Board Curriculum Vitae

Steven J Stanbrook

Independent judgement, constructive challenge and practical experience across governance, risk and growth.

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Board profile

Non-executive board member and former community bank chair with more than three decades of experience across agriculture, general insurance, business ownership and financial analysis. Experience includes establishing a community banking enterprise, raising shareholder capital and serving on the SafeFarms WA board.

Brings independent judgement and constructive challenge to decisions about risk, growth and long-term viability. Tests assumptions and considers downstream consequences, with a clear distinction between board oversight and operational management.

Contribution to the board

Risk and strategy: connects insurance and operational exposures to strategic choices, including their second, third and fourth-order consequences.
Financial scrutiny: draws on business analysis, profit and loss review, capital raising and ownership experience to question assumptions and growth plans.
Stakeholder confidence: brings experience engaging shareholders, farmers, business owners, insurers and community partners.
Board culture: listens carefully, challenges respectfully and supports collective accountability while keeping material concerns visible.

Board appointments

Current

SafeFarms WA

Board Member

Contributes an insurance and agricultural risk perspective to a not-for-profit organisation supporting farm safety. Focuses on the relationship between safer farming, insurability and the long-term viability of farming enterprises.

January 1999 to
November 2009

Toodyay and Districts Community Financial Services Limited

Inaugural Director and former Chairperson

Helped establish the community-owned banking enterprise in partnership with Bendigo Bank and raise shareholder capital following the threatened loss of local banking services.
Served as the company’s second chairperson and as a member of its audit committee.
Assisted the establishment of community banks across Western Australia, sharing experience from the Toodyay initiative.
Chaired the company when its annual report won the Australian Shareholders Association’s 2007 Annual Report of the Year award.

Community leadership

Current

Rotary Means Business WA

Chair

Convenes and moderates business discussions, including Think and Meet events, encouraging respectful debate about leadership, technology and decision-making.

Member since 2022

Rotary Club of Perth

Professional experience

October 2019 to present

Westside Insurance Specialists

Senior Account Executive

Advises a portfolio of clients with a strong rural, transport and property development focus. Reviews business exposures and insurance arrangements, develops client relationships and contributes to portfolio growth. Experience includes development of a tailored insurance product for CrossFit businesses.

January 2017 to
October 2018

SRG Corp

Account Manager

Managed client insurance relationships and reviewed cover in response to changing business risks and insurance market conditions.

August 2015 to
January 2017

Phoenix Property Group

Owner and Investment Advocate

Worked with investors and investees through an advocacy model focused on stakeholder outcomes and ongoing monitoring.

February 2013 to
August 2015

Private Property Developers

Client Relationship Manager and subsequently General Manager

Managed investor communications and the interface with the CEO. Introduced a CRM system and stakeholder database, integrated marketing communications and trained a successor. Responsibilities later expanded to staff leadership and financial visibility as General Manager.

September 2009 to
January 2013

Elders Insurance Underwriting Agency

Business Partner

Jointly owned an insurance agency serving approximately 6,000 customers across the central Wheatbelt and eastern Perth, covering farm, business and household insurance. Earlier employed by the agency from July 2000 to June 2004.

January 2004 to
October 2009

Little Farm Australia

Founder and Managing Director

Established and operated the business and pursued a franchise model. Its eventual liquidation provides direct experience of the consequences of leverage and expansion risk.

January 1990 to
June 2000

Elders Limited

State Business Analyst

Analysed store, staff, product and supplier performance across Western Australia during a period in which the network expanded from 30 to 65 stores through partnership and owned-store growth.

Qualifications and professional development

Diploma of Company DirectorshipAustralian Institute of Company Directors · 2006

Diploma of Business AdministrationUniversity of Western Australia · 2009

Diploma of Insurance Broking FNS51220LMI College · 2023

Diploma of Financial PlanningInternational Institute of Technology · 2014

GI512 Risk ManagementANZIIF · 2012

Board interests

Agriculture and agribusiness, insurance and risk, community enterprises, and founder-led organisations developing their governance capability. Particular interest in how AI and technology affect judgement, accountability and business resilience.