Our Directors

  • Mark Cooper
    VIC/TAS Director (Chair)

    Mark Cooper

    GAICD, Grad. Cert. Comm

    Mark became a member of Capricorn Society in 1995 and was first elected to the board in October 2013. He became Chair of the board in 2019. Mark is a member of Capricorn’s Remuneration and Nomination Committee and Digital and Transformation Committee. Mark is also a director of Capricorn Mutual Ltd.

    Mark has been involved in the automotive industry for over 40 years and currently owns and operates a number of mechanical services and repairs businesses.

    Mark has completed a marketing and financing independent business course, a Certificate IV in Small Business Management and obtained a Graduate Certificate in Commercialisation from the University of Tasmania. Mark is a director of seven family owned companies and currently sits on the Executive Committee of the TACC (Tasmanian Automotive Chamber of Commerce).

  • Mario Pirone
    Independent Director

    Mario Pirone

    B.Bus, Grad. Dip. Bus, FCPA

    Mario joined the Capricorn board as an independent director in July 2014 and is currently a member of the Digital and Transformation Committee and the Remuneration and Nomination Committee. Mario served in the position of Vice Chair to the board from 2019 to February 2023.

    Mario brings over 26 years’ experience as a senior executive and director in large and complex organisations. Mario has enjoyed a lengthy career in the general insurance, funds management and financial services fields. Mario was formerly CEO of the Guild Group (2009 to 2022), CEO of CGU Insurance (2004-2008) and a Senior Group Executive with Insurance Australia Group (1999-2008). Mario has also held a number of non-executive directorships over the past 11 years.

  • Donna Vinci
    Independent Director

    Donna Vinci

    GAICD, FGIA

    Donna joined the Capricorn board in 2019 and is a member of Capricorn Audit and Risk Committee as well as the Capricorn Relationship Committee. Donna also chairs the Capricorn Digital and Transformation Committee.

    Donna previously held senior leadership positions at Bank of Queensland as the chief digital and information officer, IAG where she was Group General Manager, Group Digital and Group CIO, and prior to that, Donna was the Chief Operations and Information Officer of Westpac’s Institutional Bank. Donna has also held many global executive management roles at Citigroup, including Regional CIO and Global Head of Technology Risk Management and held other senior management roles at Potter Warburg and was a Director at Country Natwest.

    Outside of her corporate roles, Donna actively works with not-for-profit organisations in both formal and informal capacities across healthcare, education and community services, to support her passion of paying it forward and making a societal impact. Donna was also awarded Cisco’s Women in IT, 2019 CIO of the Year Award.

  • Bruce Rathie
    Independent Director

    Bruce Rathie

    B.Comm, LLB, MBA, FIML, FAICD, FGIA, Grad Dip CSP, SA Fin

    Bruce was appointed to the Capricorn board in July 2008 as an Independent Director. Bruce also served as Vice Chair to the board from 2015 to 2018. Bruce is Chair of Capricorn Audit and Risk Committee and of the Capricorn Mutual Board.

    Bruce is currently a non-executive director of ASX listed PolyNovo Limited and ASX listed Cettire Limited. He is also currently Chair of ASX listed 4DMedical Limited and ASX listed CleanSpace Holdings Limited. Prior to commencement of his professional governance career in 2000, he had successful careers in private legal practice and then investment banking.

  • Peter Stewart
    SA/NT Director

    Peter Stewart

    Dip. Auto., Dip.T., Adv. Dip.T., MMIAME, GAICD

    Peter joined the Capricorn board in 2015. Peter is a member of the Capricorn Relationship Committee and the Capricorn Audit & Risk Committee. Peter has previsouly served on the Capricorn Remuneration and Nomination Committee including serving as Chair from 2018 to October 2022. 

    Peter has been involved in the automotive industry for over 24 years. He sits on a number of automotive industry committees. Peter has been a Capricorn Member since 1999 and is currently a Master Member of the IAME, Deputy Chair of the MTA (SA) Automotive Repair Division Committee, a member of the Industry Advisory Council of the MTA (SA), and a member of the RAA Approved Repairers Committee.

  • Phil Saxton
    NZ Director

    Philip (Phil) Saxton

    GAICD

    Phil joined the Capricorn board in 2015. Phil is the Chair of Capricorn's Remuneration and Nomination Committee and also serves on the Digital and Transformation Committee and Capricorn Relationship Committee. Phil has also previously been a member of Capricorn’s Audit and Risk Committee.

    Phil has been involved in the automotive industry for over 29 years. Phil is the owner and operator of two automotive workshops in the Wellington region and has been a Capricorn Member for over 13 years. Phil is a member of the New Zealand MTA and past President of the MTA Wellington. Over the past 13 years he has been involved in several voluntary community organisations and is the current Chairman of the Hutt Old Boys Rugby Football Club.

  • Lydia Stjepanovic
    NSW / ACT Director

    Lydia Stjepanovic

    Lydia was elected to the board in 2021 and is a member of the Capricorn Remuneration and Nomination Committee and the Capricorn Relationship Committee. Lydia has previously served as a member of the Capricorn Audit and Risk Committee.

    Lydia is a second-generation automotive services business owner with a Bachelor of Business and Commerce (Management) from the University of Western Sydney and an Advanced Diploma in Business (Marketing) from Macleay College.

    Lydia grew up within the automotive industry as the daughter of an auto electrician. Lydia has been involved with the industry her entire life in one capacity or another.

  • Mark Rowe
    QLD Director

    Mark Rowe

    Mark has run his own business for 25 years. Mark has been a Capricorn Member since 1999 and was first elected to the board to in October 2022. Mark is a member of the Capricorn Audit and Risk Committee.

    Mark has previous board and committee experience including being a current director of VASA, a non-profit organisation representing the technicians, professional service centres, suppliers and original equipment manufacturers of the automotive air conditioning, electrical and thermal management industry in Australia and New Zealand. Mark is also a member of the Beaudesert Chamber of Commerce.

  • Nigel Oborne
    WA Director

    Nigel Oborne

    Nigel has 34 years of automotive industry experience. He has been a Capricorn Member for 26 years and was first elected to the board in October 2022. Nigel is a member of Capricorn’s Audit and Risk Committee.

    Nigel is the currently the national representative of AASDN (Australian Automotive Service Dealers Network) and is also a WA representative for the Automotive Repairers Council of Australia.

    Nigel has previous committee experience working with the Bosch Service Council of WA, the Australian Bosch Service Dealers Network and as Chair of the OTRA (on the road again tours charity group).