Top 25 women on ASX-listed boards

May 30, 2019

This list tracks the top professional female non-executive directors of Australian listed companies. Go to the bottom for some unranked listings of public sector female directors and former ASX directors. Good concept but needs updating.


1. Catherine Livingstone: arguably the most accomplished female CEO from her six-year stint running Cochlear up until 2000. Did a decade on the Macquarie Group board, including as audit committee chair. Chair of Telstra since 2009, previously chaired the CSIRO and has served on Worley Parsons board since 2007.

2. Paula Dwyer: former investment banker and is the current chair of Tabcorp and Healthscope, plus a director of ANZ board. Previous experience on boards including Suncorp, Foster's, David Jones, Leighton Holdings, RACV and Astro Japan (formerly Babcock & Brown Japan).

3. Elizabeth Bryan: the former CEO of NSW State Super is now chair of Caltex (until Dec 9, 2015) and Virgin Australia. She is about to get another three year term at Westpac despite serving since 2006 and as also just stepped up as deputy chair of IAG. Previous gigs include Ridley Corp, Guild Insurance and she was also chair of Australia's second biggest industry fund, Unisuper.

4. Linda Nicholls: former chairman of Australia Post and former Victorian chairman of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Was chair of Healthscope until private equity take over and now chairs Japara Health. Chair of Yarra Trams in Victoria and also a director of Sigma Pharmaceutical, Medibank Private, Pacific Brands and Fairfax Media. Former director of St George Bank and Victoria's Transport Accident Commission.

6. Elizabeth Alexander: the former PWC partner was a long-term chair of CSL and a former director of Amcor and Boral, where she chaired the audit committee. Currently chairs Medibank Private, serves on Dexus funds management boards and is a past President of the AICD after defeating fellow Boral director Ken Moss in a contested ballot.

7. Jane Hemstritch: a former managing director of consulting giant Accenture in the Asia Pacific and joined the Commonwealth Bank board in 2006. Also sits on the boards of Santos, Lend Lease and Tabcorp.

8. Carolyn Hewson: former investment banker now sitting on the BHP-Billiton and Stockland boards. Previous stints with a range of blue-chip boards including BT Investment Management, Westpac, AMP, CSR and AGL.

9. Belinda Hutchinson: former Citibank and Macquarie Group executive who chaired QBE Insurance from 2010 until 2014. Formerly a director of Coles Myer, Crane, Telstra, Energy Australia, TAB Ltd and Sydney Water and has served on AGL board since 2010. Also currently chancellor of Sydney University.

10. Patricia Cross: a Margaret Jackson protégé and former NAB treasury boss (before the 2004 forex trading 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. Recently appointed to Macquarie Group board.

11. Irene Lee: former CEO of fund manager Sealcorp, executive director of Citibank and head of corporate finance at Commonwealth Bank who served on a range of Australian boards including QBE Insurance, ING Australia, Ten Network Holdings, Brisbane Airport, Record Investments and Beyond International. Now has an impressive Hong Kong-based portfolio including HSBC, China Light & Power, Noble Group and Cathay Pacific.

12. Helen Nugent: former Westpac strategy chief who spent 15 years on Macquarie Group board, including almost a decade chairing remuneration committee before retiring in 2014. Current chair of VEDA and the $26 billion Funds SA, plus serves on the Origin board.

13. 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 Orica, Telstra and Macquarie Atlas boards. Former director of Pacific Brands, Mayne Group, Mayne Pharma, North Ltd, Newcrest and Paperlinx.

14. Diane Smith-Gander: the leading Perth-based female directors and was briefly 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. Joined Transfield Services in October 2010 and is now the chair. Also a former deputy chair of NBN Co.




15. Kate Spargo: a qualified lawyer, she is chair of UGL and a director of Fletcher Building and Sonic Healthcare. Previously served on IOOF, Transfield Services Infrastructure Fund, Pacific Hydro, Investec, Australian Unity and the Australian Energy Market Operator.

16. Christine O'Reilly: former Gasnet CEO who now sits on CSL, Transurban and Medibank Private boards.

17. Sam Mostyn: a former Insurance Australia Group and Optus senior executive who became the first woman commissioner of the Australian Football League, joined the Virgin Blue board in September 2010 and was appointed to the board of Transurban in late 2010. Recently added insurer Covermore and property company Mirvac to her growing portfolio.

18. Emma Stein: the former UK managing director for French utility Gaz de France's energy retailing operations, Emma moved to Australia in 2003. She serves as an independent director of Transpacific, DUET Group, Alumina, Programmed Maintenance Group and Todd Corp. Former director of Transfield Services Infrastructure Fund and Clough Group.

19. Nicola Wakefield Evans: lawyer with strong Asian experience who returned to Australia and served on the Toll Holdings board from May 2011 until the recent Japan Post takeover. Also a director of Macquarie Group and Lend Lease.

21. Helen Kurincic: a former Telstra Businesswoman of the Year who was CEO of Anglicare's aged care operation across 17 sites and served on the DCA board for a year until the end of 2006 when it was taken over by a private equity group. Was also a director of Melbourne Health and has sat on various government advisory boards. See her profile on page 22 of the 2006 DCA annual report.

20. Maxine Brenner: being married to Jodie Rich hasn't stopped a blue-chip board portfolio being assembled by this former corporate lawyer including Qantas, Orica and Origin.

22. Carolyn Kay: lawyer and former Morgan Stanley executive with experience in New York and London who now sits the Brambles, John Swire & Sons, Allens and Future Fund boards. A former director of Commonwealth Bank, Symbion Health, Mayne Group and Pacific Dunlop.

23. Sandra McPhee: former Qantas sales and marketing chief who sits on boards including AGL Energy, Fairfax Media and Kathmandu. Departed Coles due to the Wesfarmers takeover and Perpetual due to a conflict of interest with her husband's business. Other past gigs include Australia Post and Westfield Retail (now Scentre Group).

24. Diane Grady: American originally who came to Australia in 1979 and became a citizen in 1998. A former McKinsey partner who became a professional director in 1994. Currently a director of Spotless and Macquarie Group. Formerly served on Woolworths, Goodman Group, Bluescope Steel, Lend Lease and Wattyl. Current chairman of Ascham school and former President of Chief Executive Women group.

25. Anne Brennan: executive career included a stint as finance director of Coates Hire and previously held senior roles at CSR, KPMG, Ernst & Young and Arthur Andersen. In 2009 was appointed to the board of retailer Myer and also currently serves on Charter Hall, Nufarm and Argo boards. Previously sat on Echo Entertainment board.

TBC Jillian Segal: from 1986 to 1996 she was a corporate/environmental partner at law firm Allen Allen & Hemsley and also did a stint with the Wall Street law firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell. The former ASIC deputy chair still serves on the board of NAB and recently retired as an ASX director.

TBC Jillian Broadbent: former Bankers Trust executive who now chairs Swiss Re Life, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and is chancellor of Wollongong University. Formally sat on the Reserve Bank, Coca-Cola Amatil, ASX , Woodside Petroleum and SBS boards.

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

TBC. Elizabeth Proust: since retiring from ANZ in 2005-06, Jeff Kennett's former top bureaucrat joined the Perpetual board but also conducted a review of the Victorian government's accountability bodies. Also sits on the board of Spotless.

TBC 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, where she chaired the audit committee. Joined Qantas board in 2008 and was a director of Lion Nathan before it was taken over by Japanese brewer Kirin. Also chaired the NSW Government's Country Energy until it was privatised in 2010.

Tiffany Fuller: current director of Computershare and Soul Patts.


Abigail Cleland: director of Computershare, Sydney Airport and Orora.

TBC Patricia Akopiantz: former McKinsey consultant and now on the board of AMP and Ramsay Healthcare. Departed Coles board along with rest of the directors after Wesfarmers takeover but, along with chairman Rick Allert, was one of two Axa Asia Pacific Holdings directors invited onto the AMP board after the 2011 takeover. Also previously sat on Wattyl and Energy Australia boards.

Carol Schwartz: hails from the billionaire Besen family and joined the Stockland board in 2010. She is also on the board of a number of organisations including Yarra Capital Partners, The Sydney Institute and the City of Melbourne's Enterprise Melbourne Advisory Board and Bank of Melbourne. Her property acumen is reflected in the fact she is a past National President of the Property Council of Australia.

Eileen Doyle: former executive at BHP and CSR who has emerged as a professional director in recent years and currently serves on Boral, GPT boards, the CSIRO and Port of Newcastle. Resigned before being formally voted off Bradken in 2015 and also formally served on Ross Human Directions until it was taken over and Onesteel which performed poorly.

TBC. Alison Watkins: former CEO of Berri and investment outfit Bennelong who quit the Woolworths board in 2010 after being appointed CEO of Graincorp. Serves on the ANZ board and previously served on Just Group board before Solly Lew took it over and ditched the three remaining female directors. Appointed CEO of Coca Cola Amatil in 2014.



TBC. Penelope Maclagan: co-founded Computershare along with her brother Chris Morris in 1983 and joined the board in 1995. Penny was responsible for planning, developing and executing technology across the world. Since 2008 she has reduced her day-to-day involvement and gave up her management role, but is still a member of the nomination committee.

TBC. Susan Oliver: formerly with Andersen Consulting and CEO of the Australian Commission for the Future. Currently a director of Coffey, CNPR and Simonds Group and previously served on Transurban, Just Group, Centro, MBF and Programmed Maintenance Services.

TBC. Lynn Wood: worked in retail, property and finance and has an MBA, plus built and sold two small businesses. Chair of Noni B since 2008, syndicate chair of CEO Institute and a director of GPT Funds Management. Previously served on boards of FIRB, Macquarie Goodman, HSBC Australia and NSW Lotteries.

TBC. Yasmin Allen: former investment banker who is a non-executive director of Cochlear, Santos and a Macquarie vehicle. Former director of IAG, the AICD and EFIC.

TBC. 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 as an independent director on the board of the booming Murdoch-controlled REA Group.

TBC. Anne McDonald: a chartered accountant and board member of Spark Infrastructure Group and the Specialty Fashion Group, she has also been a director of GPT Group since 2006.

Catherine Walter: former Clayton Utz partner who previously served on NAB, ASX and Orica boards. NAB board battles raised plenty of eye-brows but subsequently joined James Hardie board in 2008 for a short period and is a director of AFIC, Victoria's Synchrotron, Melbourne Business School and Victorian Funds Management Company.

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.

TBC. Lyndsey Cattermole: made a fortune building and then selling Aspect Computing which finished up with Telstra via Kaz. Sits on the Treasury Wine Estates board after more than a decade on Foster's. Also a director of Tatt's Group.

TBC. Dominique Fisher: 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.

TBC. Arlene Tansey: An American banker who Macquarie brought to Australia in 1994 and was last a senior executive in ANZ's institutional bank before embarking on a director career. Serves on Adelaide Brighton, Pacific Brands and two Lend Lease subsidiaries and previously sat on Sydney Roads Group board before Transurban takeover.

TBC. Katie Lahey: former long serving CEO of the BCA now heading up Korn Ferry's Australian head hunting operation. Has previously been on a number of boards including Hills Motorway, Australia Post and David Jones. Echo Entertainment is her only current ASX-listed gig.

TBC. Nerolie Withnall: a former corporate partner with Minter Ellison lawyers until 2000, she serves on an array of boards including Hedley Leisure and Gaming, Campbell Brothers, PanAust, Alchemia and Computershare.

TBC. 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, Centennial Coal and Boral.

TBC. Bronwyn Morris: former KPMG audit partner in Brisbane who is currently serving on QIC, RACQ, Bond University, Care Australia and Spotless boards and is a former chair of Queensland Rail.

Marie McDonald: career corporate lawyer who joined the board of CSL in 2011.

TBC. Elana Rubin: director of Mirvac and various NAB subsidiaries. Former chair of Australian Super and former director of Victrack, the Victorian WorkCover Authority, the TAC, Tower Australia Group, Infrastructure Australia and Bravura Solutions.

TBC. 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 and was been appointed the new chairman of cancer treatment biotech company Prima BioMed in October 2010.

TBC Chris Froggatt: A Brit with an HR background. Myer director for the past 5 years and chair of the remuneration committee. Also served on Goodman Fielder board.

TBC. Jenny Seabrook: sits on the boards of the Bank of Western Australia, MG Kailis Holdings, IRESS Market Technology and Iluka Resources. Former directorships include Gresham Partners and Gresham Advisory Partners, and she served on the board of West Australian Newspapers before exiting in 2009 when Kerry Stokes took control.

Penny Bingham-Hall: a very capable Leighton executive focused on external relations for 20 years. Retired in 2009 and was appointed to the Bluescope Steel boards in early 2011, followed by the Dexus board.

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

TBC. Rosemary Warnock: appointed to the board of Onesteel in September 2010. She is chairman of international company Thinc Group Holdings, and has held senior executive roles with BP.

TBC. Judith Swales: came to Australia from the UK to run the Angus & Robertson book chain and then went on to run the Goodyear tyre business for several years before joining the Foster's board.

TBC. 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 Ltd and and a couple of not for profit organisations.

TBC. Shirley In't Veld: joined the Asciano board on 1 November 2010. Shirley is currently the Managing Director of WA's leading energy producer Verve Energy and a former CEO of Alcoa Australia Rolled Products.

TBC. 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.

TBC. 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 services to medical technology. She serves on the board of Nuplex, St Barbara Mines and Penrice Soda and is a former director of Biota Holdings.

TBC. Melinda Cilento: economist who was deputy CEO of the Business Council of Australia and in December 2008 was appointed as a non-executive director of Woodside Petroleum.

TBC. Jane Harvey: former PwC partner who has served at IOOF Holdings since 2005 and sits on the boards of Medibank Private and the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Jane is also on the boards of the Colonial Foundation Trust, Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman, and Department of Treasury and Finance in Victoria and was deputy chair of the Alfred Hospital.

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

TBC. Fiona Balfour: joined Metcash board in November 2010 and also serves on Salmat and Airservices Australia board. Fiona was previously with Qantas and was CIO of Telstra before leaving after only 10 months.

TBC. Maureen Plasvic: a director of Pacific Brands, National Gallery of Victoria and Macquarie Radio. Was previously CEO of the Seven Network and a director of Opera Australia, which was sponsored by Seven.

TBC Cheryl Bart: newest director appointed to board of the ABC, the lawyer is an arts heavyweight in Adelaide who chaired the Adelaide Festival and South Australian Film Corporation, along with the EPA. Also first appointed to ETSA Utilities board by the state Liberals in 1995 and continues to oversee the assets after privatisation as an independent director of Spark Infrastructure. The only top female director to have climbed Everest.

TBC. Jennifer Hill-Ling: from the family which control the famous Hills Hoist she has stepped back from management and is serving as non-executive chairman of Hills Industries.

TBC 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. Also sits on the board of CFS Retail Trust and was appointed to the board of Australand in October 2010.

TBC Andrea Staines: the former CEO of Qantas subsidiary Australian Airlines when it launched in 2002 was recently appointed to the floated QR National board.

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

TBC. 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, Atlas Iron, Kairiki Energy and LinQ Capital Limited.

TBC. 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.



TBC. 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.

TBC. Jayne Hrdlicka: formerly a partner of management consulting company Bain & Co, she was appointed a non executive director of Woolworths in August 2010 at the same time as she took up a senior executive role at Qantas.

TBC 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 also chairs uranium explorer Toro Energy.

TBC. Christine Holgate: CEO of Blackmores with senior global management experience with Telstra, JP Morgan and Cable & Wireless who also serves on the board of Ten Network Holdings.

TBC Tina McMeckan: appointed non executive director of SP AusNet on August 9, 2010 and previously served on Victoria's Casino Control Authority and the Amrad board.

TBC Melinda Snowden: a former Freehills lawyer who is now a director of Grant Samuel and has served on the board of the listed Vita Group since 2008, plus some other unlisted boards.

TBC Rosalind Dubs: a former deputy Vice-Chancellor of UTS. 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 pokies manufacturer Aristocrat Leisure.

TBC Penny Morris: appointed to the board of Aristocrat Leisure in 2004, she formerly managed the Commonwealth's property portfolio and served as a senior executive at Lend Lease.

TBC Sally Pitkin: prior to joining the board of Aristocrat Leisure in 2005, she was a former director of Chandler Macleod, Australian Leisure & Hospitality, Ceramic Fuel Cells, Energex, and National Leisure and Gaming. Sally was previously a partner at Clayton Utz.

TBC Vanessa Wallace: appointed non executive director of Wesfarmers on July 6, 2010. Vanessa is also on the Chairman's Council of the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

TBC. Dulcie Boling: former journalist and Rupert Murdoch's Australian magazine queen who has been a non-executive director of Seven Network for more than 15 years.

TBC Rebecca McGrath: a former executive of BP including a role as chair of BP South West pacific and board member of Big Sky Credit Union, Rebecca was appointed to the OZ Minerals board in late 2010.

TBC. Carol Holley: a chartered accountant, auditor and registered tax agent who served for 9 years on the Cochlear board and still chairs the Cochlear Foundation. Currently a director of Australian Pharmaceutical Industries.

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

TBC. Cristina Cifuentes: former funds manager and treasury economist who also served on the NSW Independent Pricing Tribunal. She currently sits as a non-executive director on the board of First State Super, NSW T-Corp, and is a member of the Perpetual Multi Manager Investment Committee. Also a dierctor of the Australian Energy Regulator and Hunter Water Corporation which delivers water services to the Hunter Valley in NSW.

TBC 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 PwC. Since 2007 she has served on the board of Platinum Asset Management and previously worked with founder Kerr Neilson at BT.



TBC. Carmel Gray: after a career in IT and banking, she is now a Brisbane-based director of Bank of Queensland.

TBC. Christina Gillies: former IT heavyweight at the likes of St George, Bendigo Bank and Bank of Melbourne who is now a director of Oakton Computing and previously served on Corporate Express before the 2010 takeover. Has also served on numerous government IT committees and boards such as Centrelink from 1997 until 2005.

TBC. 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.

TBC. 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.

TBC. 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, WA state president of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and independent director of Sundance Resources.

Rhonda O'Donnell: director of Slater and Gordon and RMIT.

TBC. Joycelyn Morton: an accountant who hails from Sydney and started out with Coopers & Lybrand before working with Woolworths and then Shell in Australia and the Netherlands. Joined the board of Count Financial in 2006 and Noni B in 2009.

TBC. 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.


TBC. Dr Christine Clifton: a former GP who now sits on the board of death services company Invocare along with the UNSW council. She is a former CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health Service in NSW and deputy CEO of the Northern Sydney Area Health Service.

TBC. 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.

TBC. Kim Anderson: has more than 25 years experience in advertising and media executive positions within companies such as Southern Star Entertainment, PBL and NineMSN. In 2010 she joined the board of the newly floated Carsales.com.

TBC. Mary Shafer-Malicki: spent many years working for BP and in late 2010 was appointed to the board of Brisbane-based engineering contractor Ausenco.

OTHER FEMALE PUBLIC COMPANY DIRECTORS

Lee Ausburn: is a qualified pharmacist with experience in retail and hospital pharmacy, plus academia. She has served as a director of Australian Pharmaceutical Industries since October 2008.

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

Jennifer Tait: appointed non executive director of Alesco Corporation in August 2010. She is also a non-executive director of the not for profit organisation Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute.

Siobhan Mckenna: managing partner of Lachlan Murdoch's investment vehicle 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 but departed the Prime Media Group board after ACMA identified competition breaches.

Alice Williams: has over 20 years senior management and board level experience in the corporate and government sectors specialising in investment management, corporate advisory and equity fundraising. Alice was formerly a Director of NM Rothschild and Sons, and a Vice President at JP Morgan Australia. She currently serves on the board of listed investment company Djerriwarrh, plus Equity Trustees.

Marina Darling: with extensive 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.

Anne O'Donnell: was appointed to the board of Equity Trustees in September 2010. She is currently councillor and is a director of Community CPS Australia, Eastwoods and the Grain Growers Association.

Julie Raffe: CFO of Village Roadshow who acted as an alternate director of Austereo. Also serves on the board of HFA Accelerator Plus.

Beth Laughton: a financial analyst and investment banker who became the first female director of JB Hi Fi in May 2011.

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.

Stephanie Unwin: Perth-based commercial lawyer who is company general counsel at Verve Energy whilst serving as a non-executive director of Avoca Resources.

Danielle Blain: a director of Delta Corporation non executive director of Schaffer Corporation since 1987. In 2003 she was elected as the first woman state president of the Liberal Party in WA.

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

Samantha Tough: a former senior executive at Woodside who is now chairman of explorer Southern Cross Goldfields and a director of Murchison Metals.

Deborah Page: director of Service Stream and former director of Investa Property Group with a strong financial background.

Vijoleta Braach Maksvytis: was the first women appointed to the AWE board in October 2010.

Belinda Robinson: the outgoing CEO of APPEA was appointed a director of Beach Petroleum in May 2011.

Genelle Coghlan: independent director of mining services company AJ Lucas.

Nancy Fox: chair of the Adelaide Managed Funds Asset Backed Yield Trust.

Former female directors of ASX200 listed companies

Laura Anderson: a former KPMG partner who has worked around the world and rose to chair Melbourne's Fashion Festival. Departed the Just Group board after 4 years courtesy of Solly Lew's 2008 takeover. Check out her huge CV.

Mary Beth Bauer: a certified chartered accountant, Mary was formerly the chair of Talent2 International, and is the managing director of Value Enhancement Management.

Dr Christine Bennett: departed the Symbion Health board after Primary Healthcare took over the business in 2008.


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 before it demutualised.


Prof Adrienne Clarke: eminent scientist and former CSIRO chair who spent many years on boards such as AMP (94-99), WMC (96-05), Woolworths (94-07) as well as smaller outfits such as AMRAD, Hexima and Fisher & Paykel.


Bronwyn Constance: the former Pasminco finance director who departed the Just Group board after Solly Lew's 2008 takeover.


Patricia Crook: a successful Adelaide-based entrepreneur who founded therapeutic goods company Dynek in 1974. Served on the Adelaide Bank board from 2000 until it merged with Bendigo Bank in 2008. See her profile on page 32 of Adelaide Bank's 2007 annual report.

Kaylene Gaffney: Virgin Australia executive who joined the Wotif board in November 2010 until it was taken over in 2014.


Christina Giles: departed the Corporate Express board when it was mopped up its US parent in 2010.


Margaret Jackson: retired as Qantas chair in 2008 and also quit ANZ after almost 15 years. Had an unhappy experience chairing Billabong but did better chairing Flexigroup. Former director of Pacific Dunlop, BHP, Southcorp and Fairfax Media and now chair of Spotless.

Claire Jackson: non-executive director of iSoft group from 2004 until 2010.


TBC. 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 Group and Ardent Leisure (formerly Macquarie Leisure).


Julia King: the former CEO of Louis Vuitton in Australia who served on boards into her 70s. Finally retired from Servcorp in 2011 and did 15 years on Fairfax board plus a range of other cultural, commercial and government gigs over a long period.

Dr Adele Lloyd: a successful entrepreneur in South Australian who served for a decade on the Adelaide Bank board and rose to be chair when it merged with Bendigo Bank in 2008. See her profile on page 30 of Adelaide Bank's 2007 annual report.



Helen Lynch: served on multiple boards such as Westpac (97-07), Southcorp (96-05), Coles Myer (95-03). Was also deputy chair of Pacific Brands under Pat Handley and served on OPSM and Norwich. Chaired Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Funds SA for five years.

Prof Mary O'Kane: was vice-chancellor of Adelaide University from 1996 until 2001 and served on the FH Faulding board until the 2001 Mayne takeover. Consults to companies, government and universities on governance and research through her own firm these days.

Judith Sloan: conservative labour market academic who previously served on Mayne Nickless, ABC and Santos boards and has gigs on the Productivity Commission and Fair Pay Commission and in 2008 joined the Westfield board after getting to know the Lowy family through a spot on the Lowy Institute. Also chaired Babcock & Brown Communities through her previous position on Primelife board.


Naseema Sparks: departed the Mitchell Communications board in 2010 when the Aegis takeover was completed. Was previously CEO of M&C Saatchi and went to be CEO of Osteoporosis Australia.



Philippa Stone: highly rated commercial lawyer and partner at Freehills who joined the David Jones board in March 2010 before it was taken over. Also serves on Air Services Commission.

Susan Thomas: a Perth-based solicitor who went on to found Flexiplan before it was sold to MLC. Served for less than two years on the InvestorWeb board until the 2007 CBA takeover. See profile on page 21 of Investorweb's 2006 annual report.

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.










Some other female directors of notable unlisted institutions

Chloe Munro: from England originally and rose to lead Telstra's efforts on HR and climate change under Sol Trujillo. Now a professional director as chair of Aquasure, the consortium building the world's second biggest desalination plant in Victoria, and serves on the Australian Water Commission and Hydro Tasmania boards.

Carol Austen: economist who was appointed to the Future Fund board in 2011.

Marilyn Anderson: was appointed a director of City West Water by the Bracks Government in July 2008. She was a founding director at Hexima Limited, and is currently Hexima's Chief Science Officer and was a director at South East Water for over 10 years.

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.

Anne Barker: was appointed as City West Water's Managing Director in November 2002. Anne practised law before gaining broad management experience with Myer Stores and the ANZ Banking Group. She is currently a director of LeadWest, a member of the Plumbing Industry Advisory Council, and a member of the Committee for Learning and Innovation West.

Jane Bell: is a banking and finance lawyer with more than 20 years experience in law firms, financial services and corporate treasury operations gained living in Melbourne, London, Toronto, San Francisco and Brisbane. Jane is the deputy chair of Westernport Water Corporation, director of Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research and of Melbourne Health.

Susan Bitter: was appointed a director of the Victorian WorkCover Authority in 2003 and is the chief operating officer of law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth. Formerly served as CEO of Slater & Gordon and prior to that was a partner of Arthur Andersen.

Jan Boxall: was appointed a director of City West Water in January 2007. She is a practising lawyer and a former partner of Corrs Chambers Westgarth who chairs the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and Chaired Cabrini Health from 2002 to 2006. She is also a director of Queen Victoria Market and Melbourne Wholesale Fish Market.


Julie Caldecott: was appointed a director of the TAC in 2004. Julie is a Partner with the Boston Consulting Group and also a Director of the Royal Children's Hospital.

Helen Conway: recently departed company secretary and general counsel at Caltex who is now head of the Workplace Gender Equity Agency. Helen is a former deputy chair of Catholic Healthcare Ltd and was also on the board of Chartered Secretaries Australia.

Anne Dalton: holds a number of Victorian government board appointments and is currently the Chancellor of RMIT University. She has been a lawyer for over 20 years, and has expertise in public administration, corporate governance and probity and provides consultancy services in those areas.

Caryle Demarte: became a director of Yarra Valley Water in September 2005. She has had extensive experience in the energy industry and held executive and non-executive positions in the public and private sectors. Caryle is the deputy chair of Aurora Energy and Energy Retail Corporation and a member of the Victorian government's earth resources development council.

Melda Donnelly: is the founder and chairman of the Centre for Investor Education. Current directorships include chairman of Hochma Development Fund. She has also been CEO of Queensland Investment Corporation, and chairman of Plum Financial Services Nominees and North Western Health Care Network.

Netta Griffin: extensive management experience in the Victorian water industry and has been a director of RACV since 1998. Also served on La Trobe University council from 1998 until 2010.

Mary Anne Hartley: was appointed to the board of Melbourne Water on 1 July 2002. Mary Anne is also a director of the Port of Melbourne Corporation and a director of Gascor. She was a partner in a national law firm where she advised public hospitals and practised insurance law before joining the Victorian Bar, where she was appointed an SC in late 2009.

Julie Hill: director of Lend Lease since 2006 but lives in America so we're not ranking her with the Australian-based directors.

Patricia Kelly: a successful career in the insurance industry led to a position on the RACV board in 2010.

Merran Kelsall: the former deputy chancellor of RMIT University sits on RACV, Melbourne Water, Superpartners and International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board. Also chairs the Audit and Assurance Standards board and formerly sat on National Gallery of Victoria and Cuscal boards.

Carolyn Lloyd: is a member of Sustainability Victoria and the Building Practitioners Board, Carolyn's previous positions include CEO of the Housing Industry Association, member of the Premier's Sustainability Fund, EcoRecycle Victoria and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Victoria.

Wendy Machin: former National Party Cabinet Minister in NSW who is now chairman of the mutually owned road service provider NRMA Ltd.

Julia Mason: holds an MBA from the University of Chicago. Her former positions include group manager corporate strategy at Telstra's Sensis division. Julia previously taught in the Masters programme with Finsia, the former Securities Institute of Australia. She is currently Chairperson for One in Five, and previously held the position of Chairperson with the Victorian State Emergency Services. Julia currently has her own management consulting practice.

Christine McLoughlin: senior executive roles in major Australian public companies have included AMP, IAG, and Optus. Christine is a Director of ANSTO (Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation), the Victorian TAC, the AMP Foundation, The Smith Family and is on the Council of Chief Executive Women. Christine was named as Telstra Business Woman of the Year for Corporate and Government in 2000.

Sonia Petering: was appointed to the board of TAC in July 2007. Sonia is also Chair of Rural Finance Corporation of Victoria. Sonia runs her own legal practice and is also a consultant with the SED Consulting Group.

Sue Renkin: a former nurse who quickly got into management, got an MBA and now is chair of Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust, Monash Bio Medical Imaging and Monash Centre for Green Chemistry. Also a director of GMHBA Health Insurance, Northern Health and General Practice Victoria. A prime candidate to break through onto a public company boards in the health sector.

Liberty Sanger: is a director of Maurice Blackburn Lawyers. An accredited specialist in personal Injury law and practices in the area of WorkCover and common law. Liberty is a deputy board member of an Emergency Services and State Super fund. She is a regular contributor to 'The Friday Wrap' with Jon Faine on ABC 774. She is the former Chair of the Liquor Control Advisory Council and the Media Code of Conduct Working Group on Body Image. She has also formerly held board directorships with YWCA Victoria and the Victoria Law Foundation. Liberty's partner is Labor Senator and factional heavyweight David Feeney.

Suzanna Sheed: runs a family law practice in Shepparton and has sat on the RACV board for several years.

Alice Sidhu: is currently director, strategic sourcing in the Victorian Treasury. Alice also has extensive experience in strategic sourcing, procurement negotiations and project management with a number of global companies including Orica, Hewlett-Packard and Ericsson Australia.

Meredith Sussex: is currently an Administrator of the City of Brimbank and is a director of the Port of Melbourne Corp. She is also a member of the national Expert Panel on Cities for the Council of Australian Governments' Reform Council.

Greta Thomas: Greta joined (RED)™, founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver to help eliminate AIDS in Africa, in 2006 as Marketing & Commercial Director for Europe, based in London. In 2007 she became RED's Africa executive focusing on all aspects of its $US150 million operation in Africa. Greta has also been a Director of the Pathways Foundation, a not for profit financed by Social Ventures Australia.

Gabrielle Traynor: former journalist turned PR doyen who has served on boards such as VicUrban, PILCH and the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority.

Eleanor Underwood: took up the position of chairman of Melbourne Water in April 2010, after serving 10 years on the South East Water board, including 5 years as its chair. Before that she was a senior academic planner at RMIT University.

Maria Wilton: was appointed to the board of Melbourne Water on 1 October, 2009. Maria is a chartered financial analyst and is currently a member of the board of the Financial Services Council and the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Maria is also the managing director of Franklin Templeton Investments Australia.

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