Our Leadership
FSCL is governed by a board of directors. The Board’s main responsibility is to ensure our Financial Ombudsman and FSCL’s independence. The Board also monitors the operations, approves the budget, and oversees FSCL’s efficiency and effectiveness.
Susan Taylor
Financial Ombudsman and Chief Executive Officer
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Our Financial Ombudsman and Chief Executive Officer is responsible for the scheme and for leading the investigative process. The Financial Ombudsman and Chief Executive Officer is the decision maker on complaints that require a final recommendation.
Susan Taylor was appointed as the CEO in October 2010. Susan, a lawyer, is the former Deputy Banking Ombudsman and has over 20 years’ experience in financial sector dispute resolution.
Susan is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Ombudsman Association (ANZOA). Established in 2003, ANZOA is a professional association and the peak body for Ombudsmen in Australia and New Zealand. ANZOA’s members are individual Ombudsmen working in not-for-profit industry-based, parliamentary and other statutory offices, which meet accepted high standards of independence, impartiality and effectiveness, and which observe the Benchmarks for Industry-Based Customer Dispute Resolution (CDR Benchmarks). See: www.anzoa.com.au
Prior to joining the Banking Ombudsman scheme, Susan worked both in a private law practice and as a barrister sole specialising in civil, commercial and family law and litigation.
Susan is a trustee of the Dame Malvina Major Foundation Board of Trustees, a public member of the Advertising Standards Complaints Appeal Board and a FINSIA fellow.
In 2017 Susan received a Women in Law Corporate Lawyer of the year award from the Lawyer Monthly publication. The award recognises achievement and success amongst women in the legal profession.
Tuhi Leef
Board Director
Consumer Representative
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Tuhi hails from the north (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua) and is currently the General Manager for Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou.
Over the last few years Tuhi has used his strong financial services background to help several hundred Māori, Pasifika, and NZ whānau improve their financial literacy; mainly assisting families with budgeting, savings, and debt reduction plans.
Tuhi brings several years’ governance experience to our FSCL Board.
He has a Post Graduate Certificate in governance with Waikato University and is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors.
At this time Tuhi is a Trustee for The Good Registry. He is also on the National Executive for the Social Service Providers Aotearoa and holds the role of Treasurer.
Joy Marslin
Board Director
Industry Representative
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Joy has worked within the financial services sector for over 30 years in client services, product, leadership, and governance positions. Joy holds a number of governance roles including independent director of Strategi Group, and the Nelson Building Society, impact consultant with New Ground Capital Ltd, director of Impact Enterprise Fund, and independent member of Metis Investment Committee. Joy is actively involved as an executive with Auckland Foundation.
Joy’s former corporate roles included Head of ANZ Wealth and Head of Westpac Private Wealth Management.
Jane Meares
Chair of the Board
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Jane Meares is a barrister at Clifton Chambers where she is involved in a broad range of public sector and commercial advisory work, working with in-house legal teams, firms of solicitors and overseas clients. Jane is the Deputy Chair of the Electoral Commission and is a Film Commission member.
Prior to joining Clifton Chambers, Jane was the chief legal adviser at the New Zealand Treasury. She has undertaken a number of independent enquiries and reviews for government departments, provides advice on commercial matters, and assists entities in the development and interpretation of legislation.
Mary Holm ONZM
Board Director
Consumer Representative
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Mary Holm writes a personal finance Q&A column in the Weekend Herald, presents a financial segment on RNZ, and is a best-selling author and seminar presenter on personal finance. Mary was also a founding director of the Financial Markets Authority. She holds an MBA in finance from the University of Chicago. Mary has been the business editor of the Auckland Sun and Auckland Star, and a member of the Capital Markets Development Task Force and the Savings Working Group.
Mary was awarded an ONZM in June 2020 to recognise her service to financial literacy education in New Zealand.
Paul Jamieson
Board Director
Industry Representative
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Paul has worked in banking and financial markets in New Zealand, Australia, and the UK for the last 20 years. Paul started his professional career as an economist at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, before moving into financial markets in London. He has also worked at Deutsche Bank, UBS, Moody’s, and FlexiGroup (Humm) in a range of analytical and leadership roles.
Paul’s specialties are in securitisation/structured finance and treasury. Paul joined Avanti in July 2019 and was recently Acting CEO for a six-month period.
