Charles Littrell has been appointed to this position, and will take up duties on 18 March.

Charles has extensive experience in financial markets, having worked with Westpac Banking Corporation from 1984 to 2001. With Westpac he held a number of senior positions, including Head of Group Strategy, Head of Australian Deposits and Director, Westpac Corporate Finance. He commenced his finance career with Bank of America in the United States.

Charles has a Bachelors Degree in Economics from Yale University and a Masters Degree (with First Class Honours) in Economics and Econometrics from the University of Sydney.

The Executive General Manager of Policy, Research and Consulting Division is a member of APRAs Executive Committee, and has overall responsibility for the development of APRAs prudential supervision policies and research into the financial sector, as well as for APRAs specialist consulting teams and its statistical functions.

The position has been vacant since the sudden death last year of Brian Gray.

Helen Martin is joining APRA in the role of General Manager, Technical Advice and Support in the Diversified Institutions Division (DID).

Helen comes to APRA following a distinguished career with Towers Perrin where she has been a Principal, the firm's Senior Actuary and Actuarial Practice Leader with overall professional responsibility for the firm's actuarial standards and advice. She has around 20 years experience in superannuation consulting.

Helen has been an active industry participant through the committees of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia and the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA), including as a regular conference speaker and in consultations with Government. She is the current President of the Institute.

Helen will take up duties on 8 April.

The General Manager, Technical Advice & Support, is responsible for ensuring the frontline supervisors in DID receive well-based advice and support on technical matters requiring legal, accounting, actuarial and other specialist advice and ensuring that DIDs issues and requirements are appropriately considered in APRA-wide projects.

This position was previously occupied by Craig Thorburn, who has accepted a senior role with the World Bank in Washington.

For further information contact:

Gloria Peterson Public Affairs Manager 02 9210 3385