Fellow (FAICD)

Achieving the AICD Fellow grade demonstrates to your professional community that you have been recognised for your directorship expertise and contribution to governance in Australia.

Find out the application criteria below or apply today.

Reward your expertise in the world of governance

As a Fellow, your exemplary level of governance expertise is recognised both inside and outside of the AICD—and provides stewardship for the broader Australian director community.

Reinforce your credibility

Instantly recognised for its distinction, the FAICD post-nominal demonstrates your commitment to the highest standards of leadership, ethical conduct and meaningful contribution in the field.

BUILD THE FELLOWSHIP

Join a national community of experienced directors at exclusive Fellow-only events, including roundtables and dinners, where you can network, learn and influence.

pay it forward

Give back to the director community by advocating for the advancement of governance practices in Australia, and help build a lasting legacy for future leaders.

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Hear from one of our Fellows

Anna Guillan AM FACID01:25

“Being a member of the AICD signals to other directors and the business community that you are a professional in your field, and this is something you are very serious about.

Anna Guillan AM FAICD
Chair, Non-Executive Director and commercial leader

How to apply for your FAICD

The selection criteria takes into account an applicant’s directorship experience and contribution to the area of governance, as well as their professionalism and reputation.

Below is an outline of the information you need to include in your application form, as well as process milestones and deadlines.

Overview of process

STEP 1: check your ELIGIBILITY

Read through the mandatory, experience and contribution criteria to determine your eligibility to apply for the Fellow membership grade.

STEP 2: GATHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Provide the required information on your relevant experience as well as written recommendations from two referees.

STEP 3: APPLY ONLINE

Start your online Fellowship application and submit it by the quarterly cut-off dates supplied.

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Check your eligibility

To apply for fellowship you must meet all of the below criteria.

  1. You must have the requisite knowledge, experience, good standing, and professionalism befitting a member holding the status of Fellow.
  2. You must have held AICD membership for at least the past three consecutive years.
  3. You have met the mandatory requirement of 60 Director Professional Development (DPD) units (as shown on your online membership account dashboard).
  4. You must be either:

            a. a GAICD with a minimum of 6 years’ experience as a director or senior government official within the past 12 years; or
            b. an MAICD with a minimum of 10 years’ experience as a director or senior government official within the past 12 years.

Once you’ve satisfied all the Mandatory criteria, you can move on to the Experience criteria.

Below is an outline of the organisational profile criteria considered when assessing your director experience.

Organisation type Criteria
Private or public corporation
  • The corporation's gross revenue is $AU30 million or more
  • The value of the corporation's gross assets is $AU16.5 million or more
  • The corporation has at least 100 employees

Not-for-profit organisation
  • The organisation's gross revenue is $AU5 million or more
  • The organisation has at least 25 employees or at least 100 volunteers

Government entity
  • The entity's gross revenue is $AU30 million or more, and either
  • The entity's gross assets are worth $AU30 million or more
  • Or the entity has at least 100 employees 

You have fully met the Experience criteria if:

  • you’ve had the requisite amount of director experience in the past 12 years (i.e. at least 6 years for GAICDs and at least 10 for MAICDs); and
  • ALL the organisations at which you served during that time meet ALL the organisational profile criteria listed in the table above.

    If you fully meet the criteria, your application is complete and you can submit it for approval.

You have partially met the experience criteria if:

  • you’ve had the requisite amount of director experience in the past 12 years (i.e. at least 6 years for GAICDs and at least 10 for MAICDs); and
  • ALL the organisations at which you served during that time meet at least one (but not all) its organisational profile criteria listed in the table above.


If you only partially meet the Experience criteria, you will need to supplement your experience with Contribution information to proceed with your application.

If you don’t at least partially meet the experience criteria, but would like to discuss your experience, please contact our Membership team on 1300 739 119 or email us at membership@aicd.com.au.

You only need to consider the Contribution criteria if you don’t fully meet the Experience criteria above. You will need a minimum of 20 points of Contribution criteria, which can be chosen from the following categories:

Category Activities
AICD participation (20 points for one or more)
  • Active participation in AICD committees, such as the AICD Policy Committee, Law Committee, Chairs Forum, NFP Committee or First Nations Committee.
  • Significant contributions as an AICD board member.
  • Completed at least one term on a Divisional Council or the AICD Board.
  • Actively mentored and encouraged First Nations participation or been an AICD program mentor (e.g. for the First Nations or Disability scholarship or the Chair’s Mentoring Program).
  • Delivered multiple in-depth presentations at significant AICD events like the Australian Governance Summit (AGS).

Board contribution (20 points for one or more)
  • Chaired or participated in risk, remuneration or nomination committees, especially on NFP boards.
  • Contributed across NFP, ASX and/or public sector boards by leading significant exits like trade sales, restructuring charities, and guiding applications beyond business-as-usual events.
  • Contributed across NFP, ASX and/or public sector boards by leading mergers and acquisitions, organisational restructures, ASX listings, overseas expansions, large contracts, capital raising and demergers.

Other relevant career experience (10 points for one or more)
  • Minimum 5 years’ C-Suite experience in executive roles and reporting to boards (e.g. held various leadership positions in NGOs, charities or large government entities).
  • Led start-ups and created good governance structures.
  • Published influential or impactful research in the field of governance.

Awards and milestones (10 points for one or more)
  • Received awards such as the Order of Australia, been made a Life Fellow of other organisations or been named CEO Magazine’s Executive of the Year/CEO of the Year.
  • Served significant tenures (at least 20 years) as a director and member of the AICD.
Extra-curricular (5 points)
  • Long-serving AICD member (15+ years) who has mentored other directors, demonstrating your commitment to advancing knowledge and leadership within the director community.

Faculty member (5 points for one or both)
  • Actively participated in forums or mentor programs, beyond their paid function.
  • Consistently contributed to the AICD beyond paid work (e.g. at AICD events)

Once you’ve identified your 20 points of Contribution criteria, you can provide a written response (up to 300 words) supporting this criteria. You can now prepare and submit your application.

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Check your eligibility

  • You will need to provide details of your relevant experience as outlined in the criteria section. Details include the name, size (number of employees), gross revenue and gross asset information of each relevant organisation, as well as your directorship start and end dates.
  • You will also need to provide the name and contact details of 2 referees as well as a written reference (saved as a PDF) from each referee.

Referees must:

  • have known you for at least 3 years
  • not be a family members),

Referees must be either:

  • current, retired or former AICD Fellows
  • members of the Division Council Committee
  • AICD executive management
  • Chairs of boards you have served on
  • Fellows of other professional associations.

Each written reference must contain the following information:

  • The referee’s full name, address, phone number, email address, title and company name.
  • Some context on how and for how long the referee has known you.
  • Confirmation that your referee vouches for you in terms of your professional career, ethical standing and good character.
  • The referee’s original or electronic signature.

To save time, feel free to download our reference template and pass it on to your referees.

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Apply online

Fellowship applications are reviewed once a quarter at Divisional Council meetings.

The cut-off dates for 2025 applications are:

  • Apply by Friday 14 February 2025 to be notified of the outcome by end of April.
  • Apply by Friday 16 May 2025 to be notified of the outcome by mid-July.
  • Apply by Friday 15 August 2025 to be notified of the outcome by end of October.
  • Apply by Friday 14 November 2025 to be notified of the outcome by mid-December.

Once your application is approved and you’ve been notified, you can start using the FAICD post-nominal.

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Master the boardroom

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DPD requirements

Fellows are required to accrue the mandatory number of Director Professional Development (DPD) units to maintain their membership.

LEARN MORE 
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Ready to apply?

If you’d like to become an AICD Fellow, simply log into your member account and we’ll take you to the application page. (You can save your progress as you go).

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Career lessons from AICD WA gold medalist, Steve Scudamore AM FAICD
article 01 Nov 2024
Angie Paskevicius FAICD recognised for her work in the not-for-profit sector
podcast 30 Sep 2024
Boardroom Conversations with Lisa Chung
article 01 Feb 2025
American Chamber of Commerce leaders on building global connections

Acknowledgement

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which we are located and pay our respects to Elders, past and present. We recognise First Nations peoples' cultural and spiritual relationships to the Skies, Land, Waters, and Seas, and their rich contribution to society.

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