Directors & CEO

Bernadette Inglis BBus, MBA, GAICD, INSEAD Graduate

Independent Chair and Non-Executive Director

Expertise: Experienced company executive with extensive strategic and transformation experience.

Special Responsibilities: Member of Audit and Risk Committee, Member of People and Culture Committee.

Ms Inglis was appointed Chair of the Board on 4 November 2024, and has been a Non-Executive Director of GWA Group Limited since November 2022.  Ms Inglis has more than 20 years’ experience as a business executive, and she has strong experience in the areas of business transformation including new and emerging technologies, execution of strategy and fostering partnerships.  Ms Inglis’s executive experience includes Chief Executive Officer of Newcastle Permanent Building Society, and she has non-executive director experience across a broad spectrum including arts, education, infrastructure and charitable foundations.

John MulcahyPHD (CIVIL ENGINEERING), FIE AUST

Independent Deputy Chairman and Non-Executive Director

Expertise: Engineer, banker and experienced public company director.

Special Responsibilities: Chairman of People and Culture Committee.

Mr Mulcahy was appointed a Non-Executive Director of GWA Group Limited in 2010 and Deputy Chairman effective 1 November 2013.  He is a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers and a Non-Executive Director of ALS Limited.  He is the former Chairman of Mirvac Group Limited, and former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Suncorp Group Limited (“Suncorp”).  Prior to joining Suncorp, he held a number of senior executive roles at the Commonwealth Bank and Lend Lease Corporation.

During the past three years Mr Mulcahy has served as a director of the following listed companies for the time periods noted:

  • ALS Limited since 2012*
  • Mirvac Group Limited from 2009 to January 2023.

*denotes current directorship

Urs MeyerhansFCPA

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer

Expertise: Experienced executive officer with extensive operational and finance experience

Mr Meyerhans was appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of GWA Group Limited on 1 July 2021.  He was formerly the Acting Chief Executive Officer of GWA Group Limited from 1 March 2021. 

Mr Meyerhans has international industry experience in manufacturing and distribution, professional services, mining, engineering and construction in Australia, Europe, USA and Asia Pacific.  Mr Meyerhans served as President of Tetra Tech Asia Pacific and Chief Executive Officer of Coffey International Limited (Coffey) from 2017 to 2020.

Previous roles have included Chief Operating Officer and Finance Director of Coffey, Finance Director of Wattyl Limited as well as executive roles with United Group Limited and WMC Resources Limited.

Mr Meyerhans is a graduate of the School of Business Executive Program at Stanford University, and a member of the Australia Institute of Company Directors and Fellow of CPA Australia.

Richard ThorntonCA B COM (ACC) LLB (HONS) LLM

Non-Executive Director

Expertise: Chartered Accountant with extensive governance, risk management and finance experience

Special Responsibilities: Member of the Audit and Risk Committee

Mr Thornton was appointed a Non-Executive Director of GWA Group Limited on 3 June 2022. He joined GWA Group Limited in 2002 and was the Company Secretary between 2003 and 2022. He is a Chartered Accountant and is experienced in accounting, taxation and finance through positions at Coopers & Lybrand, Citibank and Ernst & Young in Australia and overseas. He has extensive leadership, governance and risk management experience as a longstanding GWA senior executive, having served over 20 years with the business until his appointment as a Non-Executive Director in June 2022.

He is a Director of HGT Investments Pty Ltd and Great Western Corporation, a diversified Australian private group.

Stephen RocheBBus (Finance & Banking), FAICD

Independent Non-Executive Director

Expertise: Extensive strategic, operational and governance experience.

Special Responsibilities: Member of Audit and Risk Committee.

Mr Roche was appointed a Non-Executive Director of GWA Group Limited on 28 October 2022.  Mr Roche has more than 15 years’ experience as a company director, and he has extensive experience in strategy, business development and supply chains across industries including pharmacy, healthcare, retail and consumer markets.  His executive experience includes Managing Director of Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand, and he was also Managing Director & CEO of Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Limited. Mr Roche is a Non-Executive Director of Baby Bunting Limited, where he is also a Member of the Audit and Risk Committee. 

During the past three years Mr Roche has served as a director of the following listed companies for the time periods noted:

  • Baby Bunting Limited since September 2021*
  • Blackmores Limited from September 2021 to August 2023.

*denotes current directorship

Patria Mann BEc FAICD

Independent Non-Executive Director

Expertise: Experienced non-executive director with extensive audit, risk management and governance experience.

Special Responsibilities: Chair of Audit and Risk Committee.

Ms Mann was appointed a Non-Executive Director of GWA Group Limited in January 2023.   She is an experienced Non-Executive director with more than 20 years board experience across various sectors and geographies.  Ms Mann has strong ASX, audit, risk management and governance experience.  In addition, she has significant insight and understanding of sales, marketing and distribution of consumer products, business transformation and M&A and financial transactions.

During the past three years Ms Mann has served as a director of the following listed companies for the time periods noted:

  • Bega Cheese Limited since September 2019*
  • GDI Property Group Limited since April 2024*
  • EVT Limited from October 2013 to February 2024
  • Ridley Corporation Limited from March 2008 to November 2023

*denotes current directorship

Brett DraffenBBus (Valuation & Land Economy), INSEAD Graduate

Independent Non-Executive Director

Expertise: Experienced company executive with extensive strategic and operational experience

Special Responsibilities: Member of People and Culture Committee

Mr Draffen was appointed a Non-Executive Director of GWA Group Limited on 4 November 2024.  Mr Draffen has extensive experience in the construction, development and property investment sectors, including his current role as CEO of Lewis Land Group since October 2023.  Prior to this role, Mr Draffen held various executive roles at Mirvac Group Ltd including Chief Investment Officer for 9 years and CEO Development, where he was responsible for portfolio construction, strategy, capital allocation and investment and operational decisions across Mirvac's $15 billion real estate investment and development activities.