2025 COAERS Board of Trustees Committee Assignments 

Audit & Risk Committee

The purpose of the Audit & Risk Committee is to assist the Board of Trustees in fulfilling its fiduciary responsibility for the financial reporting process, engagement with external audit firms, organizational risk management, organization's processes for monitoring compliance with laws and regulations, and audit & risk committee management and reporting responsibilities.

Yuejiao Liu, Committee Chair
Michael Granof, Committee Vice-Chair
Ben Ellinor
Dick Lavine
Anthony B. Ross, Sr.

Benefits & Services Committee

The purpose of the Benefits and Services Committee is to review, research, and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees concerning Plan provision interpretation and amendments, review and recommend action on the System’s annual actuarial valuation report, review the actuarial experience of the System, and review and recommend the System’s actuarial assumptions and methodologies. The Committee also reviews and makes recommendations for Plan revisions, reviews issues in preparation for upcoming legislation, and considers and recommends forfeiture or alternative payments of death benefit disbursements.

Michael Benson, Committee Chair
Diana Thomas, Committee Vice-Chair
Ben Ellinor
Krista Laine
Chris Noak

Investment Committee

The purpose of the Investment Committee is to assist the Board of Trustees in fulfilling its fiduciary responsibility for investing the assets of the System. The Committee is responsible for formulating the overall investment policies of the System and establishing investment guidelines in furtherance of those policies, subject to approval by the Board of Trustees. The Committee monitors the management of the portfolio to determine whether performance objectives are being met over time and makes recommendations for changes to the Board of Trustees.

Ed Van Eenoo, Committee Chair
Dick Lavine, Committee Vice-Chair
Michael Granof
Anthony B. Ross, Sr.
Diana Thomas

Governance and HR Committee

The purpose of the Governance and HR Committee is to support the Board through the implementation of Board governance policies that promote good, fair, and open decision-making and sound human resource practices that enhance the attraction, retention, and fair treatment of skilled professionals.

Chris Noak, Committee Chair
Kelly Crook, Committee Vice-Chair
Diana Thomas

Legislative Committee

The purpose of the Legislative Committee is to support the Board through the ongoing monitoring of Federal, State, and Local legislative, regulatory, and policy issues that impact COAERS and its members. The Committee is committed to actively and prudently addressing legislative issues and focusing the Board on the necessary information and actions required to protect public pensions and members throughout the City of Austin.

Kelly Crook, Committee Chair
Yuejiao Liu
Dick Lavine

Policy Committee

The purpose of the Policy Committee is to consider and recommend Board adoption of policies regarding Board governance; Committee roles and authority; procedures; personnel; and other general policy issues.

Diana Thomas, Chair
Dick Lavine, Vice-Chair
Michael Benson
Kelly Crook
Yuejiao Liu
Chris Noak
Ed Van Eenoo

Board of Trustee Mailing Address

4700 Mueller Blvd, Suite 100
Austin, TX 78723