Code Authority Members

Chairman

John Wood brings extensive consumer affairs experience to his position as Chair of ADMA’s Code Authority. He runs his own consultancy, specialising in complaints handling, corruption prevention, ombudsman schemes, consumer affairs and customer service charters both in Australia and internationally.

Previously, John was the Deputy Commonwealth Ombudsman and managed the organisation’s quality assurance, policy, public affairs and major project activities. He was a member of the Government’s Task Force on Customer Service Charters and provided advice to agencies on internal complaint handling systems, service charters and client service practices. John also provided advice to a number of international delegations that were interested in Ombudsman duties or related developments.

From 1984 to 1994 John held the position of Director of the Federal Bureau of Consumer Affairs where he advised the Federal Government as well as establishing credibility and good working relations with Federal, State and Territory agencies, industry and the consumer movement.

He is a former President of the Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals in Business, a Life Member of the Australian Consumers’ Association, and was a former Chair of the Consumer Advisory Panel to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

Consumer Representative

A consultant who specialises in the areas of compliance, dispute management, customer service and consumer affairs, Bill Dee has extensive experience in industry codes and self-regulation.

In over 20 years at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Bill gained wide experience in the area of regulatory compliance. He was one of the architects of the Australian Standard on Compliance Programs and was also particularly active in codes of conduct and other self-regulatory initiatives and disputes management.

Bill drafted the ACCC's Guide on codes and various other industry codes. For his work in developing innovative self-regulatory industry practices to strengthen the competitiveness of the Australian economy and to protect consumers, Bill was presented with an Australia Day Award by the Commonwealth Government in 1998.

Industry representative

Graeme Alexander is the Head of Compliance and Ethics for American Express in Australia and New Zealand. He has over 12 years experience in designing and managing compliance programs & strategies.

In his current role, Graeme is the Anti-Money Laundering Officer as well as the Privacy Officer for the American Express businesses in Australia.

Prior to his work with American Express, Graeme managed a number of Compliance Programs for a range of financial services organisations including Merrill Lynch, GE and Toyota Finance. He is a Certified Compliance Professional and also holds the Certified Internal Auditor designation.

Industry Representative

Jon is a true marketing professional with experience on both the client and agency side (in Advertising, Direct & Digital).

He has 17 years experience as a Managing Director of Direct Marketing & Advertising Agencies working with blue chip Australian & multi-national clients.

For 7 years he has operated his own strategy consulting business, The Clark Alliance, developing Direct Marketing Strategies for major companies.

He was Chairman of the Board of the Australian Direct Marketing Association for 3 years and a Board member for 11.

Jon has won numerous awards including Australia’s Direct Marketer of the Year in 1999. He was inducted into the “Direct Marketing Hall of Fame” in 2006 and made an inaugural Honorary Life Member of the Australian Direct Marketing Association in 2007.

Consumer Representative

Robin Brown brings 25 years of experience in consumer and business regulatory affairs to ADMA’s Code Authority with considerable experience in complaint handling and dispute resolution.

He spent 10 years as the chair and chief executive of Australia’s national consumer body, the Australian Federation of Consumer Organisations. He also spent five years as an associate member of the board of the Australian Telecommunications Authority (AUSTEL) and oversaw its privacy study.

Robin has been involved in the establishment of industry-specific dispute handling mechanisms in the banking, life insurance, health insurance and telecommunications sectors, including four years as a member of the Life Insurance Industry Complaints Panel. He was a member of the inaugural Banking Industry Ombudsman Council.

Robin works as a consumer affairs consultant on projects relating to various industry sectors and on government complaint handling systems

He has been involved in projects to advance consumer protection and competition policy and regulation in a number of developing countries.

Robin is member of the Australian Council for International Development Code Committee and in recent years has served as a Councilor of the Australian Consumers’ Association, President of the ACT Council of Social Service and member of the ACT Community Inclusion Board and. He holds a BA and a Master of Public Policy from the Australian National University.