WorkCoverSA has announced the appointment of the new executive management team that it says will 'lead the corporation into an era of more proactively regulating Scheme performance'.

 “Over the last two years we have focused on implementing fundamental changes to the WorkCover Scheme to improve South Australia’s claims management practices and return to work results,” WorkCoverSA's Chairman Phillip Bentley said.

 Rob Cordiner has been appointed as General Manager Operations. Mr Cordiner has over 30 years’ experience in workers compensation, injury prevention and rehabilitation in both private and public sectors in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia. Mr Cordiner has been an Executive Manager at Q-Comp since 2003.

 Michael Francis will start on 25 February 2013 as General Manager Scheme Improvement and Regulation and comes from Q-Comp, the workers compensation regulator in Queensland, where he has been an Executive Manager for the past 6 years.

Julia Oakley will continue in an enhanced role as General Manager Corporate Services. WorkCover will shortly finalise recruitment of a final member of the executive team with the appointment of a Corporate Counsel/Board Secretary.

“We have a well-rounded executive management team with extensive experience in workers compensation management and regulation to see the Scheme through its next phase,” Mr Bentley said.

“The Board and the new management team are committed to improving claims management practices and return to work outcomes with the aim of reducing Scheme costs for everyone,” he said.