Board members

Mark joined Bernie Lewis in 1998 as a Mortgage Adviser after a long career as a Pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force. After spending several years assisting clients achieve their home ownership dreams, Mark moved into management roles within the Company. In late 2003 he was appointed Managing Director. After the appointment of Stefan Lipkiewicz as CEO in 2009, Mark became Executive Chairman of Bernie Lewis.

Mark has served on several boards including the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia from 2003 to 2007, where he was also National President from 2005 to 2007, Chairman of the Adelaide 36'ers NBL Basketball team as well as the board of the Hudson Maher Foundation. In 2007, Mark was a finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of The Year Awards and in 2005 he led the Company when it was awarded the prestigious Australian Mortgage Broker of the Year.

Stefan graduated from Adelaide University with a Bachelor of Economics degree in 1986. After 2 years as an auditor he joined MLC as Investment Product Manager for SA/NT.

Stefan held a number of senior positions within MLC and then Prudential and then in 1998 joined the Commonwealth Bank as a Senior Executive managing business banking, home loans, branches and financial advisers in Adelaide.

Stefan completed an MBA in 1999 and in 2000 joined Australian Central, one of Australia’s largest Credit Unions. As General Manager he had responsibility for all advice and sales across some 400 staff, including, branches, call centre, home loans and wealth advice teams.

In 2008, he joined Bernie Lewis to develop and execute the groups integrated advice model and is the CEO and one of our Directors.

Stefan holds other board positions including Chairman and co-founder (1988) of Premium Wines Direct as well as Euride (2007) a company that imports cycling products into Australia.

After completing a Diploma in Administration and a year abroad, Vanessa commenced working at Bernie Lewis in July 1997 as a receptionist.

Vanessa then completed a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration and following this was appointed the Administration Manager. In 2003, she became a Director of Bernie Lewis and continues to work hard to grow the amazing legacy which her Dad and Mum (Bernie and Christine) started more than 20 years ago.

Currently, Vanessa is a full-time mum to her two precious children, Jacob, 4, and Chelsea, 2

Scott joined the financial services industry in 1987 with Westpac. Then in 1989 set up his own business advising clients in the areas of risk management, cash flow, debt management and retirement planning. From small beginnings Scott grew his business, KFG Wealth Management to being one of the largest MLC advisory businesses in Adelaide providing advice to individuals through to small businesses.

In November 2007 Scott joined Bernie Lewis after merging his business and now sits as a Director and share holder of Bernie Lewis Wealth Management whilst managing the Private Client Services Division of Bernie Lewis.

Scott holds other Board positions including Director and Treasurer of a large not for profit organisation which has offices in Adelaide, Melbourne and Bristol in the UK. Scott is married with two children and has a passion for seeing his clients and the Bernie Lewis staff, reach their full potential in all that they do.

Max began his career in the Financial Services industry more than 50 years ago, in an advisory practice which provided financial advice to high net worth clients.

Max has a wealth of experience in Financial Services businesses and, today, he is the Executive Chairman of Maximum Wealth Advisers.

Throughout his career Max has held many board positions, including the Board of National Insurance Brokers Association of Australia, the Salvation Army Business Development Board and the Adelaide Convention Centre, during which time the Board convinced the SA Government to increase the Centre size to 11,000 sqm at a cost of $91 million.

Max was appointed a Director of Bernie Lewis in 2007.

Graham graduated from the University of Adelaide with a law degree and an economics degree in 1971.He commenced legal practice with the legal firm Kelly & Co in 1972 and was a partner of the firm from 1972 to 1997. During this time Graham was head of the firm’s banking and finance division. Graham was Practice Chairman of Kelly &Co between 1988 and 1997.

In June 1997, Graham retired from legal practice to pursue private business interests. In partnership, Graham has grown Eureka Group, a business which operates and owns 20 hotels in Queensland and South Australia, as well as Living Choice Ltd, the largest privately owned retirement village business in Australia.

Graham is also a supporter and director of Youth Opportunities Inc which assists in the personal development of youth in South Australia.