The Board is a body corporate of seven members who are appointed by the Minister including:
- an independent Chair;
- three Board Members representing the interests of workers; and
- three Board Members representing the interests of employers
The members of the Board are appointed on a staggered three-year cycle.
The current Board Members are:
CHAIR OF THE BOARD
Susan Barrera
Appointed to the Board as Chair in September 2018. Susan worked for over 30 years in senior positions in the State Government including Executive Director Labour Relations and Director General Department of Communities. She is a consultant for The Nexus Network specialising in organisational change management.
REPRESENTING WORKERS
Steve McCartney
Appointed to the Board in May 2009 to September 2016. Reappointed to the Board in September 2018. Steve is the State Secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union since 2009. Steve previously held positions of State President and has worked for the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union since 2001.
Kari Pnacek
Appointed to the Board in February 2024. Kari is the Assistant Secretary of Unions WA. She has spent more than two decades as a passionate advocate for workers’ rights in the labour movement both in the United States and Australia. Prior to UnionsWA, she spent eight years with the Transport Workers Union (TWU).
Steve Catania
Appointed to the Board in October 2024. Steve is a practicing solicitor and is currently Special Counsel at Eureka Lawyers. Steve has extensive experience in a wide range of practice areas including commercial law, corporate litigation, corporate restructuring, compliance and governance, industrial law, employment law, insurance law and government relations/policy. Steve is a passionate advocate who makes it a key priority to ensure the rights and dignity of workers in their workplace are protected.
REPRESENTING EMPLOYERS
Jo Alilovic
Appointed to the Board in September 2018. Jo is Director and founder of 3D HR Legal. Jo is an HR lawyer and did her training in the largest independent law firm in Perth.
Kate Schick
Appointed to the Board in September 2018. Kate is Manager, Construction Services at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA. Kate has had extensive experience in the major engineering, construction and maintenance industries having spent time working for both employer groups and contractors since 1996.
Paula West
Appointed to the Board in October 2024. Paula is the Dale Alcock Homes Operations Manager and Design Manager WA for the ABN Group. Paula has worked in the building and construction industry for over 38 years with extensive experience in managing businesses in the residential sector. Paula is on the Board of Master Builders Association (MBA) Western Australia and is Vice Chair of the MBA Housing Council. Paula is also on the MBA National Jobs and Skills Committee and is the Women Building Australia Ambassador for WA.
