Fenech
BEc, BSc, AIAA, MBA, GAICD
Avant Group CEO and Managing Director
My sole focus is on ensuring we do our absolute best for our members and the membership as a whole. This means balancing the high-quality service and advice we provide for our members – that they have come to expect – while making sure we continue to deliver affordable, value-add products and services for Avant’s long-term sustainability. As the team has grown substantially over the past year, I’m incredibly proud of where we are today, 12 months on from where lockdowns had left us last year.
Adrian Urquhart
BCom, LLB (Hons), MBA
Group Chief Financial Officer
As CFO for the Avant Group, I’m responsible for maintaining the financial strength and security of the organisation, remembering always the shared responsibility we all have to our members. The team has a broad range of functions, including financial reporting, internal audit, actuarial, and investments – ensuring compliance with regulations that apply to each of our broad range of businesses – as well as responsibility for our corporate legal area and the company secretary function.
Pally Bargri
MPAF, MBA (Exec), Dip.FS, MAICD
Chief Risk Officer
It’s well-known organisations face many risks, which only seem to be increasing. I lead the team accountable for designing and implementing Avant’s risk management frameworks, policies and systems. These are necessary to help manage our contemporary corporate risks, while identifying potential future threats and opportunities. We continue to develop risk maturity and capability across the group to improve the quality of our increasingly wide range of products and services.
Martin Edwards
BSc, FIAA, GAICD
Chief Customer & Strategy Officer
Along with my team, I am responsible for developing and sharing insights into our members’ needs and their experiences with Avant. We use these insights to support the business in delivering a better member experience through enhancements to existing products and services, as well as the identification of new offerings.
Rachael Williams
BBus, MLLR
Chief People Officer
I’m responsible for developing an environment that reflects Avant’s core values of Purpose, Passion, Courage, and Trust – allowing our team members to flourish while remaining mindful of Avant’s responsibilities to members. From talent acquisition, performance, reward and learning and development specialists; to business partners, payroll and running internal communications across the Avant Group, the team helps drive commercially sustainable outcomes for Avant and its members.
Jeffery Eberwein
MBA, MSBA, MSEE, BSEE
Chief Solutions and Data Officer
The focus of my role is to help Avant better service its members and employees by improving business performance through the use of enabling technology solutions. The three key objectives behind this are to: provide a more proactive service to our businesses, build on the existing trust with our members and employees, and ensure we manage the security of our members’ information.
Rashi Bansal
BComm, FIAA, GAICD
CEO, Medical Indemnity
Leading the team of medico-legal experts, claims professionals and member services agents, my focus is on delivering the best possible value with affordable premiums and quality services. We aim to give members confidence in the support they receive from us through our commitment to providing member-centric services and products, not only for medical indemnity, but also across Avant’s life, business and travel insurances.
Peter Aroney
BComm, ACA
CEO, Doctors’ Health Fund
I lead the team that offers, and delivers, a market-leading and quality health insurance product tailored to meet our members’ needs. We’re proud to be one of the fastest growing health funds in Australia, with more doctors — as well as Avant employees and their families — trusting us to protect their personal health needs. We continue to invest in leading technologies to make it easier for our members to access our service in an increasingly complex industry.
Paul Freeman
BA, BComm, DipEd, MBA, CBMBA, GAICD
CEO, Avant Financial Services
I recently joined Avant to lead the division as we expand our offering to members to include ‘on balance sheet’ lending, with the aim to support their financial needs throughout their careers. The team is focused on helping doctors gain peace of mind and financial security through finance solutions covering their personal and business needs.
Patrick Esplin
BSc, LLB
CEO, New Ventures
My role is to bring to fruition Avant’s strategy to meet more members’ needs. The division includes Avant Practice Solutions, Cgov, Avant Law (non-medical indemnity services) and Team Medical Supplies. Through these businesses, we provide a broad range of products and services to support doctors, medical practices and hospitals. Our focus is on providing members with high-quality support and services that address their personal, professional and business needs.