The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) has announced the appointments of Raylene Bellottie and Yien Hong to its board, effective on 1 January 2024.
Ms Bellottie brings 25 years of experience in financial services to the role, 10 of which were spent at ANZ. She later joined Credit Union Australia as the national business development manager of First Nations accounts.
According to AFCA, she is a proud Nanda woman from Yamatji country who is committed to enhancing Indigenous financial literacy, having served as the deputy chair of the First Nations Foundation for more than 10 years.
She is also a business coach for the Waalitj Foundation and has held various roles with the Indigenous Advisory Group, the Indigenous Financial Service Network, and as the deputy chairperson for Nanda Aboriginal Corporation.
Speaking on Ms Bellottie’s appointment, AFCA independent board chair John Pollaers said: “Raylene’s remarkable career in the finance sector, along with her experience working with small businesses, means she has a strong understanding of the important work AFCA does.”
Meanwhile, Ms Hong is general counsel and company secretary at Judo Bank, which listed on the ASX in November 2021, and has previously held senior roles across firms including Deutsche Bank, NAB, and Linklaters.
Prior to joining Judo Bank, she was general counsel and company secretary at Growthpoint Properties Australia, an ASX 200 listed property fund.
Ms Hong also served for five years as the director and chair of the development committee at YWCA Housing (YWCA Victoria), working to provide accommodation and other services to disadvantaged women.
“Yien’s impressive executive career, strong legal background, and solid understanding of governance, underpinned with a strong sense of social justice, makes her an excellent fit for AFCA and an important addition to the board,” Mr Pollaers commented.
“Both of these highly successful women are the perfect fit for AFCA’s board, and their appointments ensure the organisation will continue to provide an independent, free and fair external dispute resolution service for financial disputes in Australia.”
Ms Bellottie and Ms Hong will replace current AFCA board members Claire Mackay and Andrew Fairley, who both joined in 2018.
Mr Pollaers thanked Ms Mackay and Mr Fairley for their tenure with the board.
“Claire and Andrew played such an important part in AFCA’s first five years, as founding directors,” he said.
“They both provided invaluable knowledge and expertise during their tenures and we thank them for the significant contributions they have made in helping AFCA to become the world-class ombudsman service it is today.”
