Lara Bourguignon – Managing Director

Lara Bourguignon was appointed Managing Director of Plum in December 2012, following extensive experience in senior strategic and finance roles within the NAB Group.

Lara’s previous role was as Director, Organisational Change for NAB Wealth, where she was responsible for the successful integration of JANA and MLC Implemented Consulting and for driving business transformation through NAB Wealth’s High Performing Organisation initiative.

Since joining in 1999, Lara has held a number of key roles within MLC and the broader NAB Group including General Manager, Enterprise Finance, Chief Financial Officer, NAB Support Units, and Head of Investment Control, NAB Wealth.

An accountant by profession, Lara joined Lend Lease as a graduate and moved into financial and investment accounting roles. Her industry experience includes a role as Institutional Marketing Manager with Merrill Lynch Asset Management Australia.

Lara has a Bachelor of Business in Accounting and Finance, a Company Directorship Diploma and is a Certified Practicing Accountant. She is currently a director on the Boards of National Nominees Limited and AUSMAQ Pty Ltd.

She is married with two children and strongly values the work life balance her NAB Group career has enabled her to achieve.

Jason Sommer - General Manager, Change and Technical Services

Jason is a professional actuary with 15 years experience in the corporate superannuation industry.

During this time, Jason has focused on the provision of superannuation consulting advice, investment management advice, actuarial advice and relationship management. As General Manager, Change and Technical Services, Jason is responsible for the delivery of change (projects), pricing, investments and technical services at Plum.

Jason joined Plum in 2002 and since has held various roles. Most recently, he held the role of Head of Member and Client Relationships in which he was responsible for the relationships and service provided to Plum’s members and corporate clients. He is also a member of Plum Trustee’s Investment Committee.

Jason holds a Bachelor of Economics and is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia.

Adrian Frank – Senior Legal Counsel

Adrian has more than nine years’ experience in the finance industry.

Adrian joined Plum in 2005 as Legal Counsel and was appointed Senior Legal Counsel, Corporate and Institutional Wealth in 2010. Before joining Plum, he worked with Aviva and also worked as a solicitor in private practice.

He has a Bachelor of Law, a Bachelor of Science and Diploma of Financial Planning.

Sally Reynolds – Business Partner, People and Culture

Sally has more than 25 years experience in the financial services industry and has held a wide range of HR management roles within the NAB Group including working across MLC, NAB Private Wealth, Corporate & Institutional Banking and Business and Retail Banking.

Sally was appointed Business Partner, People and Culture for Plum in 2006.

David Renton – Southern Regional Manager, Client and Member Services

David joined Plum in 2006 as a Relationship Manager in Plum’s Melbourne office. In late 2008 David was promoted to Regional Manager (Southern Region), responsible for members and employers in Victoria, WA, SA and Tasmania.

David has more than 20 years superannuation experience, and enjoys the challenge of ensuring that the member and employer Plum experience exceeds expectations.

Prior to joining Plum, David held client servicing, consulting and administrative roles with ANZ, Mellon, Alcoa of Australia and Melbourne Water.

David Lugsdin – Northern Regional Manager, Client and Member Services

David has 20 years’ experience in the corporate superannuation industry. During this time, he has provided consulting, investment advice and relationship management advice to medium and large corporate clients.

David is responsible for the relationships and service provided to members and corporate clients for all of Plum’s New South Wales and Queensland clients. David joined Plum in 2001 as a Relationship Manager in Plum’s Sydney office. He has held the role of Northern Regional Manager, Client & Member Services since 2008.

Prior to joining Plum, David held administration and consulting roles, primarily with AMP. David holds a Bachelor of Mathematics.

Alida Macalister - Head of Product

Alida joined Plum in 2005 and has held a variety of roles in that time. She is currently Head of Product and responsible for the management of Plum’s product suite and the delivery of statutory member communications.

Alida has over 20 years’ experience in the corporate superannuation sector including business development, technical writing process re-engineering, client transitions and the delivery of change, particularly the implementation of regulatory changes.

Alida holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) and a Diploma in Project Management.

Nicolas Amado - Head of Operations

Nicolas has more than 12 years of financial services experience. As Head of Operations, Nicolas is responsible for leading and developing a service driven workforce to ensure the team has the motivation and the right blend of skills and experience to deliver an exceptional level of service to Plum's clients and members.

Nicolas was previously Customer Service Manager and, prior to this, was Change Program Manager, leading a team responsible for managing client transitions and projects including those brought about by new product development, legislative change, plan design and other improvements.

Prior to joining Plum in 2009, Nicolas was a Senior Manager within the Financial Services practice of global management consultancy Accenture where he gained extensive experience in managing and delivering large scale business and technology implementations across a variety of financial services organisations in Australia, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong.

Nicolas holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Computer Science and Software Engineering.

Karen Carnegie - Head of Finance

Karen joined Plum in 2009 and has worked with NAB group for more than 30 years. She led the Fund Administration team in the Group’s Glasgow based subsidiary prior to moving to Plum. Karen is currently Head of Plum Finance, responsible for unit pricing, and corporate and fund reporting.

Karen is an Associate of the Institute of Bankers (Scotland); a Practitioner of the Institute of Internal Auditors (UK) and holds an Investment Administration Qualification.

Ed Sheehan - Head of Technology

As Head of Technology, Ed is accountable for the delivery of innovative, secure, sustainable solutions that crystallise the strategic goals of the group, and delight our clients and members. Ed joined the NAB Group in 2008 as Head of Production Services for Asset Servicing and was appointed to his current role in 2011.

Prior to joining the NAB Group, Ed held senior strategic and operational roles with the ANZ Banking Group. Formally educated in Computer Science, Ed’s early career began in product development with DST Global Solutions followed by a period of consulting to a global list of premiere financial institutions while at PwC and BearingPoint. With a career spanning 23 years and four continents, Ed has amassed a wealth of knowledge and experience in the delivery of transformational change.

Ken Lietzow - Change Program Manager

Ken has more than 11 years experience in delivering large scale applications and business systems projects and programs within the banking, finance and superannuation industries.

Prior to his appointment to Plum in 2012, Ken held the roles of Program Manager and Program Office Manager for one of Australia’s largest industry funds UniSuper. Before this he successfully delivered complex business and technology projects and programs for several large national and multinational finance corporations including GE Capital, AGC and Westpac.

As the Change Program Manager for Plum, Ken has the responsibility for managing client transitions, projects and programs including those created by new product development, legislative change, plan design and other important business capability and efficiency improvements.

Tim Gorst – Head of Pricing and Technical Services

Tim joined Plum in 2013 as Head of Pricing and Technical Services, where he is responsible for the delivery of technical, pricing and actuarial services to NAB's Corporate and Institutional Wealth businesses including Plum.

Tim has had extensive experience across the NAB Group, in both banking and wealth management since joining MLC in 1994 His recent roles have included Project Director with NAB Group Credit, Head of Performance Innovation and Head of Strategy & Transformation.

A qualified actuary, Tim holds a Master of Economics, is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia and has an Advanced Diploma in Project Management.