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

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 eligibility, experience and contribution criteria to determine your suitability 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 who would attest to your professional career, ethical standing and good character.

Step 3: Apply online

Start your online Fellowship application and submit.

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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 continuing professional development requirement for the past three years. 
  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 Eligibility 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 typeCriteria
Private or public corporation
  • The corporation's gross revenue is $AU30 million or more, and
  • The value of the corporation's gross assets is $AU16.5 million or more, and
  • The corporation has at least 100 employees

 

 

Not-for-profit organisation

  • The organisation's gross revenue is $AU5 million or more, and
  • 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
  • The entity's gross assets are worth at least $AU30 million or more, or
  • The entity has at least 100 employees 

 

  • 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 will need to supply your Board CV and a minimum of 20 points of Contribution criteria, which can be chosen from the following categories:

CategoryActivities

AICD participation (20 points for one or more)

  • Contributions as an AICD board member.
  • Completed at least one term on a Divisional Council or the AICD Board.
  • Active participation in AICD committees, such as the AICD Policy Committee, Law Committee, Chairs Forum, NFP Committee or First Nations Committee.
  • 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.
  • Copies of the relevant pages of Annual reports for the relevant roles.
  • Your Board Curriculum Vitae (CV). 
  • 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 member

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

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

Apply now
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Apply online

The Fellowship application, review and approval process takes approximately 4 months, aligned to AICD Division Council meetings and processing times.

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

Apply now
Enquire

Master the boardroom

With a focus on self-mastery, emotional intelligence and leadership influence, the award-winning Board Mastery™ course is a highly personal immersive experience available exclusively to accomplished leaders.

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CPD requirements

Fellows are required to accrue the mandatory number of Director Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points 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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