RSSNew Chair and Independent Director join auDA Board
Two highly experienced independent directors joined the auDA Board this week, bringing decades of additional governance expertise to the organisation.
Suzanne Ewart brings experience in strategy, treasury and finance for some of Australia’s major ASX listed companies to her new role as Independent Director of auDA.
Ms Ewart joins new Independent Chair and Director Chris Leptos AM, whose appointment was announced in the auDA newsletter earlier this week.
Mr Leptos is an experienced Non-Executive Director across several sectors, and a Professorial Fellow with Monash University.
He was a Senior Partner with KPMG, and Managing Partner Government at Ernst & Young where he had national responsibility for leading the public sector practice.
Interim Chair Erhan Karabardak welcomed the new members of the Board, who were appointed after an extensive search by independent recruitment company Hattonneale.
“These highly skilled and experienced Directors will bring fresh eyes and new perspectives to the Board at an important time,” Mr Karabardak said.
Mr Leptos said he looked forward to leading the Board as it undertakes a number of strategic decisions for the organisation.
“auDA is a crucial part of Australia’s infrastructure. I look forward to leading a Board that is consultative and focused on its responsibilities to its members and the wider community.”
Earlier in his career Mr Leptos was Managing Director of Computer Power UK based in London, and General Manager of Corporate Development for Western Mining Corporation. He has lived and worked in Jakarta, Shanghai, Toronto and London.
In May 2000 he was appointed by Premier Steve Bracks to the Infrastructure Planning Council of Victoria, and in 2001 he was invited to be a member of the Australian Information Economy Advisory Council by Senator Richard Alston.
Ms Ewart is a Certified Practising Accountant who has held senior treasury roles at Fosters Group, NAB, Telstra and BTR Nylex. She brings 17 years of board expertise and experience in Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Executive Officer roles in financial services, diversified manufacturing, capital infrastructure and water industries.
Both Directors will attend the AGM in Melbourne on 27 November. Members unable to attend the AGM in person are invited to listen to the live audio stream and submit questions via the auDA Member Discussion Forum.
Members who have not yet registered for this forum are invited to contact membership@auda.org.au with your name and membership class to receive a registration link. Streaming details will be provided to all members later this week.