New community-owned bank CEO has local ties

Tanya Schiller, deputy CEO at BDCU Alliance Bank, will take over as CEO of the community-owned bank on 1 January. She takes over from Jan Edwards, who has been with the bank for nearly 25 years.

Schiller has been with BDCU in a variety of capacities for 11 years, the last two as deputy CEO. She joined BDCU in 2008 from KPMG as a corporate services manager.

Edwards said it was the logical time to step aside "for the next generation of leaders within the organisation.

"Tanya was identified some time ago as a potential CEO of BDCU and has continued to grow as a leader. She is a highly capable and intelligent individual who is extremely passionate about BDCU as a commercial and social enterprise. Tanya is also a local, who was raised in the Southern Highlands and has strong family connections to the Tablelands, so she understands the local economy and has strong community connections," she said.

Schiller had praise for her predecessor: "The culture of growth and development that Jan nurtured during her tenure has allowed us to implement what should be a seamless leadership transition.

"Jan successfully led the organisation through an unprecedented amount of change and laid the groundwork for a secure future, serving the best interests of BDCU members and the communities in which we operate.

"I look forward to overseeing the long-term success of BDCU as an organisation steeped in history and community connectedness," Schiller said.