Board Directors and Advisors

Sam Sondhi

CEO

Sam Sondhi

Sam Sondhi is a highly experienced and credentialed CEO, having worked across investment banking, private investment and the not-for-profit sectors in Australia. His most recent role was as CEO and Board member of Outlook Australia, a leading national not-for-profit organisation operating large, complex industrial and service delivery businesses.



Prior to joining Outlook Australia, Sam enjoyed an extensive career as an investment banker with Citigroup and Credit Suisse, focused on mergers & acquisitions and equity capital markets, before embarking on the establishment of a private investment vehicle.



An experienced Director, Sam is a non-executive Director of Co-Health and previously served as the Chair of the Victorian Government’s Metropolitan Partnership for the Eastern Region and was Deputy Chair of Jobsbank Limited.



Sam has exceptional leadership qualities and is an experienced and proven CEO with a track record of delivering value in purpose driven organisations.



Sam has a Bachelor of Commerce (First Class Honours) and Bachelor of Laws from the University of NSW.

Qualifications

B Com (Hons), LLB

Dr Jacqueline Jennings

Chair

Dr Jacqueline Jennings

Jacqui has extensive senior executive experience in sales, marketing, business development and strategy, and financial management.



Jacqui is the Chair of the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority, a non-executive Director of Darwin Waterfront Corporation, a non-executive Director of Campaspe Port Enterprise and a non-executive Director of Latrobe Health Services.



Appointment date

Jacqueline joined us as a Participating Consultant in 2011 and was appointed Non-Executive Director in 2012. She was appointed as the Deputy Chair of the Board in 2023 and Chair in September 2025.



Current Roles

Member of Futurity’s Investment Committee

Member of People and Culture Committee

Trustee of National Excellence in Teaching Awards (NEiTA)

Qualifications

B Met, M Mgt, PhD Mgt, GAICD

Claire Higgins

Deputy Chair

Claire Higgins is a professional director with almost 25 years’ experience. She is the current chair of REI Superannuation Pty Ltd, and GMHBA Limited and a Director of Margin Clear Pty Ltd.

Claire has extensive board experience across a range of industries, including health care, investment, and emergency services. Claire is a former chair of Barwon Health, Vital Healthcare Property Trust, the Victorian Country Fire Authority, and the Victorian State Emergency Service.

Claire has also had extensive executive experience. Claire’s particular areas of expertise are in board leadership, governance, risk management, accounting, financial reporting, stakeholder communication, and management.



Appointment Date
Claire joined Futurity as a Non-Executive Director in October 2024 and was appointed as Deputy Chair in September 2025.

Current Roles
Chair of Risk and Compliance Committee

Trustee of National Excellence in Teaching Awards (NEiTA)



Qualifications

B Com (Acc, Eco, Comm Law) FAICD, FCPA

Leon Nash

Non-Executive Director

Leon is currently the Chief Financial Officer of A.F. Gason Pty Ltd a regional Australian metal fabrication business servicing the Agriculture and Wood Heating industries where he also fulfils the role of Company Secretary. He has extensive experience in general management, accounting, economics, human resources and corporate finance. He has previously acted as the Financial Controller (Australia and New Zealand) of a multinational FMCG company, and his executive experience has covered many sectors including manufacturing, construction, FMCG and land development at a local and multinational level. Leon previously served as Director and Company Secretary for Australian Timken Pty Ltd and Australian Timken Superannuation Pty Ltd.


Leon has a Bachelor of Business (Accounting & IT) from Federation University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Deakin University.



He is also a Fellow of CPA Australia having completed the CPA Program and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) having completed the Company Directors Course.





Appointment date

Leon was appointed as a Non-Executive Director in October 2006.



Current Roles

Member of People & Culture Committee

Trustee of National Excellence in Teaching Awards (NEiTA)

Qualifications

B Bus, MBA, FCPA, FAICD

Catherine O’Sullivan

Non-Executive Director

Catherine O'Sullivan

Catherine is the Executive Director of the Anglican Schools Commission in Queensland where, in partnership with the school Principals she is responsible for the education of some 22,000 students.


Catherine trained as a High School teacher and taught in public schools for 17 years. For the past two decades the former Goondiwindi State High School principal has held senior governance and leadership roles with education and government, including at RMIT University and Bond University.

After a Churchill Fellowship to travel the globe learning and observing from some impressive schools, she wanted to continue her learning. She was selected to undertake a Masters in Public Administration through the Australia New Zealand School of Government.



Appointment date

Catherine joined Futurity as a Participating Consultant in October 2021 and was appointed Non-Executive Director in 2024.



Current Roles

Chair of National Excellence in Teaching Awards (NEiTA)

Chair of People and Culture Committee

Member of the Futurity Education Foundation Board

Qualifications

EMPA (ANZSOG), DipEd, BA (UNE)

Andrew Zbik

Non-Executive Director

Non-Executive Director Andrew Zbik

Andrew brings 18 years of experience in financial planning, investment strategy and governance. He is the owner-director of a financial planning business and responsible manager of an Australian Financial Services Licensee, with strong expertise in wealth management and regulatory compliance.



He currently serves as a Non-Executive Director of StateCover Mutual Limited, where he chairs the Investment Committee and is a member of the Technology Committee. A former Mayor of Lane Cove, Andrew served on council for seven years, contributing to community and infrastructure development.



Andrew’s governance, financial and strategic expertise supports Futurity’s commitment to delivering sustainable value for Members and advancing our purpose-driven mission in education and financial wellbeing.



Appointment Date

Andrew was appointed as a Non-Executive Director in October 2025.



Current Role

Member of Risk and Compliance Committee



Qualifications

BBA LLB GAICD SSA GradDipLP DipFP

Nicholas Vamvakas

Non-Executive Director

Nicholas Vamvakas
Nicholas has spent over 40 years in financial markets in investments, banking, and superannuation. He is currently the Chair of SuperFriend, an industry fund mental health initiative, Director and Chair of the Finance and Administration Committee at CAF (Cleaning Accountability Framework), and former Director and Chair of the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee at Football Victoria.

As Group Executive Strategy and Growth for Cbus, Nicholas was responsible for developing the corporate plan for the fund with a particular emphasis on medium- and long-term organic and inorganic growth. During his tenure, the fund successfully negotiated its first merger in the MySuper era with Media Super and EISS Super and was successful in winning several high profile corporate superannuation mandates.

As Chief Executive Officer of Equipsuper, Nicholas led the fund through one of its most exciting growth periods. Its merger with the former Rio Tinto staff fund evolved Equip into a $15 billion fund with over 75,000 members Australia-wide. Prior to departing Equip a merger with Catholic Super was negotiated which grew the fund to $25 billion and 150,000 members.

Prior to joining Equip as Chief Risk Officer, he was part of the original ME Bank leadership team that established the Bank and grew the business from $1 billion to over $20 billion in assets. His earlier career included senior roles with National Mutual / AXA and Challenge Bank.

Appointment Date
Nicholas joined Futurity as a Board Advisor in October 2024.

Current Roles
Chair of the Investment Committee

Member of Audit Committee

Trustee of National Excellence in Teaching Awards (NEiTA)

Qualifications

B Eco & B Mktg, Senior Fellow of Finsia , GAICD, AIST

Jenny Dawson

Non-Executive Director

Non-Executive Director Jenny Dawson

Jenny has been a professional company director for more than 25 years, with extensive
experience across the financial services and infrastructure sectors. Following
a career with chartered accounting firm Arthur Andersen, she served 15 years on
the Board of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, where she also Chaired its wealth
management and superannuation subsidiary, Sandhurst Trustees Ltd.



Her board experience spans the insurance, water, transport and faith-based sectors, and
she has contributed to regional development initiatives and education policy
through her involvement on the Victorian Government’s Expert Panel responding
to the Bradley Review into higher education.



Jenny’s governance, risk and financial expertise supports Futurity’s commitment to
strong member-owned stewardship and our purpose of enabling better educational
outcomes for future generations.



Appointment Date

Jenny was appointed as a Non-Executive Director in October 2025.



Current Roles

Member of Audit Committee

Member of Risk and Compliance Committee

Qualifications

FAICD, FCA, BBus(Acng)

Simon Sheikh

Board Advisor

Simon Sheikh
Simon Sheikh is the CEO and co-founder of Future Group, a rapidly growing ethical superannuation group in Australia with $17 billion in assets and funds under management across pension and managed investments. Future Group ranks among Australia’s top 15 superannuation groups by the number of members served, catering to over 415,000 members. It is also one of the 25 largest superannuation groups by funds and assets under management.

Prior to founding Future Group, Simon was the National Director of GetUp, a leading progressive advocacy organisation in Australia that now has 1.1 million members. He served on the inaugural board of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, which has grown to 120,000 members.

Simon has also worked as an Analyst at the NSW Treasury and consulted for various organisations, including Bendigo Bank, Minderoo, and the Queensland public sector union.

Appointment Date
Simon joined Futurity as a Board Advisor in October 2024

Current Roles

Member of Futurity Education Foundation Board

Trustee of National Excellence in Teaching Awards (NEiTA)

Qualifications

B Com (Eco, Acc, Business Law)