Directors

Colin Heavyside - SA/NT (Chairman)

FAICD

Email: colin.heavyside@capricorn.coop

Colin was born in 1956 and was first elected to the Board in 2004 after first becoming a member in 1989. Colin is Chairman of the Capricorn Board and a Member of the Capricorn Remuneration and Nomination Committee. Colin is also a director of Capricorn Mutual Ltd, Capricorn Insurance New Zealand Ltd and Capricorn (Isle of Man) Ltd.

Colin has extensive retail automotive experience having worked some 30 years in the industry and has in the past served the industry in many capacities, including national chairman of the Australian Service Station Association (ASSA), Board member of the Federal Industrial Council for the retail automotive industry, President of the Motor Trades Association of South Australia, Board member for the Motor Trades Association Group Training Scheme and director of the MTAA Superannuation Fund, which at the time had 240,000 members and assets of $2 billion.

 

Russell Becker - NSW/ACT (Vice Chairman)

GAICD, FAICD

Email: russell.becker@capricorn.coop

Russell was born in 1963 and was elected to the Board in 2005 after first becoming a member in 1990. Russell is Vice Chairman and a Member of the Capricorn Audit and Risk Committee. Russell is also a director of Capricorn Mutual Ltd, Capricorn Insurance New Zealand Ltd and Capricorn (Isle of Man) Ltd.

Russell has been involved in the automotive industry since 1979. Russell owned and operated a Service Station/ Convenience store and mechanical repair business in Galston from 1990 until 2003 and in 2003 moved to nearby Dural to specialise in mechanical repairs. Russell is a RTA AUVIS, AIS and LPG inspector.

Russell has been involved in many committees and boards of charity and sporting organisations including Special Olympics, Junior Soccer and Motor Sport. Russell is married to Karen and they have 3 children.

 

Russell Green- NZ

FAICD

Email: russell.green@capricorn.coop

Russell was born in 1963 and was elected to the Board in 1999, being Capricorn’s first director from the New Zealand zone. Russell is a member of the Capricorn Remuneration and Nomination Committee, the Capricorn Relationship Committee and is a director of Capricorn Mutual Ltd, Capricorn Insurance New Zealand Ltd and Capricorn (Isle of Man) Ltd. During his time on the board Russell has also spent time on the Audit and Risk Committee. 

Russell has been involved in the motor industry throughout his entire working career, presently owning and operating a mechanical repair business servicing his local rural area of Puhoi, which is located north of Auckland. He lives there with Janine and their 3 sons.

Russell has been actively involved with the Motor Trade Association of New Zealand, from serving time on the local branch committee right up to the president of its largest branch, Auckland, as well as time at national committee level and being a regular attendee at the  annual conferences. Russell feels that by spending time on these various industry organisations it allows him to put something back into the industry that he has chosen to make his career in and keeps him in touch with the 'Grass Roots Members'.

 

Ross Pickering - QLD

FAICD (Dip)

Email: ross.pickering@capricorn.coop

Ross was born in 1946 and was elected to the Board in 2000. Ross is a member of Capricorn’s Audit and Risk Committee and was previously a member of Capricorn’s Investment Committee. Ross is also a director of Capricorn Mutual Ltd, Capricorn Insurance New Zealand Ltd and Capricorn (Isle of Man) Ltd.

Ross served his mechanical apprenticeship in Brisbane, qualifying as an “A Grade Motor Mechanic”, prior to settling in Samford in 1968 where he became a partner in the business in 1972. Ross currently owns his own Mechanical workshop in Samford. Ross’s family business runs a 24hr Breakdown and Towing service which includes being Country Service Providers for the RACQ.

Ross is extremely active in his community and has served on many community based committees and works with local charities. Ross has been recognised by Samford Rotary with a Paul Harris Fellow award for his commitment to the Samford Community. Ross is currently an AED committee member of the Motor Trades Association of Queensland and has also served on the Caltex Queensland and National Franchise Councils. Ross serves on Body Corporate Committees for his family investments.

 

Vincent O'Neill - VIC/TAS 

GAICD

Email: vincent.oneill@capricorn.coop

Vin was born in 1954, is married to Karen and has three daughters.

He became a member of Capricorn Society in 1992, was elected to the board in September 2005, has since been a member of the Audit and Risk Committee, Chairman of the Capricorn Investment Committee and now is Chairman of the Capricorn Remuneration and Nomination Committee. Vin is also a director of Capricorn Mutual Ltd, Capricorn Insurance New Zealand Ltd and Capricorn (Isle of Man) Ltd.

Vin has worked in the automotive industry since leaving school in 1970 and is a fully qualified motor mechanic. To further his knowledge in motor vehicle repairs and servicing he has attended and completed many TAFE courses. He started his own general mechanical workshop in August 1979 and is a director of a family owned company, O’Neill’s Autos Pty Ltd.

Vin is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has served on many committees in his local community. He is currently secretary of the Sandy Creek Recreation and Water Reserve.

 

Wayne Negus - WA

FAICD. MIAME, SFCDA

Email: wayne.negus@capricorn.coop

Wayne joined Capricorn in 1980, and owned Dalkeith Automotive Services with a 7 bay workshop from 1975 to 2012, when the property was sold to a developer.  Wayne maintains his involvement in Negus Auto Services in Corbusier Place Balcatta, established in 1995.

Wayne was elected to the Board in 1987, was elected Vice Chairman for four years, then Chairman for eight years to 2003, was Chairman of the Capricorn Investment Committee and was Chairman of Capricorn Mutual Ltd for eight years from inception in 2003 to 2010.

Wayne is currently a Director of Capricorn Society Ltd and member of the Capricorn Remuneration and Nomination Committee. He is also currently a Director of Capricorn Travel Australia Pty Ltd, Capricorn Society Financial Services Pty Ltd, Capricorn Management Services Pty Ltd, Capricorn Mutual Limited, Capricorn (Isle of Man) Limited, Ineedaservice Pty Ltd and Chairman of Capricorn Insurance New Zealand Ltd.

Wayne is a Qualified Mechanic, WA Licence number MR16, Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, having passed the Diploma Course in 1992, and also the Advanced Diploma Course in 2004, and completed an update course in 2011, and is a Senior Fellow of the Corporate Directors Association, having passed that Diploma course in 1996. Wayne has been a Rotarian since 1975, is a Past President of Rotary and has been awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship.

In addition to Capricorn duties, Wayne is a Board Member of the Motor Trades Association of WA, past Chairman of the Motor Trade Association’s Service Station and Convenience Store Committee in Western Australia and a past National Chairman of the Motor Trade Association of Australia Service Station and Convenience Store Division.

During his early career, Wayne was involved with motor racing and drove with the Holden Dealer Team for five years. Wayne was born in 1946, is married to Gloria and has three adult children and six grandchildren.

 

Mark Coleman - Independent Director

FAICD, B.EC., MBA

Email: mark.coleman@capricorn.coop

Mark was born in 1957 and was appointed to the Board in July 2008, as an independent director.

Mark has considerable financial management, business and strategic planning experience which will assist the Board in considering new opportunities for Capricorn Society, its Members and Employees. Mark comes to Capricorn very well qualified for this position having previous board experience since 1990, and having worked in Senior Executive positions with companies such as The Electricity Trust of South Australia.  Mark is Chairman of Capricorn’s Audit & Risk Committee.

 

Bruce Rathie- Independent Director

B.Comm, LLB, MBA, FAIM, FAICD

Email: bruce.rathie@capricorn.coop

Bruce was born in 1955 and was appointed to the Board in July 2008, as an independent director. Bruce comes to Capricorn very well qualified for this position having a Masters of Business Administration, a Bachelor of Law, a Bachelor of Commerce and a Graduate Diploma in Company Secretarial Practice, as well as a Diploma Company Director from the AICD. Bruce has been admitted as a Solicitor of the High Court of Australia and Supreme Courts of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. Bruce is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australian Institute of Management.

Bruce’s professional experience includes numerous other Executive and Non Executive Director and Chairman positions in both the public and private sectors. Bruce has held Managing Director and Executive Director roles for major investment banks including Ord Minnett, Jardine Fleming Australia Capital Limited and Salomon Brothers Australia Limited / Salomon Smith Barney Australia. He is also a Non-Executive Director of ASX listed companies USCOM Limited, Calzada Limited, DataDot Technology Limited (which he Chairs) and Mungana Goldmines Limited and is a Non-Executive Director of unlisted EFTPOS Payments Australia Limited. He has also had extensive law experience with major firms and was Senior In house Counsel at Bell Resources Limited in the mid 1980’s.  Bruce has been a member of Capricorn’s Investment Committee and is now a member of Capricorn’s Audit and Risk Committee.