In the latest of a series of podcasts released by the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, the Hales family discuss the Universal Business Team (UBT). When asked by Lloyd Grimshaw whether the Hales family owned UBT, Dean Hales laughed and replied "No". At Brethren Exposed we were rather surprised by the response because in a previous investigation we found that members of the Hales family owned UBT from 2009 until May this year, even more remarkably it was Dean Hales himself, who owned UBT from 2009 until 2024! The Hales don't just control UBT though, they have substantial connections to all the major PBCC organisations in Australia.
Our investigation found that under the leadership of Bruce Hales, ten organisations linked closely to the PBCC have been registered since the start of 2009 and the level of connection between them is quite remarkable.
Over the last couple of decades there has been a recurring theme of denial from the PBCC of 'church' involvement in any controversy, often with addition of we can't speak for the actions of our individual members. It is therefore interesting that our findings suggest that the Church, Business and Charity consistently overlap and with the constant theme of directors, trustees and shareholders having direct connections to the Hales family.
Over the last couple of decades there has been a recurring theme of denial from the PBCC of 'church' involvement in any controversy, often with addition of we can't speak for the actions of our individual members. It is therefore interesting that our findings suggest that the Church, Business and Charity consistently overlap and with the constant theme of directors, trustees and shareholders having direct connections to the Hales family.
We looked at the following organisations;
Universal Business Team Pty Ltd (UBT)
Registered in January 2009, with Dean Hales, John Anderson and John Gadsden, named as the directors and each holding an equal share in the Limited company.
Ownership
Dean Hales, Anderson and Gadsden were the owners of UBT at the time of the ATO raid, they transferred the shares in June 2024, one share was transferred to New Zealand based Caleb Hall, the CEO of UBT, and two shares were transferred to Cameron Hales, cousin of Dean Hales and nephew of PBCC leader Bruce Hales. The two shares held by Cameron Hales were then transferred to Gavin Slack in May 2025.
Directors
Since February 2012 there have been a number of Australian based directors both appointed and resigned, these are Gavin Slack, Stephen Joyce, Jerome Joyce, Stephen Henderson, Lloyd Chirnside, Graeme Thomas, Peter Woolston, Warwick Joyce, Peter McCorkell, Philip McNaughton and Cameron Hales. There have also been three from New Zealand, Caleb Hall, Garth Davis and Greg Mason. Currently the board of directors consists of Gavin Slack, Lloyd Chirnside, Garth Davis and Greg Mason.
In total, since it was registered in 2009, there has been fourteen Australian based directors of UBT. Out of these we found that there were only two, who were not members or related to the Hales, or in a business partnership or working for the Hales. The two current Australian based directors both have business connections to the Hales family. In summary over 85% of the Australian based directors of UBT have been connected closely to the Hales family.
Registered in January 2009, with Dean Hales, John Anderson and John Gadsden, named as the directors and each holding an equal share in the Limited company.
Ownership
Dean Hales, Anderson and Gadsden were the owners of UBT at the time of the ATO raid, they transferred the shares in June 2024, one share was transferred to New Zealand based Caleb Hall, the CEO of UBT, and two shares were transferred to Cameron Hales, cousin of Dean Hales and nephew of PBCC leader Bruce Hales. The two shares held by Cameron Hales were then transferred to Gavin Slack in May 2025.
Directors
Since February 2012 there have been a number of Australian based directors both appointed and resigned, these are Gavin Slack, Stephen Joyce, Jerome Joyce, Stephen Henderson, Lloyd Chirnside, Graeme Thomas, Peter Woolston, Warwick Joyce, Peter McCorkell, Philip McNaughton and Cameron Hales. There have also been three from New Zealand, Caleb Hall, Garth Davis and Greg Mason. Currently the board of directors consists of Gavin Slack, Lloyd Chirnside, Garth Davis and Greg Mason.
In total, since it was registered in 2009, there has been fourteen Australian based directors of UBT. Out of these we found that there were only two, who were not members or related to the Hales, or in a business partnership or working for the Hales. The two current Australian based directors both have business connections to the Hales family. In summary over 85% of the Australian based directors of UBT have been connected closely to the Hales family.
Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (PBCC)
Registered in May 2012, it is a charity which means there are no shareholders, only trustees.
Trustees
The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits commission (ACNC), lists 14 trustees of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church and we are also aware of a resignation in 2024. The Trustees are Allan Wallis, Arthur Wallis, Lloyd Chirnside, Graeme Thomas, John Anderson, Lance Nipper, Mark Mackenzie, Lloyd Grimshaw, Peter Woolston, Philip McNaughton, Richard Garrett, Stephen Hales, Stephen Kirkpatrick and Warwick Joyce. In June 2024 Lester Martin resigned as a trustee.
It is of note the crossover with the Universal Business Team (UBT), with 40% of the PBCC trustees previously had positions as directors of UBT. Chirnside, Thomas, Anderson, Woolston, McNaughton and Warwick Joyce having been involved in both organisations.
Our investigation found that 80% of the PBCC trustees were connected to the Hales family, via being a family member, related to the Hales family or working with or within a Hales owned business.
Registered in May 2012, it is a charity which means there are no shareholders, only trustees.
Trustees
The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits commission (ACNC), lists 14 trustees of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church and we are also aware of a resignation in 2024. The Trustees are Allan Wallis, Arthur Wallis, Lloyd Chirnside, Graeme Thomas, John Anderson, Lance Nipper, Mark Mackenzie, Lloyd Grimshaw, Peter Woolston, Philip McNaughton, Richard Garrett, Stephen Hales, Stephen Kirkpatrick and Warwick Joyce. In June 2024 Lester Martin resigned as a trustee.
It is of note the crossover with the Universal Business Team (UBT), with 40% of the PBCC trustees previously had positions as directors of UBT. Chirnside, Thomas, Anderson, Woolston, McNaughton and Warwick Joyce having been involved in both organisations.
Our investigation found that 80% of the PBCC trustees were connected to the Hales family, via being a family member, related to the Hales family or working with or within a Hales owned business.
GAP Global Pty Ltd
Registered in November 2016, the Global Advisory Panel (GAP) is a constitution rather than limited by shares, which means there are no shareholders and only directors.
Directors
The Australian named directors when registered were Dean Hales, Cameron Hales, Philip McNaughton, Lloyd Chirnside and Jonathan Hubbard. The directors from other countries included New Zealanders, Caleb Hall, Greg Mason and Logan Currie; North Americans, Brent Scott, Rod Diplock and Mick Strange; and from the UK John Rich and Jim Hazell.
The crossover theme continues with 80% of the Australian based directors having previous directorships with UBT, and 40% with the PBCC.
In 2024, Aussies, Dean Hales, Lloyd Chirnside and Philip McNaughton resigned and were replaced with another former UBT director, Jerome Joyce. Globally, Mason, Currie, Hazell and Strange also resigned with the addition of Glen Stacey from the UK.
Our investigation found that 100% of the Australian based current and former directors of GAP Global Pty Ltd were connected to the Hales family, via being a family member, related or via a substantial business connection. We also noted that there were substantial Hales family business connections for the UK and North American directors.
Registered in November 2016, the Global Advisory Panel (GAP) is a constitution rather than limited by shares, which means there are no shareholders and only directors.
Directors
The Australian named directors when registered were Dean Hales, Cameron Hales, Philip McNaughton, Lloyd Chirnside and Jonathan Hubbard. The directors from other countries included New Zealanders, Caleb Hall, Greg Mason and Logan Currie; North Americans, Brent Scott, Rod Diplock and Mick Strange; and from the UK John Rich and Jim Hazell.
The crossover theme continues with 80% of the Australian based directors having previous directorships with UBT, and 40% with the PBCC.
In 2024, Aussies, Dean Hales, Lloyd Chirnside and Philip McNaughton resigned and were replaced with another former UBT director, Jerome Joyce. Globally, Mason, Currie, Hazell and Strange also resigned with the addition of Glen Stacey from the UK.
Our investigation found that 100% of the Australian based current and former directors of GAP Global Pty Ltd were connected to the Hales family, via being a family member, related or via a substantial business connection. We also noted that there were substantial Hales family business connections for the UK and North American directors.
UBT Accountants Pty Ltd (UBTA)
Registered as UBT Accountants Pty Ltd in February 2011, having previously operated in the names Noa Tax and One Tax Accounting. The business stop trading in 2024 but is still registered under company number 117 200 594.
Ownership
UBTA has two types of shares. Ordinary shares, which are all owned by UBT Marketing Pty Ltd and six UH shares owned by Lester Martin, Philip McNaughton, Stephen Henderson, Marcus Plaisted, Matthew Cowell and Marcus John. Kevin Dunlop was also a previous shareholder.
Directors
There have been 17 directors of UBTA of which 15 are based in Australia. The former Aussie directors are Dean Hales, Charles Hales, Cameron Hales, Lester Martin, John Anderson, Lloyd Chirnside, John Gadsden, Gavin Slack, Jerome Joyce, Kevin Dunlop, Richard Grosse and Mark Tchappat. The current Aussie directors are Philip McNaughton, Stephen Henderson and Marcus John, along with New Zealand based Caleb Hall and Logan Currie.
Can you see a pattern emerging? Two out of three Aussie based directors have had involvement as a director for UBT or trustee of the PBCC, and it goes above 70% if you include the New Zealand based directors. Five out of the Six Aussie based directors of GAP Global have been directors of UBTA.
We found that over 70% of the UBTA directors were connected to the Hales family.
Registered as UBT Accountants Pty Ltd in February 2011, having previously operated in the names Noa Tax and One Tax Accounting. The business stop trading in 2024 but is still registered under company number 117 200 594.
Ownership
UBTA has two types of shares. Ordinary shares, which are all owned by UBT Marketing Pty Ltd and six UH shares owned by Lester Martin, Philip McNaughton, Stephen Henderson, Marcus Plaisted, Matthew Cowell and Marcus John. Kevin Dunlop was also a previous shareholder.
Directors
There have been 17 directors of UBTA of which 15 are based in Australia. The former Aussie directors are Dean Hales, Charles Hales, Cameron Hales, Lester Martin, John Anderson, Lloyd Chirnside, John Gadsden, Gavin Slack, Jerome Joyce, Kevin Dunlop, Richard Grosse and Mark Tchappat. The current Aussie directors are Philip McNaughton, Stephen Henderson and Marcus John, along with New Zealand based Caleb Hall and Logan Currie.
Can you see a pattern emerging? Two out of three Aussie based directors have had involvement as a director for UBT or trustee of the PBCC, and it goes above 70% if you include the New Zealand based directors. Five out of the Six Aussie based directors of GAP Global have been directors of UBTA.
We found that over 70% of the UBTA directors were connected to the Hales family.
UBT Marketing Pty Ltd
Registered in January 2013, UBT Marketing Pty Ltd has just one share, this was held by Philip McNaughton until April 2022, when it was transferred to Gavin Slack.
Directors
There have been three former directors based in Australia, Cameron Hales, Philip McNaughton and Jerome Joyce. There are five current directors, two in Australia, Gavin Slack and Lloyd Chirnside, along with New Zealand based Caleb Hall, Garth Davis and Greg Mason.
All the Aussie based directors have been involved in UBT & UBTA. Four out of five have been directors of GAP Global and two are current trustees of the PBCC. It will be of no surprise that we found substantial connections to the Hales families for all of them.
Registered in January 2013, UBT Marketing Pty Ltd has just one share, this was held by Philip McNaughton until April 2022, when it was transferred to Gavin Slack.
Directors
There have been three former directors based in Australia, Cameron Hales, Philip McNaughton and Jerome Joyce. There are five current directors, two in Australia, Gavin Slack and Lloyd Chirnside, along with New Zealand based Caleb Hall, Garth Davis and Greg Mason.
All the Aussie based directors have been involved in UBT & UBTA. Four out of five have been directors of GAP Global and two are current trustees of the PBCC. It will be of no surprise that we found substantial connections to the Hales families for all of them.
Universal Support Team Pty Ltd
Registered in August 2013, Universal Support Team changed its name to PBCC Services before changing back to Universal Support Team in 2025.
Ownership
There are 12 shares and these are owned by the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, previously until July 2018 they were owned by Kevin Dunlop.
Directors
Universal Support Team has four current directors, Lance Nipper, Kevin Dunlop, Gregory Slack and Lloyd Grimshaw. Philip McNaughton is a former director, resigning in August 2021, after a eight year stint has a director. Only Gregory Slack has not been involved in any of the UBT, PBCC, GAP Global organisations, though it may be worth mentioning that he is the brother of previously mentioned Gavin Slack.
We found that 80% of the directors had connections to the Hales family, either through family or business.
Registered in August 2013, Universal Support Team changed its name to PBCC Services before changing back to Universal Support Team in 2025.
Ownership
There are 12 shares and these are owned by the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, previously until July 2018 they were owned by Kevin Dunlop.
Directors
Universal Support Team has four current directors, Lance Nipper, Kevin Dunlop, Gregory Slack and Lloyd Grimshaw. Philip McNaughton is a former director, resigning in August 2021, after a eight year stint has a director. Only Gregory Slack has not been involved in any of the UBT, PBCC, GAP Global organisations, though it may be worth mentioning that he is the brother of previously mentioned Gavin Slack.
We found that 80% of the directors had connections to the Hales family, either through family or business.
The National Assistance Fund
Registered in December 2003, this is the oldest organisation in the ten we investigated. It is a registered charity and therefore only has Trustees
Trustees
There are just three trustees of the National Assistance Fund, they all have connections to other organisations. John Anderson was a director/shareholder of UBT & UBTA, along with being a current trustee of the PBCC. Warwick Joyce is a former director of UBT and a current trustee of the PBCC. Richard Grosse is a former director of UBTA.
All three have strong connections the Hales family, either through family or business.
Registered in December 2003, this is the oldest organisation in the ten we investigated. It is a registered charity and therefore only has Trustees
Trustees
There are just three trustees of the National Assistance Fund, they all have connections to other organisations. John Anderson was a director/shareholder of UBT & UBTA, along with being a current trustee of the PBCC. Warwick Joyce is a former director of UBT and a current trustee of the PBCC. Richard Grosse is a former director of UBTA.
All three have strong connections the Hales family, either through family or business.
The Benevolent Relief Fund
Registered in December 2012, the Benevolent Relief Fund is a charity, with four trustees and no shareholders.
Trustees
All four trustees, Stephen Henderson, Lance Nipper, Kevin Dunlop and Richard Grosse feature in other brethren organisations. Henderson with UBT & UBTA, Nipper with the PBCC and Universal Support Team, Dunlop with UBTA and Universal Support Team, and finally Grosse with UBTA and the National Assistance Fund.
We found three of the four have connections to the Hales family, through family or business.
Registered in December 2012, the Benevolent Relief Fund is a charity, with four trustees and no shareholders.
Trustees
All four trustees, Stephen Henderson, Lance Nipper, Kevin Dunlop and Richard Grosse feature in other brethren organisations. Henderson with UBT & UBTA, Nipper with the PBCC and Universal Support Team, Dunlop with UBTA and Universal Support Team, and finally Grosse with UBTA and the National Assistance Fund.
We found three of the four have connections to the Hales family, through family or business.
Rapid Relief Team
Another charity, established in September 2013.
Directors
The Rapid Relief Team has seven directors, Anthony Arkcoll, John Proctor, Mark Tchappat, Richard Grosse, Rodney Martin, Ronald Arkcoll and Scott Jensen. Only two of the directors feature in any of the other organisations we investigated. Mark Tchappat is a former director of UBTA, and Richard Grosse is a former director of UBTA and also a trustee of the National Assistance Fund and the Benevolent Relief Fund.
In total we found substantial family or business connections to the Hales family for five of the seven directors.
Another charity, established in September 2013.
Directors
The Rapid Relief Team has seven directors, Anthony Arkcoll, John Proctor, Mark Tchappat, Richard Grosse, Rodney Martin, Ronald Arkcoll and Scott Jensen. Only two of the directors feature in any of the other organisations we investigated. Mark Tchappat is a former director of UBTA, and Richard Grosse is a former director of UBTA and also a trustee of the National Assistance Fund and the Benevolent Relief Fund.
In total we found substantial family or business connections to the Hales family for five of the seven directors.
OneSchool Global Australia (OSG)
Registered in July 2016, this is the central education charity for the brethren in Australia. There are also a number of state based OneSchool charities.
Directors
OSG Australia has five current directors, Benjamin Scott, Benjamin Sivewright, Gavin Grace, George Le Souef and Jeffrey Weeks. None of the five feature as directors or trustees of the other organisations featured.
Based on a limited investigation we found connections to the Hales family for 40%, or 2 out of the five directors.
Registered in July 2016, this is the central education charity for the brethren in Australia. There are also a number of state based OneSchool charities.
Directors
OSG Australia has five current directors, Benjamin Scott, Benjamin Sivewright, Gavin Grace, George Le Souef and Jeffrey Weeks. None of the five feature as directors or trustees of the other organisations featured.
Based on a limited investigation we found connections to the Hales family for 40%, or 2 out of the five directors.
Background Data
Our Findings
At Brethren Exposed we find it odd that with brethren related investigations by the Australian Tax Office (ATO) and the Australian Election Commission (AEC) currently being undertaken, to deny via a podcast any connection between the Hales and UBT ownership.
We uncovered involvement by 42 Australian based members of the brethren across the ten organisations we reviewed. We found strong connections to the Hales family and their businesses for over 70% of these members.
Our investigation into the main ten brethren related charities and businesses suggests multiple connections and crossovers. Our findings would suggest that the boundaries are somewhat fuzzy across business and charity, and between the PBCC, UBT and the Hales family. Thus we believe that constant denial of PBCC involvement in pretty any much activity, when it appears intrinsically linked to UBT and the Hales family is somewhat illogical.
It would appear that the Hales and the PBCC spokesman, describe the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church as if it is the collective noun for 55,000 members, almost as they don't see it as an organisation, more of a label or a brand. This constant denial of any involvement or organisation by the church, leads us to question if more journalists, politicians and regulatory authorities, should be asking if there was UBT involvement or asking where is the cut-off point between the PBCC, UBT and the Hales family. What is obvious from the podcasts being aired by the PBCC is that they likely won't be providing any answers, just good old 'yarns' and semantics.
At Brethren Exposed we find it odd that with brethren related investigations by the Australian Tax Office (ATO) and the Australian Election Commission (AEC) currently being undertaken, to deny via a podcast any connection between the Hales and UBT ownership.
We uncovered involvement by 42 Australian based members of the brethren across the ten organisations we reviewed. We found strong connections to the Hales family and their businesses for over 70% of these members.
Our investigation into the main ten brethren related charities and businesses suggests multiple connections and crossovers. Our findings would suggest that the boundaries are somewhat fuzzy across business and charity, and between the PBCC, UBT and the Hales family. Thus we believe that constant denial of PBCC involvement in pretty any much activity, when it appears intrinsically linked to UBT and the Hales family is somewhat illogical.
It would appear that the Hales and the PBCC spokesman, describe the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church as if it is the collective noun for 55,000 members, almost as they don't see it as an organisation, more of a label or a brand. This constant denial of any involvement or organisation by the church, leads us to question if more journalists, politicians and regulatory authorities, should be asking if there was UBT involvement or asking where is the cut-off point between the PBCC, UBT and the Hales family. What is obvious from the podcasts being aired by the PBCC is that they likely won't be providing any answers, just good old 'yarns' and semantics.