Who we are

On this page

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

Marcel Savary

From 3 July 2023 – no fixed term

Attorney-General

Section 16 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 

Deputy Registrar of Personal Property Securities

Marcel Savary From 3 July 2023 – no fixed term Attorney-General Subsection 200(2)(b) Personal Property Securities Act 2009

Our structure

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

AFSA Executive Organisational Structure

Download AFSA Executive Organisation Structure

Our executive

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

Tim Beresford joined AFSA in May 2022. 

Tim is AFSA’s Chief Executive and holds the statutory appointments of Inspector-General in Bankruptcy and Registrar of Personal Property Securities. He is also the immediate past Chair of the Benevolent Society (TBS), Australia’s oldest non-Indigenous not for profit.

Previously, Tim has held the roles of Acting Chief Executive of the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Macquarie University and First Assistant Secretary of the Social Policy Division in Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. He has significant leadership experience in the higher education, government, not-for-profit, financial services and professional services sectors. His areas of expertise include strategy, governance, public policy, change management and organisational design. He holds a Bachelor of Economics (Honours), 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

Emma Greenwood joined AFSA in May 2023.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, Emma's role as General Manager, Regulatory Operations Group is responsible for delivering strategic regulatory outcomes across AFSA's three lines of regulation - education, compliance and enforcement. Emma leads the operational divisions of Regulatory Services and Surveillance & Enforcement, and oversees the modernisation of service delivery and regulatory practices at AFSA.

Emma has extensive senior leadership experience having worked in a range of roles including as First Assistant Secretary in the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, and the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. She has also worked as an Assistant Secretary and at the Executive Level at Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Treasury and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

Emma is highly practiced in developing and implementing strategy, as well as program design and delivery, and outreach and engagement.

She holds an Executive Masters of Public Administration through ANZSOG, as well as a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and Masters of Arts (Research) in History. Emma is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an alumni of the Cranlana Executive Colloquium.

National Manager Regulatory Services

Marcel Savary joined AFSA in 2023.

Marcel’s Division is responsible for customer facing functions of AFSA’s three pillars:

  • Personal Insolvency: Through the AFSA Service Centre, we deliver information and referrals to support all participants in the Personal Insolvency system to understand their rights and responsibilities and make it easy to make informed decisions and comply with their obligations. As the Official Trustee, our case managers administer bankruptcies, personal insolvency agreements and debt agreements where the administration of the matter is in the public interest.
  • Personal Property Securities: We ensure the Personal Property Security Register is well known, and used confidently, effectively, and appropriately.
  • Criminal Asset Management: We provide effective and efficient management and disposal of criminal assets on behalf of the Official Trustee to deliver maximum public value on funds returned to the Confiscated Asset Account.

The Division is supported by the Practice Management & Insights team which provides practice guidance, performance reporting and management assurance services.

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 Surveillance and Enforcement

Neville Matthew joined AFSA in February 2024 as National Manager, Education, Surveillance and Enforcement, based in our Brisbane office.

For the previous 10 years Neville worked at the ACCC as the General Manager, Risk Management and Policy in the Consumer Product Safety Division, where he developed the consumer product safety function to deliver world-leading, data-informed and risk-based regulatory interventions.

Since joining the APS in 2003, Neville has held multiple senior executive roles across three different portfolios, where he has specialised in regulation, the articulation and delivery of regulatory strategy, and the aligning of compliance operations to strategic objectives.

General Manager Enabling Services Group

Jennifer Dobell joined AFSA in 2024 as General Manager Enabling Services Group.

Prior to joining AFSA, Jennifer worked for the Victorian Department of Health as Executive Director Workforce Strategy and Wellbeing.

Jennifer’s executive experience spans various roles across the public and private sectors, including positions in the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet, Services Australia, the Australian Taxation Office, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, and ANZ Bank.

Jennifer is well known for her transformation and workforce strategy expertise. She won national recognition for her delivery of workforce strategy and plans for the Victorian Department of Health and was shortlisted for the 2023 Australian HR Practitioner of the Year.

Chief Operating Officer

Annie Ryan joined AFSA in 2022.

Annie is responsible for the Corporate Services division. The division serves as a vital component in supporting Regulatory Operations and the broader agency, encompassing People and Culture, Finance, Security, Facilities, Corporate Reporting, and the Enterprise Capability Office.

Within People and Culture, we manage HR-related functions to attract top talent, cultivate a positive workplace, and prioritize staff well-being. In Finance, we oversee financial strategy and operations, ensuring prudent financial management and regulatory compliance. As guardians of Security, we protect our physical assets and our people through policies and initiatives.

We also manage property assets, provide facilities management and optimize space utilization. Furthermore, we lead Project Management and Governance, aligning projects with organizational goals and supporting business to meet best practices. Together, these functions ensure efficient operations and regulatory compliance.

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.

National Manager Strategy & Government

Elyse Herrald-Woods joined AFSA in 2022.

Elyse is AFSA’s Chief Risk Officer and Head of Legal. She has responsibility for AFSA’s engagement and interactions with government partners; system reforms and strategic policy; strategic communications and digital channels; governance, risk and assurance; and the provision of in-house legal advice and services.

Elyse has previously 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. 

Chief Information Officer and Program Director, Technology Services

Greg Cassis joined AFSA in 2022.

Greg is the Chief Information Officer and Program Director Service Modernisation.

Technology Services is responsible for delivering and maintaining technology solutions and services for our staff and our external users. One of the key initiatives within Technology Services is the Service Modernisation program, which will replace and optimise AFSA’s current systems and processes through the integration of modern cloud-based systems and work practices.

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 Deputy CIO (Industrials), and in senior executive roles at Suncorp, Westpac and CBA.

Greg also has a Master of Business Administration.