At the Australian Governance Summit in March, Elizabeth Proust AO FAICD recognised three individuals who have made an exceptional and ongoing contribution to the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
We congratulate Martin Kriewaldt, Kevin McCann AM and Wendy McCarthy AO on the award of their Life Fellowships.
Kevin McCann AM FAICDLife
Kevin McCann AM FAICDLife is chair of Citadel Group Limited, Dixon Hospitality Limited and the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. He is co-vice chair of the New Colombo Plan Reference Group, and a director of the US Studies Centre and Evans and Partners.
He was previously chair of Macquarie Group Limited and Macquarie Bank, Origin Energy Limited, Healthscope Limited, ING Management Limited, and a director of Pioneer International Limited, Ampol Limited and the State Rail Authority of New South Wales and served on the Defence Procurement Advisory Board.
In recognition of his service to the Law, Business and the Community, Kevin McCann was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2005.
An AICD member for more than 35 years, McCann has contributed significantly to the advancement of women in corporate Australia particularly as part of the AICD’s Chairs Mentoring Program. McCann has been profiled in the Company Director magazine, gives of his time extensively to a range of AICD initiatives and serves on the AICD’s Corporate Governance Committee.
Martin Kriewaldt FAICDLife
Martin Kriewaldt FAICDLife has more than 20 years’ experience as a professional director and chair of major national and international organisations. Currently Kriewaldt serves as chair of XLam New Zealand and Hyne Timber.
Kriewaldt has previously served as chair of Suncorp Insurance and Finance, Suncorp Building Society Ltd, Suncorp Finance Ltd, Infratil Australia Ltd, Airtrain Citylink Limited, Suncorp Property Funds Management Ltd, Knight Frank Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, Graham & Company Ltd and Hooker Corporation Ltd, and as a non-executive director of ImpediMed, Macarthur Coal and Oil Search.
Kriewaldt has served as a director for several not-for-profit (NFP) and community organisations including as chair of Opera Queensland Limited.
Involved with the AICD as a member for more than 27 years, including as president of the Queensland Division, Kriewaldt served on the AICD’s National Conference Committee in 2013, has been awarded the AICD’s Queensland Gold Medal Award and serves as a member of the AICD’s Corporate Governance Committee.
Wendy McCarthy AO FAICDLife
Wendy Elizabeth McCarthy FAICDLife is a highly experienced director with more than 35 years’ experience serving on private, NFP and government boards and advisory bodies.
McCarthy is chair of Circus Oz and non-executive director of Goodstart Learning and IMF Bentham. McCarthy previously served as chair of Headspace, deputy chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, was a founding member of the Prime Minister’s National Women’s Advisory Council and a former co-chair of the NSW Sustainable Access Health Priority Taskforce. She has also held international directorship and advisory roles including vice-chair of the Plan International Board, director of Plan Hong Kong and chair of the Advisory Committee WHO Kobe Centre, Japan.
A trailblazer who created a path for female directors and executives, in 1989 McCarthy was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for her outstanding contribution to women’s affairs. In 2013 she was inducted into the Women’s Agenda Hall of Fame.
McCarthy has worked extensively on AICD board diversity programs, including Finding Board Positions workshops which assist women expand their director and executive careers.
Residential Company Directors Course™
The flurry of a busy schedule can make it difficult to focus on your professional development.
The residential format of the Company Directors Course™ provides a unique opportunity to strengthen your directorship knowledge, away from everyday distractions. Residential courses are held in stunning locations around Australia, and create an immersive learning environment that fosters in-depth exploration of director issues.
Over five days, attendees are given clarity on the responsibilities and liabilities of a director, with emphasis given to compliance, risk, strategy, finance and the role of the board. This format also allows for networking in and beyond the classroom with fellow attendees.
Complimentary webinar: Indigenous diversity
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) runs annually from 27 May – 3 June, marking two milestones in Australia’s reconciliation journey: the 1967 referendum and the historic Mabo decision, respectively.
In recognition of NRW, the AICD will host a member complimentary webinar, A Pathway to Organisational Indigenous Diversity that will address:
- Commonwealth and state Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP) initiatives.
- The changing environment for organisations bidding for major contracts and the IPP influence on Commonwealth and state government tender processes.
- The benefits for business, boards and directors which stem from incorporating supply chain diversity into a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
Guest speakers Olivia Tyler, Westpac Group director; Laura Berry MAICD, CEO of Supply Nation; and Rod Williams MAICD, Indigenous business consultant and managing director of Gongan Consultancy, will share their experiences of developing a RAP and incorporating Indigenous diversity into supply chains and business strategy.
The hour-long webinar will be available from 12pm Thursday 30 May, here.
New AICD podcast
The Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) has launched a new channel for directors to tune in and get the latest economic news and commentary on issues affecting Australian boards.
The Dismal Science, the AICD’s new economics podcast, is hosted by AICD communications executive, Ivan Ah Sam. Every Friday, Ah Sam will be joined by AICD chief economist Stephen Walters MAICD and other special guests to offer directors a fresh perspective on the latest economic headlines, deep-dives into pressing economic issues and information on the AICD’s latest policy and advocacy initiatives.
The podcast acts as a two-way conversation with our members about the economic issues on directors’ minds.
We encourage members to get in touch with their ideas or feedback via Twitter @aicdirectors or by emailing podcasts@aicd.com.au.
Members can subscribe to the podcast on the iTunes store or stream each episode through the AICD website.
Baxt is back
For the past 34 years, Duties and Responsibilities of Directors and Officers has been the “go-to” source for a clear understanding of the fundamentals of corporate governance obligations within Australia’s complex regulatory environment.
The directors’ bible continues to evolve, covering the issues that are relevant to the modern board.
For the first time, leading authority on corporate governance and director duties, author Professor Bob Baxt AO FAICDLife has included in the 21st edition a chapter devoted to corporate social responsibility, a topic that regularly featured in discussions among directors at the recent Australian Governance Summit.
Baxt is back, offering boards, directors and senior leaders a thorough plain English review of the most recent and relevant case law.
Latest news
Already a member?
Login to view this content