The Board is a body corporate of seven members who are appointed by the Minister including:
- an independent Chair;
- three Board Members representing the interests of workers; and
- three Board Members representing the interests of employers
The members of the Board are appointed on a three year cycle.
The current Board Members are:
CHAIR OF THE BOARD
Susan Barrera
Appointed to the Board as Chair in September 2018. Susan worked for over 30 years in senior positions in the State Government including Executive Director Labour Relations and Director General Department of Communities. She is a consultant for The Nexus Network specialising in organisational change management.
REPRESENTING WORKERS
Steve McCartney
Appointed to the Board in May 2009 to September 2016. Reappointed to the Board in September 2018. Steve is the State Secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union since 2009. Steve previously held positions of State President and has worked for the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union since 2001.
Chris Prast
Appointed to the Board in September 2023. Chris was the Corporate Services Manager of the CFMEU Construction and General Division (WA) between 2013- 2023. Prior to this Chris was the State Manager of a national law firm. Chris has more than 40 years of experience advocating for workers generally with specific experience in the construction industry for over 20 years.
Kari Pnacek
Appointed to the Board in February 2024. Kari is the Assistant Secretary of UnionsWA. She has spent more than two decades as a passionate advocate for workers’ rights in the labour movement both in the United States and Australia. Prior to UnionsWA, she spent eight years with the Transport Workers Union (TWU). Through her work at TWU she was a board member of the Logistics and Defence skills council, and spent the last four years as National Educator and Campaign coordinator, working to develop and implement training programs for union officials and delegates that cover more than 55,000 members across Australia.
REPRESENTING EMPLOYERS
Jo Alilovic
Appointed to the Board in September 2018. Jo is Director and founder of 3D HR Legal. Jo is an HR lawyer and did her training in the largest independent law firm in Perth.
John Gelavis
Appointed to the Board in September 2020. John has 30 years’ experience within the building and construction industry including sales, marketing, management, advocacy, and leadership roles. John is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Structerre and was previously the Executive Director of Master Builders Association of WA.
Kate Schick
Appointed to the Board in September 2018. Kate is Principal advisor with the Construction Services Division at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA. Kate has had extensive experience in the major engineering, construction and maintenance industries having spent time working for both employer groups and contractors since 1996.
