Board profiles

Meet the members of the governing board of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

CHAIR & NATIONAL DIRECTOR

John Atkin FAICD

BA (Hons), LLB (Hons)
Appointed second term: 
01/03/2022
Board Committees:
 Membership, Nominations & Governance Committee — member, People & Culture Committee — member and all other board committees — attendee
Other: ASX Chairs’ Forum — member and NFP Chairs’ Forum — member

 

John is currently chair of Qantas Superannuation Limited, a non-executive director of IPH Ltd and vice chair of Outward Bound International Inc. His previous directorships include Aurizon Limited, GPT Metro REIT (Chair), Commonwealth Bank Group Super Fund, Integral Diagnostics and Outward Bound Australia (Chair).

Prior to his non-executive director career, John was CEO of The Trust Company, successfully steering the organisation through the GFC. Prior to this, he spent six years as national managing partner of Blake Dawson (now Ashurst) and 15 years as partner at Mallesons Stephen Jaques (now King & Wood Mallesons) where he practised as a mergers and acquisitions, equity capital markets and corporate lawyer.

John is a graduate of both the Company Directors Course and Mastering the Boardroom and, in January 2020, he completed the Boardroom Mastery program.

John Atkin

DEPUTY CHAIR & QLD DIVISION DIRECTOR

Anne Cross AM FAICD

BSW, MSW
Appointed second term:
13/09/2022
Appointed deputy chair:
10/06/2022
Board Committees: Membership, Nominations & Governance Committee — member and People & Culture Committee — member
Other: NFP Chairs’ Forum — chair

 

Anne is a non-executive director of St Vincent’s Health Australia and its subsidiary companies. She is chair of Uniting Church in Australia Redress Ltd and member of the Senate of the University of Queensland.

Anne concluded her executive career as chief executive of UnitingCare Queensland in 2017, after a long career working in health, aged care, disability and community services. She is an adjunct professor in the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Queensland.

Anne was admitted as a member in the Order of Australia for her services to social welfare organisations and women in 2018. She was named Telstra’s National Business Woman of the Year in 2014.

Anne Cross

NATIONAL DIRECTOR

Marina Go AM MAICD

BA (Communication), MBA
Appointed:
23/01/2023
Board Committees:
 People & Culture Committee – member and Technology, Innovation & Major Projects Committee – member

 

Marina Go is an experienced Chair and non-executive director of ASX listed, private and not-for-profit organisations, across a range of sectors including energy, infrastructure, technology, retail and sport.

She is a member of UNSW’s Business Advisory Council, ANU’s Centre for Asian-Australian Leadership (CAAL) Advisory Board and the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations (NFACR) Advisory Board.

Marina is Chair of Adore Beauty and a non-executive director of Transurban, Energy Australia, 7-Eleven, Autosports Group and Netball Australia. Marina has 30 years of leadership experience in the media industry and is a former Chair of The Walkley Foundation, Netball Australia, Super Netball Commission, Ovarian Cancer Australia and The Wests Tigers NRL Club.

Marina is a co-founder of Women’s Agenda and has been actively progressing equitable outcomes for women and culturally diverse Australians for more than three decades.

In 2023 Marina was admitted as a member in the Order of Australia for significant service to business governance, to sport administration, and to the media industry.

Marina Go

NATIONAL DIRECTOR

Ian Hamm MAICD

Appointed: 14/03/2023
Board Committees:
 People & Culture Committee — member
Other: AICD NFP Chairs’ Forum — member

 

A Yorta Yorta man, Ian has extensive government and community sector experience, particularly at executive and governance levels. In a career spanning more than 32 years, Ian has overseen major policy and strategic reforms for government and community organisations. He works with people from a vast array of backgrounds, managing complex and sensitive relationships to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.

Ian was CEO of a major Aboriginal community organisation from January to August 2018. Ian chairs and is a member of a number of boards, including the Indigenous Land & Sea Corporation, the Community Broadcast Foundation, Connecting Home and Yarra Valley Water. He is also devoting himself to improving the representation of Aboriginal people on boards and other high-level governance, through strategic action, advocacy and mentoring.

Ian is a member of the ACNC Advisory Board, the AICD NFP Chairs’ Forum, a former member of the AICD Victorian Division Council and is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration.

Ian Hamm

WA DIVISION DIRECTOR

Derek La Ferla FAICD

BA, BJuris, LLB
Appointed second term:
15/07/2022
Board Committees:
 Membership, Nominations & Governance Committee — chair and People & Culture Committee — member

 

Derek is chair of Chalice Mining Limited, Foodbank WA, Green Peak Energy Pty Ltd and Poseidon Nickel Limited. He is a part-time partner with Western Australian law firm Lavan.

Derek has been on the AICD Western Australia Division Council since 2015 and a fellow since 2011.

Derek is a corporate lawyer and company director with more than 30 years’ experience. He has held senior positions with some of Australia‘s leading law firms and a variety of board positions with listed public companies and not-for-profit organisations.

Derek La Ferla

TAS DIVISION DIRECTOR

Graeme Lynch AM FAICD

BCom (Melb), LLB Hons (Tas), GradDipLS (Tas); FCPA; PIA (Hon Fellow)
Appointed:
30/11/2022
Board Committees:
 Audit & Risk Committee — member, Membership, Nominations & Governance Committee — member
Other: Law Committee — member

 

Graeme is currently Chair of Primary Health Tasmania, the Tasmanian Primary Health Network, Chair of The Hobart Clinic and President of the AICD Tasmania Division Council. He is also engaged with several coalitions, collaborations and government advisory councils in the Tasmanian health and business sector including chair of the Premier’s Health and Wellbeing Advisory Council. Graeme is also life member of Wine Tasmania.

He has served on several public company boards as chair and director, in both paid and voluntary capacities in the wine and tourism sectors. Graeme has a background in business with professional legal, accountancy, company director and commerce experience.

Graeme Lynch

NATIONAL DIRECTOR

Heith Mackay-Cruise FAICD

BEc
Appointed: 10/06/2022
Board Committees: Audit & Risk Committee — member and Technology, Innovation & Major Projects Committee — chair
Other: Governance of Innovation & Technology Panel — member

 

Heith has been involved in the media, education and technology sectors over the past 25 years. Heith is currently the non-executive chair of Straker Translations Limited, a non-executive director of Codan Limited, Southern Cross Media Group Limited and Orro Holdco Pty Ltd. Heith is a previous non-executive chair of LiteracyPlanet, hipages Group and the Vision Australia Foundation, as well as a previous non-executive director of LifeHealthcare and Bailador Technology Investments.

In Heith’s prior executive career, he was the founding CEO of Sterling Early Education, the global CEO and managing director of Study Group, and CEO of PBL Media New Zealand. Heith also held senior positions with Australian Consolidated Press and worked in sales and marketing roles for PepsiCo around Australia.

Heith is a Kilfinan Australia mentor, a member of the Young Presidents Organisation and a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Heith Mackay-Cruise

VIC DIVISION DIRECTOR

Rebecca McGrath FAICD

BTP(Hons), MAppSc(ProjMgt)
Appointed:
 13/11/2020
Board Committees:
 Technology, Innovation & Major Projects Committee — member
Other: VIC Division Council — President

 

Rebecca is chairman of ASX 100-listed, Investa Office Management Holdings Pty Ltd, Investa Wholesale Funds Management Limited and Investa Commercial Property Fund. She is a non-executive director of Macquarie Group Limited, Macquarie Bank Limited and Melbourne Business School, and a member of the ASIC Director Advisory Panel and the Australian British Chamber of Commerce advisory council. Rebecca is also president of the AICD Victorian Division Council, member of Chief Executive Women and an ambassador for the National Association of Women in Operations.

Prior to her non-executive career, Rebecca spent 23 years as an executive in the oil industry with BP in Australasia, Europe and the United Kingdom.

She is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and, in 2014, was recognised as one of the AFR/Westpac “Australian 100 Women of Influence”.

Rebecca McGrath

SA/NT DIVISION DIRECTOR

Dr Susan Neuhaus AM CSC FAICD

MBBS PhD FRACS FAMA
D.Dip Proj Mgt & Qual Audit
Appointed
23/01/2023
Board Committees:
 Membership, Nominations & Governance Committee — guest
Other: SA/NT Division Council — President

 

Dr Neuhaus has broad experience across defence, health and research, private commercial, government and not-for-profit sectors. She is the former President of the AICD SA/NT Division Council, Member of Council of the Australian War Memorial, and non-executive director of Aspen Medical, Medical Insurance Group Australia (MIGA) and Camp Quality.

Previously, Susan was chair of Minda Inc., the Repat Foundation and Veterans’ Advisory Council (SA). Other positions include non-executive Director of the Cancer Council SA, Council of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and Chair of the AMA Health Economics and Financing Committee.

Susan formerly served in the Australian Army (Regular and Reserve). She has over 30-years’ experience in public and private surgical practice and is an adjunct (Clinical) Associate Professor at the University of Adelaide, and a Distinguished Professor at the University of South Australia.

Susan is a graduate of both the Company Directors Course and Mastering the Boardroom. Susan was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in 2009 Queen’s Birthday Honours and admitted as a member in the Order of Australia in 2020.

Susan Neuhaus

ACT DIVISION DIRECTOR

Dr Michael Schaper FAICD

BA, MComm, PhD
Appointed:
 06/11/2021
Board Committees:
 Audit & Risk Committee — member and People & Culture Committee — chair
Other: National Education Advisory Committee — chair

 

Michael is chair of the federal government’s Shadow Economy Advisory Forum, the Gaming & WageringCommission (Board) of WA, the Energy & Water Ombudsman of WA and the University of  Canberra Business School advisory board. He is a member of the Small Business Development Corporation of WA (board) and University of Canberra Council (governing board).

Michael is an Independent Reviewer of the Franchising Code of Conduct, appointed by the federal Minister for Housing and Small Business. Michael was previously full-time deputy chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, as well as ACT Small Business Commissioner, dean of Murdoch University Business School in WA, head of the School of Business at Bond

University in Queensland, chair of the ACT Minister’s Small & Micro-Business advisory council and CEO of the Canberra Business Chamber.

He is an Adjunct Professor at Curtin University.

Michael Schaper

NSW DIVISION DIRECTOR

Arlene Tansey FAICD

MBA, Juris Doctor
Appointed:
 06/11/2021
Board Committees:
 Audit & Risk Committee — chair and Technology, Innovation & Major Projects Committee — member

 

Arlene has over 30 years’ experience as a senior executive in business, corporate and investment banking and financial services gained in Australia and the United States, and extensive experience as a company director.

Arlene is currently a non-executive director of Aristocrat Leisure Limited, TPG Telecom Limited, Lendlease Real Estate Investments Limited, AMC AusCo 1 Pty Ltd, and McMillan Shakespeare Group. She is a former nonexecutive director of Adelaide Brighton Limited and Healius Limited. She is also a member of the Australian National Maritime Museum Council.

Arlene is a member of Chief Executive Women and the International Women’s Forum Australia.

She has a Juris Doctor (Law) from the University of Southern California and an MBA in finance and international business from New York University.

Arlene Tansey

MANAGING DIRECTOR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Mark Rigotti

BA, LLB Hons, LLM
Commenced: 
06/09/2022
Board Committee: All board committees — attendee
Other: All policy committees and forums — attendee

 

Mark joined as managing director and CEO in 2022.

His previous roles included partner and senior adviser at global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF). Mark served as the global CEO at HSF for two terms over 2014—2020. He was also chair of the firm’s global executive, chair of the Global Diversity & Inclusion Group and a member of the HSF Global Partnership Council.

Prior to becoming global CEO of HSF, he was a member of the management team, and led a number of practice groups, including the Banking and Finance Group and Corporate Group.

Mark was the chair of the Open Society, Common Purpose taskforce, whose members include the CEOs of the Law Council of Australia, PwC Australia, Settlement Services International, and academics from The University of Sydney.

Mark is chair of Redkite Children’s Charity and a board member of the European Australian Business Council. Additionally, Mark is a member of the Financial Services Institute and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Mark Rigotti

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