Who we are

The Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA) is an executive agency in the Attorney-General’s portfolio.

We manage the application of bankruptcy laws and the personal property securities register within Australia. Our work supports improved community and financial outcomes for consumers and business.

Our roles

AFSA fulfils the following statutory roles created by the Bankruptcy Act:

Inspector-General in Bankruptcy

AFSA’s Chief Executive is also appointed as the Inspector-General in Bankruptcy. The Inspector-General is responsible for the general administration of the Bankruptcy Act and has powers to regulate bankruptcy trustees and debt agreement administrators, review decisions of trustees and investigate allegations of offences under the Bankruptcy Act.

Official Receiver

On behalf of the Official Receiver, AFSA operates a public bankruptcy registry service with compliance and coercive powers to assist bankruptcy trustees to discharge their responsibilities.

Official Trustee in Bankruptcy

The Official Trustee in Bankruptcy, a body corporate created under the Bankruptcy Act, administers bankruptcies and other personal insolvency arrangements when a private trustee or other administrator is not appointed. AFSA provides personnel and resources to ensure that the Official Trustee can fulfil its responsibilities. The Official Trustee also has responsibilities under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and the Customs Act 1901 to control and deal with property under court orders made under those statutes.

The Personal Property Securities Act (PPS Act) creates the role of:

Registrar of Personal Property Securities

The Registrar maintains the PPSR in compliance with the PPS Act and associated regulations. This includes responsibility for ensuring the register is operational and accessible. The Registrar has various powers in relation to the PPSR, such as refusing access to the PPSR or suspending its operation, in certain circumstances; removing or reinstating data on the PPSR; and conducting investigations into matters to perform their functions.

We also take a role in:

Proceeds of crime and special administrations
Regulation and enforcement within the personal insolvency industry.

Statutory appointments

We publish the details of AFSA’s statutory appointments made outside the Public Service Act 1999 as per the requirements for the Information Publication Scheme (IPS) under the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

Position	Officeholder	Term	Appointed by	Act and section under which appointment made
Inspector-General	Timothy Beresford	From 2 May 2022 for 5 years	Attorney-General	Section 16 Bankruptcy Act 1966
Official Receiver	Sharyn Faulkner	From 8 November 2021 - no fixed term	Assistant Minister to the Attorney-General	Section 16 Bankruptcy Act 1966
Acting Official Receiver	Gemma Denton	From 7 February until 31 December 2022	Inspector-General	Subsection 17(2) Bankruptcy Act 1966
Registrar of Personal Property Securities	Timothy Beresford	From 2 May 2022 for 5 years	Attorney-General	Section 194 Personal Property Securities Act 2009

Our structure

The Australian Financial Security Authority is an executive agency in the Attorney-General’s portfolio.

The Australian Financial Security Authority organisational chart

Our executive

Chief Executive, Inspector-General in Bankruptcy and Registrar of Personal Property Securities

Tim Beresford joined AFSA in May 2022. He held the position of Deputy Chief Executive of Global Client Services at Austrade since 2018.

Tim was also employed at Austrade between 2011 and 2016 where he held Deputy Secretary positions in the areas of Tourism, Investment Education and Programs, and Australian Operations. Prior to re-joining Austrade in 2018, Tim was Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Vice Chancellor of Macquarie University. He served in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in 2010 and held senior roles with Westpac between 2003 and 2008.

He holds a Bachelor of Economics, Bachelor of Laws, a Masters of Philosophy (International Relations) and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

General Manager Regulatory Operations Group

Toni Pirani joined AFSA in 2023 as General Manager Regulatory Operations Group.

Prior to joining AFSA, Toni worked for the Attorney General’s Department where she led the Legal Services Policy Division. Toni established and was Chief Executive Officer of the Office of the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry (“Hayne Royal Commission”). In this role she provided high level support and advice to Commissioner Hayne. She also established and led the offices supporting the Disability Royal Commission and the Interim National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention. She has extensive experience in providing expert policy advice, and stakeholder engagement.

Toni holds a Bachelor of Laws and Graduate Diploma Legal Practice.

National Manager Strategy and Planning

Amanda Rice joined AFSA in 2011 as a Team Leader of the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) Team.

She worked with teams from AFSA and the Attorney-General’s Department to develop and implement the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) System. She established AFSA’s enterprise capability office and project governance framework, and most recently, oversaw the digitisation of AFSA’s services as Director Digital Transformation.

Before joining AFSA, Amanda held various positions at Telstra and ANZ Bank.

Amanda holds an MBA from the University of South Australia and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Chief Operating Officer and National Manager Corporate Services

Annie Ryan joined AFSA in 2022 as the Chief Operating Officer.

Prior to working at AFSA, Annie worked for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade where she held several roles in the Finance Division at DFAT, including Assistant Secretary of the Budget and Policy Branch, and the Financial Services and Transformation Branch.

Annie has extensive senior leadership experience across federal government agencies and more than 15 years’ experience in finance, governance and risk, and is a recognised leader of transformational and digital change.

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting), a Master of Taxation and a Master of Technology. Annie is also currently studying to attain a Master of Financial Technology.

Chief Information Officer and Program Director Service Modernisation

Greg Cassis joined AFSA in 2022 as Chief Information Officer and Program Director Service Modernisation.

Prior to joining AFSA Greg was the Program Director, Transformation at St Vincent’s Health Australia, where he was responsible for driving business and technology transformation. Greg has a strong history of leading operational teams and delivery of transformation programs in organisations including Wesfarmers, where he was the General Manager of Technology, and in leadership roles at Suncorp and Westpac.

Greg has a Master of Business Administration.

National Manager Government Business

Elyse Herrald-Woods joined AFSA in 2022.

Prior to joining AFSA, Elyse worked for the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water where she led on the Water Market Reform Implementation.

Elyse has also held senior executive roles in the National Recovery and Resilience Agency, and Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.

Elyse holds a Bachelor of Business (International Business), Bachelor of Development Studies (Economic Development and Globalisation), and a Master in Government and Commercial Law.

National Manager Service Delivery

Marcel Savary joined AFSA in 2023 as the National Manager of Service Delivery.

Prior to joining AFSA, Marcel was the Director of Regulatory Transformation on the e.Regulation Complaints, Compliance and Enforcement Program at NSW Department of Customer Service. Marcel has worked across a range of regulatory portfolios including: liquor, gaming and casinos; consumer affairs; and work health and safety. He has also held senior policy roles in the Attorney General’s Department and NSW Department of Justice.

Marcel brings extensive experience in regulatory policy and operations, including process improvement and customer digitisation.

National Manager Enforcement and Practitioner Surveillance

Heath Baker joined AFSA in 2023 as the National Manager Enforcement and Practitioner Surveillance.

Prior to joining AFSA, Heath was the Director of Consumer Data Right Compliance at the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. He has led an industry association and was Austrade’s State Director for NSW and the ACT. He has experience in regulation, stakeholder engagement, policy and Commonwealth-State relations.

He holds a Bachelor of Economics, Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment, and Master of International Studies