AICD Life Fellows 2025-26

Richard Haire FAICDLife - QLD

Richard Haire FAICDLife is a respected and influential agribusiness director, recognised for championing governance, sustainability and industry leadership. He currently chairs McLean’s Farms Advisory Board and the Australian Cotton Research and Development Corporation and is a non-executive director at BEC Feed Solutions.

Following a long executive career in agribusiness, Haire’s career gravitated towards listed roles with the Bank of Queensland, Reef Casino Trust, Websters and Tassal, and he chaired Endeavour Foundation for five years.

In more recent times, he has gravitated towards private and family-owned company roles.

An AICD member for 35 years, he was President of the AICD Queensland Division (2010-2012), a Director of the AICD National Council and a Division Council Member (2005-2014).

Fiona Harris AM FAICDLife - WA

Fiona Harris AM FAICDLife, a former KPMG partner and AICD member for more than 35 years, is a distinguished non-executive director with extensive governance experience across energy, finance, utilities, resources, property, government enterprises and NFP sectors.

Harris has served on more than 30 listed company boards. Current roles include Chair of BWP Trust and director at Linear Clinical Research. She broke new ground as the first female State President of the AICD in WA in 2005-2008, then later became an AICD National Director (2008–2011). Her leadership within AICD has been instrumental in promoting diversity, ethical standards and professional expertise in directorship. She received the AICD WA Gold Medal in 2016 for her contribution to the economic progress of WA and to the highest standards of corporate governance.

In 2021, she was recognised as a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the finance, investment, resources and NFP sectors.  

Richard Warburton AO FAICDLife - NSW

Richard Warburton AO FAICDLife has provided distinguished service to the AICD and Australian industry across more than three decades, exemplifying excellence in governance, integrity and leadership.

Across his wide and impactful director career, Warburton provided enduring leadership in areas as diverse as energy, finance, agriculture, manufacturing, retail, education, and national economic policy. He is deeply respected for his commitment to ethical governance, strategic thinking and mentoring of emerging leaders.

Now retired, he most recently served as Chair of the Sydney Adventist Hospital Foundation (2017–2022), as chair of the Magellan Flagship Fund (2006–2019), as chair/director at Citigroup Australia (2011–2016), as chair of Westfield Retail Trust (2010–2014) and as Scentre Group Director (2014–2016).

He is a former Du Pont Managing Director in Australia, a former chair of the Board of Taxation and a former member of the Reserve Bank Board.

During his board career, he contributed substantially across the listed, private, public and NFP sectors and many industries. He was appointed as Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for services to industry and corporate governance and as a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) for his governance role for the Commonwealth Studies Conference.

He also served as AICD National President (1998–2000), where he significantly contributed to the development and professional stature of the institute, particularly in the areas of education and training.   

Richard Watson AM FAICDLife - TAS

Richard Watson AM FAICDLife has contributed exceptional leadership across business, government advisory roles and the AICD over several decades. His experience spans start-ups and significant companies, as well as not for profits and he has acted as a business adviser to government both federally and at state level.

An AICD member for 42 years, Watson’s current roles include chair of Care Forward, chair of Care Assess, adviser/chair of Scootboots and chair of SBMS Tasmania.

Watson has had successful business experience as a senior executive, CEO, Director and Chairman in several Australian and overseas companies involving a number of Industries such as agribusiness, aquaculture, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, health insurance, IT, financial services and aged care.

He has been involved with the AICD since its early days and is a former Tasmanian President, as well as Tasmania’s 2025 AICD Gold Medal Award Recipient. He was also a facilitator for the Company Directors Course.

Now aged in his 90s, the former high achieving sportsman skier further supported the sport through Olympic Team Management and Olympic Committee work. He was awarded the Order of Australia in 2000.