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, vice chair of Outward Bound International Inc and a member of the ASIC Corporate Governance Consultant’s Panel. 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, and Autosports Group. 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: Membership, Nominations & Governance Committee — guest and People & Culture Committee — member
Other: 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 and Connecting Home. 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, 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 and Green Peak Energy Pty Ltd. 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 — Chair, 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 and Orro Holdco Pty Ltd, and non-executive director of Codan Limited and Southern Cross Media Group Limited. 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

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 a member of Chief Executive Women, an ambassador for the National Association of Women in Operations and former AICD Victorian Division Council president.

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 DIVISION DIRECTOR

Tim Sarah FAICD

BEc MBA ACA

Appointed: 29/01/2024
Other: NFP Chairs’ Forum — member

Tim has extensive experience as a board member and chair in community and for-purpose sectors. He is an experienced business executive and joint managing director of the Sarah Group, operating businesses in the South Australia’s construction industry.

He is Chair of Anglicare SA Ltd and non-executive director of Believe Housing Australia Ltd (formerly Anglicare SA Housing Ltd).

Tim is a Chartered Accountant with an Economics Degree and an MBA and has been involved in business for 30 years. He lives and breathes the values of strong relationships, high quality solutions and long-term sustainability.

He is a long standing Fellow of the AICD and has been a Division Councillor for SA since 2022 and SA Division President since September 2023.

He is a past Council Member of the Master Builders Association of South Australia and the Small Business Development Council.

Tim Sarah FAICD

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 & Wagering Commission (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

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 the AICD as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer in 2022. Mark served as the Global CEO from 2012-2020 at global law firm, Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) where he was also a Partner. 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 the Global CEO of HSF, he was a member of the management team having led a number of practice groups including the Banking and Finance Group as well as the Corporate Group.

Mark is a director of ASX listed Smartgroup Corporation, the chair of Redkite Children's Charity and a member of the Board of the European Australian Business Council. Additionally, Mark is a member of the Financial Services Institute of Australia.

Mark was based in London from 2013 until 2020.

He is a graduate of the University of Sydney, Melbourne University (Mt Eliza), Harvard University and Singularity University.

Mark Rigotti

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