Board of Directors

Bringing you a wealth of knowledge and experience

Our board is experienced and well credentialed with a balanced spread of skills and backgrounds in financial services and funds management, life insurance, private and investment banking, superannuation, private equity, taxation and law and corporate advisory.

Rob Coombe

Executive Chairman

Rob was appointed Chairman of Generation Development Group since 18 July 2017 and transitioned to the role of Executive Chairman on 1 January 2025.

Rob is presently Non-Executive Chairman of Colonial First State, a leading Australian superannuation and wealth management business owned by KKR and CBA. He also chairs Tibra Capital, a privately owned global multi-strategy hedge fund business, and Expert360, Australia’s leading online talent marketplace. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of Five V Capital, a leading Australian private equity manager focused on investing in established growth companies across a range of industries.

On top of Rob’s commercial interests, he is Chair of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF).

Between 2013 and 2019, Rob was CEO (2013-2017) then Chairman of Craveable Brands, the largest Australian owned Quick Service Restaurant business. Rob’s tenure with this business was during its ownership by Archer Capital and culminated in a successful exit to PAG in August 2019.

Before joining Craveable Brands, Rob was responsible for all of Westpac’s Australian Retail, Business and Agri banking operations. Prior to this role, Rob spent six years as the CEO of BT Financial Group, responsible for all of Westpac’s funds management, financial planning, insurance, private banking, broking, platform and superannuation businesses.

Rob has 40 years’ corporate experience in Australia and Asia, primarily in financial services. He has had extensive experience on the Boards of listed and private companies both domestically and internationally.

In 2011 Rob was awarded the prestigious UTS Alumni of the Year for Excellence and in 2021 he was appointed as a Fellow of the university. Both awards were in recognition of his achievements in the business community and social sector.

Bill Bessemer

Non-Executive Director

Bill initially joined Austock in 1995 and became chairman of the Group in 1999 until 2009. Following a brief retirement Bill resumed as a director of Austock in February 2012 and became Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in May 2012. He stepped down as CEO in November 2017. Bill has over 40 years’ experience in banking and finance, specifically in the areas of debt and equity structuring, mergers and acquisitions and business recoveries. He was a shareholder and director of a boutique corporate advisory business involved in all areas of investment banking. He also held several senior management roles and directorships with companies owned by the ANZ Banking Group.

Christine Christian AO

Non-Executive Director

Christine was appointed a director of Generation Development Group on 8 October 2024.

Christine is an independent chair of SelfWealth Ltd (ASX:SWF), Auctus Investment Group Ltd (ASX:AVC) and Tanarra Credit Partners and currently holds non-executive director roles with Arcus Partners and MaxCap Group.  She is President of the State Library of Victoria and Council member of La Trobe University. Previously, she has held a range of senior executive roles with Dun & Bradstreet.  In addition, Christine was a non-executive director of Generation Development Group’s wholly owned subsidiary, Lonsec Holdings Pty Ltd, from January 2016 until February 2024. 

She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and past president of Chief Executive Women. In 2020, she was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition of her distinguished service to the financial and investment sectors, to women in business and through support for emerging entrepreneurs.

Giselle Collins

Non-Executive Director

Giselle was appointed a director of Generation Development Group in November 2021, having served previously on the Generation Life Board since 2018.

She is currently a non-executive Chairman of Hotel Property Investments (ASX:HPI) and a non-executive director of Cooper Energy (ASX:COE). She is also Chairman of the responsible entity for AMP Limited’s registered managed investment schemes.

Giselle has a Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of Sydney and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investments from the Securities Institute.   She is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

Peter Smith

Executive Director

Peter was appointed as Executive Director of Generation Development Group in June 2025.

Peter is a business leader with 30 years experience at a Senior Executive, Board, and Business Owner level and has operated in the Wealth Management segment over this whole period.

Peter has experience in international and domestic markets, beginning his career in Brisbane then working in London and Sydney. This experience spans institutional investment management and financial planning. Roles have included end-to-end leadership of large Wealth Management businesses operating in complex and highly competitive markets, and over the last decade, his focus has been on Board and Principal investor roles in the financial services SME segment.

Peter began his career with Macquarie Bank in their Investment Management business. He then joined NAB to run the MLC business in Queensland, before transferring to London for 4 years, where he was the General Manager of the MLC business in the UK, spanning funds management, financial planning, and business consulting. On returning from London to Sydney, Peter joined the NAB Global Asset Management business, a business that went on to manage over $150Bn in assets.

In the Wealth Advice segment, he is a past CEO of Godfrey Pembroke, one of Australia’s largest Private Wealth firms, and then he went on to lead NAB’s Australian advice businesses spanning Godfrey Pembroke, Garvan Financial Planning, MLC Financial Planning, Apogee FP, and Meritum.

Peter is the Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of Evidentia Group.

Peter has a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Queensland, a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investments from FINSIA, and a Diploma in Financial Services. He has also completed the Executive Program at Stanford Business School in the USA.