Meet The Team

Financial Service Centre Managers Premium Banking Network Leadership Team Board of Directors

Financial Service Centre Managers

Jess Lippiatt Tweed and Cabarita Financial Service Centre Manager

Jess leads our Tweed and Cabarita Financial Service Centre with a focus on building a capable, supportive team and delivering exceptional customer service at every stage of life. Her journey with SCCU began in the Customer Service Centre, giving Jess deep knowledge and appreciation of our customers’ needs to...

Jess leads our Tweed and Cabarita Financial Service Centre with a focus on building a capable, supportive team and...

Jasmine Wark Customer Service Centre Manager

Jasmine Wark brings local knowledge and a passion for exceptional customer service to her role as Customer Service Centre Manager. As a leader in customer service, Jasmine oversees the daily operations of SCCU's Customer Service Centre, ensuring seamless banking experiences for customers. She empowers her team to deliver unparallel customer...

Jasmine Wark brings local knowledge and a passion for exceptional customer service to her role as Customer Service Centre...

Helen Wenzel Ballina Financial Service Centre Manager

Helen Wenzel joins our FSC management team with over 16 years of banking experience in various financial institutions, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge across the financial service industry. Relocating from the hustle and bustle of Sydney life two and a half years ago, Helen now calls the...

Helen Wenzel joins our FSC management team with over 16 years of banking experience in various financial institutions, bringing...

Premium Banking

Kelly Lawn Premium Banker

0476 811 290 Kelly.Lawn@sccu.com.au

Kelly brings 30 years of experience in banking and lending to the SCCU team, making her an asset to our business and customers. Known for a warm, customer-first approach, she excels at uncovering opportunities through thoughtful conversations and tailored solutions. With a passion for helping people achieve their financial goals,...

Kelly brings 30 years of experience in banking and lending to the SCCU team, making her an asset to...

Azaleia Bradley Premium Banker

0400 435 024 Azaleia.Bradley@sccu.com.au

Azaleia brings her zest for community-focused banking to her role as a Premium Banker to create meaningful connections. Previously working as our Murwillumbah and Cabarita Financial Service Centres manager, the local experience gave her an additional perspective when it comes to supporting our customers financial wellbeing. With over a decade...

Azaleia brings her zest for community-focused banking to her role as a Premium Banker to create meaningful connections. Previously...

Steve Distant Premium Banker

0401 036 535 Stephen.Distant@sccu.com.au

Steve has been a valued part of the SCCU team for almost twenty years. With unrivalled industry experience across the entire spectrum of personal and business banking services, Steve works with customers on everything from home loans, to business banking and helps dreams come true for so many –...

Steve has been a valued part of the SCCU team for almost twenty years. With unrivalled industry experience across...

Network

Linda O’Sullivan Broker Relationships & Development Manager

Joining the Southern Cross Credit Union (SCCU) team in 2021, Linda provides support to our Broker Network to help them provide tailored solutions to meet their customers lending needs. As 24 year veteran of banking, her experience and passion is second to none. Known for being firm but fair,...

Joining the Southern Cross Credit Union (SCCU) team in 2021, Linda provides support to our Broker Network to help...

Tara Armbruster Head of Customer Relationships

With over 20 years of banking experience, including 9 years at SCCU, most recently successfully leading our Customer Service Centre, Tara has a wealth of knowledge and passion for enhancing our customer’s experience and the engagement of our frontline teams. Dedicated to coaching and developing our people to deliver exceptional...

With over 20 years of banking experience, including 9 years at SCCU, most recently successfully leading our Customer Service...

Leadership Team

Patricia Smith Head of Lending

With more than 25 years’ experience across the banking industry, Patricia brings a wealth of knowledge and a forward-thinking approach to her role as Head of Lending at Southern Cross Credit Union. A strategic and innovative leader, Patricia is passionate about creating meaningful impact, not just through the products and...

With more than 25 years’ experience across the banking industry, Patricia brings a wealth of knowledge and a forward-thinking...

Luciana Pinciara Head of Marketing and Projects

As part of our Executive team, Luciana helps leverage our business intelligence by facilitating the merge between marketing, analytics and projects that are mostly focused on product performance, implementation and delivery. With a Bachelor in Journalism, an MBA in Project Management, a Diploma in Digital Marketing and a certificate in...

As part of our Executive team, Luciana helps leverage our business intelligence by facilitating the merge between marketing, analytics...

Jessica Jackson Chief Customer Officer

As a member of the Executive team, Jessica is the Chief Customer Officer (CCO) at Southern Cross Credit Union, bringing more than 20 years of experience across human resources, customer operations and organisational leadership. Appointed to the role in December 2024 following her tenure as Chief People Officer, Jessica...

As a member of the Executive team, Jessica is the Chief Customer Officer (CCO) at Southern Cross Credit Union,...

Simon Lehmann Chief Risk Officer

Simon is our Chief Risk Officer and as part of our Executive team, is responsible for risk, compliance and regulatory governance for Southern Cross Credit Union (SCCU). After over 30 years in the banking and finance industry, Simon is recognised as a well rounded executive with a deep experience...

Simon is our Chief Risk Officer and as part of our Executive team, is responsible for risk, compliance and...

Stuart Edwards Chief Executive Officer

An experienced Chief Executive Officer and a highly successful strategic business leader within the Financial Services industry across listed banks and the customer owned, mutual sector. Since joining Southern Cross Credit Union in 2015, Stuart has led the complete transformation of the business delivering positive results in the key strategic...

An experienced Chief Executive Officer and a highly successful strategic business leader within the Financial Services industry across listed...

Board of Directors

Alvaro Lozano Chairperson

Alvaro was first appointed to the Board as a Director in February 2017 and was subsequently appointed the position of Chairperson in November 2021. Alvaro is also a member of both the Risk and Audit Committees. Having been a resident of the Far North Coast for over 16 years, Alvaro...

Alvaro was first appointed to the Board as a Director in February 2017 and was subsequently appointed the position...

Pat McIntosh: AM, CSC Director | Chair, Audit Committee

Pat McIntosh was born and raised in the Lockyer Valley in Queensland and was educated at Downlands College, Toowoomba. Pat served in the Australian regular Army for 27 years. He enjoyed extensive command experience included an infantry battalion, the Australian Medical Support Force Rwanda, the Land Warfare Centre and the...

Pat McIntosh was born and raised in the Lockyer Valley in Queensland and was educated at Downlands College, Toowoomba. Pat...

Suzie Slingsby Director | Chair, Risk Committee

Suzie’s background is as a payments specialist with over 25 years’ experience in the financial services industry having held Regional Director, General Manager and Senior Executive roles with industry leaders such as Thomas Cook, Travelex and MasterCard. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and...

Suzie’s background is as a payments specialist with over 25 years’ experience in the financial services industry having held...

Jeremy Rutledge Director

Jeremy is a Director of Southern Cross Credit Union since November 2021. Jeremy is also a property & business valuation specialist (Certified Practicing Valuer, registered in NSW & QLD) and has been advising Authorised Deposit-taking Institutions for over 25 years holding a Bachelor of Business (Property) and a Graduate Diploma...

Jeremy is a Director of Southern Cross Credit Union since November 2021. Jeremy is also a property & business valuation...

Belinda Henry Director

Belinda has been on the Board since June 2011 and is a member of the Risk and Audit Committees. Having lived in the Tweed her entire life, Belinda is dedicated to ensure that we, as a local, community based and owned banking institution, continue to support our community organisations, our...

Belinda has been on the Board since June 2011 and is a member of the Risk and Audit Committees. Having...

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2 mins

Notice of Annual General Meeting

SCCU AGM

Southern Cross Credit Union Ltd ABN 82 087 650 682 Notice of Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting of Southern Cross Credit Union Ltd will be held on 25th November 2025 at the Credit Union’s Corporate Service Centre, Corner Pearl and Turnock Streets Kingscliff commencing at 4pm. The business of the...

Southern Cross Credit Union Ltd ABN 82 087 650 682 Notice of Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting of Southern Cross...

1 min

Nominations for Position of Director

Credit Union Careers, Southern Cross Credit Union

Southern Cross Credit Union Ltd ABN 82 087 650 682 AFSL 241000 Nominations of Position of Director. Nominations are called for positions on the Board of Directors of the Credit Union. In accordance with the Credit Union Constitution, Suzie Slingsby, Patrick McIntosh and Jeremy Rutledge are due to retire as Director(s) at the...

Southern Cross Credit Union Ltd ABN 82 087 650 682 AFSL 241000 Nominations of Position of Director. Nominations are called for positions...

2 mins

Excellence in Professional Services Winners

Southern Cross Credit Union, Online Banking, Excellence In Professional Services, Banking, Community, Everyday Banking

The 2023 Tweed Regional Business Awards winners have been announced and we are humbled to be the proud recipients of the Excellence in Professional Services award. The Excellence in Professional Services Award recognises a business who demonstrates outstanding achievements in their field, and whose business has made a significant contribution...

The 2023 Tweed Regional Business Awards winners have been announced and we are humbled to be the proud recipients...

3 mins

SCCU announces a 3-year partnership with Byro...

Community Banking, Community

Southern Cross Credit Union (SCCU) expands its community reach, announcing a 3-year partnership with Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital and Sanctuary, home to the North Coast’s only all-species wildlife hospital licensed by the Veterinary Practitioners Board of NSW, and Australia’s largest mobile wildlife hospital. It is important for SCCU to be involved in...

Southern Cross Credit Union (SCCU) expands its community reach, announcing a 3-year partnership with Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital and Sanctuary, home...

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As COVID hit some 3 years ago, I approached SCCU to re-align our financial position at both a personal and professional level with our business. Not only were your team receptive but with the assistance of SCCU not only did we make our way through COVID closures, but due to the support of SCCU we have evolved into an extremely sound business, and I would suggest a success story of the community banking that SCCU continues to deliver. Thank you for the support you offer to us as a local business and us as a local family of the area. Thank you, the entire team, at SCCU for being such an awesome part of the community whilst also being a great business to align with.

Jason

Working with Steve has been an absolute pleasure! He is very professional yet is able to bring a personal touch to the banking and loan process. We always feel like we are kept up to date with requirements and processes and Steve is always willing to explain everything in a user-friendly yet professional manner. He has been amazing to work with for our financial needs and would highly recommend his services to friends, family, and colleagues.

Kylie Taylor

We are writing to compliment SCCU for the excellent care, efficiency and exceptional customer service which we have received over the past many months of our build from Emma Northcott. Emma has combined professionalism, attention to details, accuracy, excellent communication and helpful consideration in managing our loan and the periodic payments requested by the builder. In our opinion she has gone above and beyond what we would have expected from a Lending Operations Specialist, and her handling of our account will highly contribute to our recommendations of SCCU to friends and family. Thanking you sincerely

Stan and Zetta Michaels

Meet the Team

Financial Service Centre Managers

Jess Lippiatt Tweed and Cabarita Financial Service Centre Manager

Jasmine Wark Customer Service Centre Manager

Helen Wenzel Ballina Financial Service Centre Manager

Premium Banking

Kelly Lawn Premium Banker

Azaleia Bradley Premium Banker

Steve Distant Premium Banker

Network

Linda O’Sullivan Broker Relationships & Development Manager

Tara Armbruster Head of Customer Relationships

Leadership Team

Patricia Smith Head of Lending

Luciana Pinciara Head of Marketing and Projects

Jessica Jackson Chief Customer Officer

Simon Lehmann Chief Risk Officer

Stuart Edwards Chief Executive Officer

Board of Directors

Alvaro Lozano Chairperson

Pat McIntosh: AM, CSC Director | Chair, Audit Committee

Suzie Slingsby Director | Chair, Risk Committee

Jeremy Rutledge Director

Belinda Henry Director

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