Top 60 women on Aussie boards

1. Catherine Livingstone: arguably the most accomplished female CEO from her six-year stint running Cochlear up until 2000. Now a director of Macquarie Group, where she chairs the audit committee and chair of Telstra. Also previously chaired the CSIRO.

2. Elizabeth Alexander: the former PWC partner is chairman of the booming CSL, a director of Amcor and chairman of the audit committee at Boral, which won Ethical Investor Magazine's 2007 corporate governance award. She is also a member of the Takeovers Panel and Financial Reporting Council and a former President of the AICD.

3. Carolyn Hewson: former investment banker now sitting on the Westpac, BHP and AGL boards. Quit AMP out of frustration in 2002 before things really went pear-shaped and also had an earlier stint with CSR.

4. Jillian Broadbent: former Bankers Trust executive who now sits on the Reserve Bank, Woodside Petroleum, Coca-Cola Amatil, ASX and SBS boards.

5. Patricia Cross: a Margaret Jackson protégé and former NAB treasury boss (pre-scandal) who suffered a hit when forced to quit the AMP board in 2003, but has come back with gigs at NAB, Qantas and Wesfarmers before she quit Wesfarmers in early 2010 after her husband Paul Meadows was appointed chief general counsel.

6. Elizabeth Bryan: the former CEO of NSW State Super is now chair of Caltex Australia. She also serves as a director at Ridley Corp, Unisuper, Guild Insurance and Financial Services Limited.

7. Linda Nicholls: immediate past chairman of Australia Post and former Victorian chairman of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Currently serves on the Healthscope, Sigma Pharmaceutical, Perpetual and Fairfax Media boards. Former director of St George Bank and Victoria's Transport Accident Commission.

8. Jillian Segal: from 1986 to 1996 she was a corporate/environmental partner at law firm Allen Allen & Hemsley. Prior to that she worked from 1983 to 1984 at the Wall Street law firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell. The former ASIC deputy chair who now serves on the board of ASX and NAB.

9. Irene Lee: former CEO of fund manager Sealcorp, executive director of Citibank and head of corporate finance at Commonwealth Bank who now serves on the boards of QBE and Beyond International and previously served on the Network Ten board.

10. Carolyn Kay: lawyer and former Morgan Stanley executive with experience in New York and London who now sits on the Commonwealth Bank and Brambles boards.

11. Helen Nugent: former Westpac strategy chief and now a director of Macquarie Group, Origin Energy and Freehills as well as being Chairman of Funds SA, Swiss Re Life & Health Australia and Hudson Australia/New Zealand.

12. Dr Nora Scheinkestel: a banker with experience at CRA, Macquarie Bank, Chase AMP and Deutsche Bank, she's now an associate professor at the Melbourne Business School who sits on the AMP and Orica boards after earlier stints with Mayne, Newcrest and Paperlinx.

13. Paula Dwyer: former investment banker with board seats at Suncorp, Tabcorp and Astro Japan and previous experience with RACV and David Jones.

11. Diane Grady: a former McKinsey partner who became a professional director in 1994 and sits on the Woolworths, Bluescope Steel and Wattyl boards and previously sat on the Lend Lease board.

15. Judith Sloan: conservative labour market academic who previously served on Mayne Nickless and the ABC and now has Santos, a gig on the Fair Pay Commission and in 2008 joined the Westfield board.

16. Margaret Jackson: retired as Qantas chair in 2008 and also quit ANZ after almost 15 years but remains a director of Billabong and chair of embattled finance company Flexigroup. Former director of Pacific Dunlop, BHP, Southcorp and Fairfax Media.

17. Sandra McPhee: former Qantas sales and marketing chief who now sits on boards including Australia Post, AGL Energy, Fairfax Media and Kathmandu. Recently departed Coles due to the Wesfarmers takeover and Perpetual due to a conflict of interest with her husband's business.

18. Alison Watkins: former CEO of Berri who is a non-executive director of Woolworths and served on the Just Group board before Solly Lew took it over and ditched all four female directors.

19. Belinda Hutchinson: former Citibank and Macquarie Bank executive who currently sits on QBE Insurance board and formally was with Crane Group, Telstra, Energy Australia, TAB Ltd and Sydney Water.

20. Catherine Walter: former Clayton Utz partner who, despite the NAB fiasco, remains a director of Orica but has quit the ASX board after 10 years. Joined the James Hardie board in 2008 and is a director of AFIC, Australia's biggest listed investment fund.

21. Dr Cherrell Hirst: a pioneer in breast cancer diagnosis and screening who nows serves on the Suncorp Metway, Australasian Medical Insurance Limited, MBF Group, Impedimed and QBF boards whilst also chairing the listed company Peplin.

22. Patricia Akopiantz: former McKinsey consultant and now a director of Axa Asia Pacific, Wattyl and Energy Australia. Departed Coles board due to Wesfarmers takeover.

23. Susan Oliver: formerly with Andersen Consulting and CEO of the Australian Commission for the Future and then spent a decade on the Transurban board. Served on the Just Group board until booted in Solly Lew takeover and also a director of Centro Retail, MBF and Programmed Maintenance Services.

24. Barbara Ward: former Paul Keating adviser and CEO of AWAS who quit Allco Finance Group over governance concerns in January 2008 and previously sat on the CBA and Multiplex boards. Joined Qantas board in 2008 and was a director of Lion Nathan before it was taken over by the Japanese. Also chairs the NSW Government's Country Energy.

25. Carla Zampatti: has amassed a pile worth more than $100 million through her fashion business but also spent a decade as a director of Westfield and time on the McDonald's Australia board. Also a past chair of SBS.

26. Naomi Milgrom: In 1990, Naomi Milgrom followed her father Marc Besen and became Group Managing Director of the Sussan fashion Group. Naomi then bought 100% of the business in November 2003 and has run it successfully ever since. Additionally, she is a past chair of the Melbourne Fashion Festival, a director of the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art and a director of the listed Magellan Financial Group.

27. Lyndsey Cattermole: made a fortune building and then selling Aspect Computing which finished up with Telstra via Kaz and now sits on the Foster's board after a brief stint with Tattersall's.

28. Jane Hemstritch: a former managing director of consulting gaint Accenture in the Asia Pacific and joined the Commonwealth Bank board in 2006.

29. Penelope Maclagan: joined computershare in 1983 as one its founders and joined the board in 1995. Penny was responsible for planning, developing and executing technology across the world in support of our global strategy. Since 2008 she has reduced her day-to-day involvment and gave up her management role, but is still a member of the nomination committee.

30. Yasmin Allen: former investment banker who is a non-executive director of IAG and chair of its audit committee. Also a director of Macquarie Specialised Asset Management and a former director of EFIC.

31. Anna Hynes: director of IAG who spent most of her career at American Express and previously served on the Promina and Country Road boards.

32. Diane Lee Smith-Gander: Perth-based and the only female director of Wesfarmers after the departure of Patricia Cross in early 2010. She was a former executive at Westpac and did a long stint as a partner at McKinsey.

33. Kathleen Conlon: after seven years as a partner and director of the Boston Consulting Group where she led the Asia Pacific Operational Effectiveness Practice Area, she joined CSR as an independent director in 2004 and serves on the board of the REA Group.

34. Elizabeth Proust: since retiring from ANZ in 2005-06, Jeff Kennett's former top bureaucrat only joined the Perpetual board but is conducting a view into the Victorian government's accountability bodies.

35. Anne Keating: Paul's sister used to run United Airlines in Australia and had a turbulent time fighting with Nick Whitlam on the NRMA board, but now serves on STW Holdings, Goodman International and Ardent Leisure.

36. Dominique Fisher: the former wife NSW Treasurer Peter Collins and current wife of former Victorian Treasurer Alan Stockdale chairs Circadian Technologies and is a director of Pacific Brands, plus also chairs three private tech companies and has Federal government gigs at the Australia Council and the Dance Board.

37. Katie Lahey: former chief executive of the BCA and has previously been on a number of boards including Hills Motoway and Australia Post but David Jones is her only remaining major gig.

38. Nerolie Withnall: A former Corporate partner with Minter Ellison lawyers until 2000, she serves on a array of boards including Hedley Leisure and Gaming Property Partners, Campbell Brothers, PanAust and Alchemia Limited. As of July 2008 she joined the Compuetrshare board as an independent.

39. Merran Kelsall: the former deputy Chancellor of RMIT university sits on Cuscal, RACV, Melbourne Water, the National Gallery of Victoria and chairs the Audit and Assurance Standards board. A qualified chartered accountant and previously worked in a professional practice, including as a partner for ten years.

40. Elana Rubin: whilst primarily sponsored by the industry super funds and Victorian Labor government, Elana chairs Victrack and the Victorian WorkCover Authority, is a director of the TAC and is a director of Tower Australia Group.

41. Anna Booth: the former textiles union boss was given a gig on the Commonwealth Bank board by Paul Keating and now chairs Slater & Gordon. Also previously a director of SOCOG and the NRMA.

42. Isabel Hudson: with over 30 years experience in the insurance industry in the UK, and was appointed an independent non-executive director of QBE in November 2005. She is based in the UK.

43. Lyn Gearing: the former CEO of NSW State Super from 1997-2002, and former director of Stockland is currently a director of Queensland Investment Corporation, Hancock Natural Resource Group, IMB Limited and and a couple of not for profit organisations.

44. Denise Bradley: has been extensively involved in national education policy groups for more than two decades. Was appointed to the Seek board in February 2010 after she chaired the expert panel conducting the Rudd Government's review of higher education. Has sat on a range of other education-related bodies including vice-chancellor of the University of South Australia between 1997-2007.

45. Catherine Brenner: beginning as a corporate lawyer, the former managing director of ABN AMRO, where she held various senior roles in the Investment Banking division, now serves on the board of Coca-Cola Amatil.

46. Julie Anne Hill: after having held many senior executive positions in the land development and housing construction industry in the US, she joined the board of Lend Lease in 2006. Has also served on the board of Wellpoint, Inc since 1994.

47. Meredith Brooks: a former managing director of US Institutional Investment Services for Frank Russell Company based in New York. Prior to that she previously held the positions of managing director of Frank Russell Australasia for five years. She now serves as an independent director on the board of Perpetual Limited.

48. Philippa Stone: a commercial lawyer and partner of a major law firm, she was appointed to David Jones board in March 2010 and also serves on Airs Services Commission.

49. Deborah Radford: spent 7 years in the Victorian Treasury then after a decade in banking became a consultant and now serves on the Bendigo & Adelaide Bank, City West Water and Forestry Tasmania boards.

50. Jenny Dawson: did 10 years at Arthur Andersen and is now one of two female directors of Bendigo & Adelaide Bank.

51. Rowena Danziger: long-serving principal of Sydney's Ascham school and a non executive director of Consolidated Media and Crown courtesy of long connection with the Packer family.

52. Nicole Hollows: began her career in 1992 with a small Brisbane city based chartered accountancy practice, Ham and Partners. Leaving in 1998 to commence with Macarthur Coal Management as CFO. In 2002 she became the CFO of the parent company Macarthur Coal Limited and is now the CEO.

53. Emma Stein: the former UK managing director for French utility Gaz de France's energy retailing operations, Ms Stein moved to Australia in 2003. She serves as an independent director of Clough and the DUET Group.

54. Marina Darling: with externsive experience in commercial, legal and corporate advisory experience, since 1999 she has served as an independent director of Argo Investments and is a former director of Southern Cross Broadcasting.

55. Vicki Allen: prior to joining Alternative Investment Trust, Ms Allen worked at Lend Lease Corporation and National Australia Bank in a number of senior roles. Also serves on the board of KFM Diversified Infrastructure.

56. Rosalind Dubs: a former deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Technology, Sydney. Former VP of Operations for Thales ATM SA and also served as a board member. Since 2009 she has served as a non-executive director of Aristocrat Leisure.

57. Penny Morris: appointed to the board in 2004 of Aristocrat Leisure, she is also the former Director of Commonwealth Property, Department of Administrative Services and former Group Executive, Lend Lease Property Services.

58. Sally Pitkin: prior to joining the board of Aristocrat Leisure in 2005, she was a former director of Chandler Macleod, Australian Leisure & Hospitality Group, Ceramic Fuel Cells, Energex, and National Leisure and Gaming. Sally began as a partner and Special Counsel, for Clayton Utz, Lawyers.

59. Margaret Towers: a chartered accountant with over 25 years experience in the financial markets, she was formerly an executive VP at Bankers Trust Australia, and had a stint with Price WaterHouse Coopers. Since 2007 she has served on the board of Platinum Asset Management and previously worked in funds management industry with founder Kerr Neilson at BT.

60. Kate Spargo: a qualified lawyer, she began her directorship serving as a director of IOOF from 1999 to 2009. In 2007 she was elected as an independent to the board of Transfield Services Infrastructure fund.


Some other names to watch in alphabetical order


Lee Ausburn: is a qualified pharmacist with experience in retail and hospital pharmacy and has experience as an academic. She has served as a board member of the Australian Pharmaceutical Industries since October 2008.

Zelinda Bafile: practiced as a lawyer for over 30 years, and is a former pro chancellor of Curtin University. Was appointed in 2006 to the board of Water Corp and in the same year was runner-up in the Australian Corporate Lawyer of the Year.

Jyn Baker: has more than 20 years experience in the resources and energy sector including law, project finance banking, mergers and acquisitions. More recently she served as a board member and managing director of Midwest Corporation. Jyn is currently a director of Horizon Oil, Kairiki Energy and LinQ Capital Limited.

Danielle Blain: a director of Delta Corporation non executive director of Schaffer Corporation. In 2003 she was elected as the first woman state president of the Liberal Party in WA.

Anne Brennan: currently serves as Coates Hire finance director, and has previously held senior roles at CSR, KPMG, Ernst & Young and Arthur Andersen. In 2009 was appointed to the board of retailer Myer.

Anna Buduls: having worked as a financial journalist with the Financial Review, she moved on to become a corporate adviser in the investment banking division at Macquarie Bank and head of investor relations at Westpac. Currently on the board of Freedom Group, the Mirvac Group, Macquarie Generation, Hamilton James and Bruce, The Smith Family and of SAI Global since 2003.

Annabelle Chaplain: former vice president of Citibank and held other management positions with ABN AMRO and AIDC. She was appointed to the board of Downer EDI in 2008.

Karen Field: has held executive roles in a variety of mining industry sectors throughout Australia and in South America where she served as President of Minera Alumbrera, an Argentine based management company. She serves on boards for Sipa Resources, Electricity Networks Corporation and Water Corporation where she joined in 2006.

Karen Finley: president and CEO of Redflex Traffic Systems in Scottsdale, Arizona. Since elected in 1995, she has served as an executive director of Redflex.

Helen Garnett: served as the vice chancellor of Charles Darwin University in the Northern Territory from 2003 -2008, and was the Australian representative to the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency. In 2005 was appointed non executive director of Energy Resources of Australia.

Barbara Gibson: was an executive with Orica in a number of roles including general manager, Advanced Sciences Group and group general manager, Chemicals Group. A recipient of an Australian Centenary Medal in 2001 for service to Australian society in medical technology. She serves on the board of Nuplex, St Barabara and Penrice Soda and is a former director of Biota Holdings.

Christina Gillies: former Group Executive, Group Services at St George Bank, Chief Information Officer for the Bank of Melbourne, was appointed as non executive director of Corporate Express Australia in 2005. Also serves on the board of Multiple Sclerosis.

Kathy Gramp: a chartered accountant with 19 years experience in radio as a finance executive, acts as a Director on Austereo's Australian joint ventures.

Lesley Grant: Since 2002 has held the position of executive manager customer and marketing for Qantas Airways and has been a director of UNICEF Australia since 2006. She has been a director of the Qantas Foundation since 2009 and serves on the board of Jetset Travelworld.

Fiona Harris: was previously a partner with chartered accountants KPMG and has served on the board of Territory Resources since 1997. A director of Vulcan resources and WA state president of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Carol Holley: a chartered accountant, a registered company auditor and registered tax agent. Ms Holley is currently chair of the Cochlear Foundation and serves as an independent director of Australian Pharmaceutical Industries.

Susan Mcintosh: with 20-plus years experience in media, she serves as the managing director of RG Capital Holdings Australia. In 2000 was appointed to the board of the Photon Group.

Michelle Mckellar: has previously held senior positions with Intro International Limited and CB Richard Ellis throughout the Asia-Pacific region. She established a private family property company and serves on the board as an independent for the Cromwell Group.

Siobhan Mckenna: managing partner of Illyria and a part-time commissioner of the Productivity Commission. Previously she was a partner at management consulting firm McKinsey & Company and was also a member of the advisory board of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Serves on the board of DMG Radio Australia and Prime Media Group.

Gaye McMath: previously she held the position of pro vice-chancellor and CFO at Murdoch University and then went on to be executive director, finance and resources at the University of Western Australia.

Nancy Milne: a lawyer with areas of legal expertise in insurance and reinsurance, risk management, corporate governance and professional negligence. Served as a partner at Clayton Utz until 2003 and since early 2009 has been an independent non executive director of Commonwealth Property Office.

Joycelyn Morton: has previously held managerial positions with Woolworths, Coopers & Lybrand and The Shell Company of Australia. In 2006 was appointed to the board of Count Financial.

Julie Raffe: a chartered accountant acts as an alternate director of Austereo and is the CFO of Village Roadshow Australia. Also serves on the board of HFA Accelerator Plus

Jenny Seabrook: sits on the boards of the Bank of Western Australia, M G Kailis Holdings and IRESS Market Technology and Iluka. Former directorships include Gresham Partners and Gresham Advisory Partners, and she served on the board of West Australian Newspapers Holdings.

Eva Skira: has a background in banking, capital markets, stockbroking and financial markets. Previously held executive positions at Commonwealth Bank and later as a stockbroker based in the UK. She serves on the board of RCR Tomlinson.

Erica Smyth: was Principal Geologist for BHP Minerals and was also the general manager corporate affairs for Woodside Petroleum. The former chancellor of the University of WA, she serves on the board as chair of Toro Energy.

Lucy Turnbull: has extensive experience in commercial legal practice and investment banking and from 2003-2004, was the Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney. She joined the Melbourne IT Board in September 2006, following the acquisition of WebCentral Group.

Yvonne Von Hartel: is a founding member of the leading Melbourne architectural and urban planning firm, Peckvonhartel. Also serves on the board of Connect East as an independent.

Alice Williams: a former vice president at JP Morgan Australia, since 2007 has served on the board of Equity Trustees. Melanie Willis: has many years experience in the banking sector including previous roles with Deutsche Bank, BT Alex Brown and with Westpac Corporate Finance. She serves on the board of Aevum. Karen Wilson: prior experience includes 15 years at Estee Lauder in Australia and the UK and led the company as managing director for 7 years. Ms Wilson has been a director of Vision Group Holdings since December 2004. Joan Withers: has served many years in the media industry holding CEO positions in both newspapers and radio. In 2005, became CEO of Fairfax New Zealand, and since 1997 has been an independent director of Auckland International Airport.
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