GOVERNANCE TOP 100
WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE PART OF THE GOVERNANCE TOP 100 EVENT NOW IN ITS SEVENTH YEAR! CELEBRATING THE TOP GOVERNANCE PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND SHINING A LIGHT ON A PROFESSION THAT WE ARE SO PROUD TO BE A PART OF.
NOMINATIONS FOR 2026 HAVE NOW CLOSED. FUTURE DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED.
Governance Top 100 is about highlighting the amazing talent and achievements of individuals that take their role in governance to the next level within their organisations. Governance as a profession is ever evolving and is made up of individuals from a variety of professional backgrounds across a range of entity, size and industry types which is why we are encouraging nominations from all governance professionals.
This event would not be possible without the commitment and support of our culturally aligned partners who are all champions of governance in their own right.
The Governance Top 100 event was launched in 2020 to emphasise the value and benefit that robust governance frameworks, and the individuals that are responsible for driving these initiatives, bring to an organisation.
Mahatma Gandhi famously said, "Be the change you want to see in the world", so on that note if you are a company secretary, general counsel, risk manager, CRO, CFO, CEO, director or other governance professional that is paving the way for governance in your organisation we want you to be part of Governance Top 100!
Partners
Get to know our proud partners of Governance Top 100 for 2026
3YS Owls is a corporate governance firm and incorporated legal practice co-founded by Ainslie Cunningham and Deb Anderson following extensive careers in corporate governance, company secretarial, risk and legal roles with over 40+ years of combined experience between them predominantly from in-house roles. 3YS Owls specialise in providing a variety of services and solutions across corporate governance, company secretary, board advisory, strategy, risk and business consulting. They have a strong focus on governance - to create an ethical environment that supports an inclusive culture. Boards and leadership teams need to be cohesive, able to harness a diversity of views and foster good governance. They aim to align with clients who share the same values and their ultimate goal is to help directors and executives sleep at night knowing they have a trusted advisor that fosters good governance keeping all stakeholders happy.
3YS Owls have hosted Governance Top 100 every year since the events inception in 2020.
FIND OUT MOREOne of Melbourne's first start-up technology companies, Computershare was founded in the city's suburbs in 1978.
Computershare is the world's leading share registry and transfer agency businesses and has pioneered many of the securities industry's innovations to help companies build and maintain strong relationships with their investors, employees and customers. For almost 50 years, Computershare has grown rapidly in markets around the world to meet the evolving needs of more than 25,000 clients.
CComputershare remains a unique Australian success story, building on its share registry business through expansion into employee equity plans, stakeholder communications, company secretarial and corporate governance, fund services, class action administration, deposit protection and mortgage servicing.
When Computershare listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: CPU) in 1994, it had a market capitalisation of approximately AUD $36 million, managed around 6 million shareholder accounts and employed about 50 staff. Today, Computershare is a global business operating across more than 20 countries, servicing more than 25,000 clients and employing approximately 14,000 people across the world's major financial markets.
FIND OUT MORECTS delivers personalised end-to-end audio visual solutions tailored to meet the technical needs and goals of corporate organisations across Australia. From Consulting to Production and ongoing Support, we are the most trusted partner in audio visual solutions.
With over 20 years of industry-leading experience, our Production team deliver time critical, high profile events. Whether it is a live “in person event” or hybrid event with remote participants, CTS has the technology and capability to support you. CTS are award winning innovators in hybrid and virtual AGMs. From staging & lighting to broadcasting and technical execution, CTS’s dedicated team are your trusted partners to make your AGM a seamless experience. FIND OUT MOREFor 100 years, we have been, and remain, uniquely McCullough Robertson. With significant reach and experience across Australia, our dynamic team delivers practical solutions to national and international clients, seeing them through their critical challenges and opportunities, and always delivering the best possible outcomes for our clients.
Our large corporate practice has expertise across the technology, media and telecommunications, life sciences, resources and renewables, food and agribusiness, financial services, and not-for-profit industries. We deliver tailored, practical advice to our clients to ensure that they meet not only their regulatory obligations, but also the evolving demands of shareholders, the community and other stakeholders. As advisers to boards, senior management, and legal/compliance teams, we advise on all legal aspects of corporate governance including directors' duties and liabilities, shareholder and investor relations, annual reports, AGMs and EGMs.
FIND OUT MORENasdaq Governance Solutions offers an integrated ecosystem of AI-enabled technologies, expert advisory services, and a global community—all designed to accelerate board effectiveness. At the center of our offerings is Nasdaq Boardvantage®, a board management platform that enhances efficiency and decision-making for board members and governance teams through intelligent workflows, integrated technologies, and actionable insights.
Our solutions simplify key governance activities such as board meeting management, board evaluations, and compliance questionnaires. Trusted by over 4,400 companies worldwide, we also provide access to industry expertise and valuable networking opportunities, empowering boards to lead with confidence and shape the future.
FIND OUT MOREJudging Panel - 2026
Co-Founder & Director, 3YS Owls
Managing Director, Entity Governance and Compliance ANZ, Computershare
Head of ESG and Governance Solutions, APAC, Corporate Platforms, Nasdaq
Partner, McCullough Robertson Lawyers
Ainslie is a qualified company secretary and risk manager, a fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia (GIA) and Chartered Governance Institute (CGI) and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Risk Management Institute of Australasia. Ainslie has held various corporate governance, company secretarial and risk management roles over the past 19 years with unlisted global ASX publicly listed companies predominantly in the resources, retail and financial services sectors. Ainslie is currently the Company Secretary for a range of entities in health & technology, aviation, education, infrastructure, wildlife management, local council and mining services. Ainslie is a former Non-Executive Director of the GIA Board and CGI National Council and also sat on the Queensland State Council of GIA and various committees. In addition, Ainslie co-hosts a podcast and is a course facilitator with GIA. Ainslie also holds a Certified Practising Risk Manager CPRM® certificate and specialises in the key areas of: Corporate Governance; Company Secretary; and Risk Management.
FIND OUT MORETom Bloomfield is Managing Director, Entity Governance & Compliance ANZ at Computershare and a governance, financial services, and commercial leader with more than 20 years' experience advising boards, listed companies, private organisations, and multinational groups. Tom has built and led leading governance and company secretarial practices and is recognised for his contribution to corporate governance, compliance, and company secretarial services across the Australian market.
FIND OUT MORERachel Adams is Head of ESG and Governance Solutions, Asia Pacific at Nasdaq. Since joining Nasdaq in August 2014, Rachel has played a key role in the region's growth, initially focusing on Investor Relations and Communications solutions within Nasdaq's Corporate Solutions business. More recently, she has led ESG and Governance initiatives across Asia Pacific, with responsibility for sales, client engagement, and strategic development.
Rachel is particularly passionate about advancing sustainable business practices, enhancing ESG reporting and disclosure, improving board effectiveness, and strengthening cybersecurity governance within the boardroom.
Prior to Nasdaq, Rachel held leadership roles at Thomson Reuters, where she worked within the Corporate Solutions Investor Relations and Communications business and led regional operations and client service teams.
Originally from the United States, Rachel relocated to Hong Kong in 2008, where she has since built a successful career supporting listed companies and boards across the Asia-Pacific region.
FIND OUT MORENaomi is a Partner in McCullough Robertson's Corporate Advisory Group, being a trusted adviser on capital raisings, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and regulatory compliance. She provides expert advice on Corporations Act and ASX Listing Rule issues, delivering solutions to complex problems. Naomi’s clients range from emerging companies to ASX listed and multinational companies, giving her a strong commercial understanding of issues across the corporate life cycle and developing regulatory trends. Her experience extends across a range of industries including the life sciences and technology sectors. Naomi has contributed her governance expertise to community partnership roles, including Women Lawyer’s Association of Queensland (Secretary), Committee for Brisbane – Enterprise Sub-Committee, and Life Sciences Queensland (Catalyst Program mentor).
FIND OUT MOREWinner of Governance Top 100 for 2025
Angela Watson
Head of Governance Risk and Compliance, CS Energy
This award is an honour and a recognition of my leadership journey, capability, strategic impact, and the investment that CS Energy has made in me over the years.
Angela Watson
Finalists - 2026
Governance Top 100 Winner Outstanding Achiever Rising Star
Adam Soffer
Company Secretary, Dennis Family Corporation
Alfredo Amado
Group General Counsel & Company Secretary, Venture Startups Pty Ltd trading as Updoc
Allan Gibson OAM
Independent Risk Expert | Risk & Compliance Committee | New South Wales Bar Association
Amanda Gawne
Group Chief Risk and Legal Officer and Company Secretary, Generation Development Group Limited
Andrew Heath
Board Secretary and Director, Governance Risk & Assurance, Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority
Andrew Ho
Compliance Manager (ANZ Lead) and Privacy Officer, EssilorLuxottica
Andrew Hodson
Risk and Compliance Advisor, Cairns Regional Council
Andrew Symes
Chief Counsel - Superannuation, Mercer Superannuation (Australia) Limited
Angus Fotheringham
Associate General Counsel APAC, Verint Systems
Anita Liang
Specialist Licensing and Governance, Insurance Australia Group Limited
Anita Menzie
Governance Officer, Hydro Tasmania
Annette O'Hara
General Counsel & Company Secretary, Shine Justice Ltd
Anurag Kanwar
DGRC, AIBM
Anushka Denning
Deputy Company Secretary, EML Payments Limited
Ashleigh Marshall
Governance Coordinator, Mid-Western Regional Council
Avril Doyle
Company Secretary and Senior Manager, Government Affairs, Keystart
Belinda Loke
Board Director, Medical Pantry Ltd
Bernadette Doyle
General Manager, Legal & Governance, LifeFlight Australia
Catherine Di Stasi
Executive Manager - Clinical Care, Icon Group
Charlie Ayoub
Director Governance and Risk, Cumberland City Council
Christina Li
Associate Director - Compliance Lead, NSW Treasury
Christine Hannan
Chairperson, Engender Equality (Family Violence Therapeutic, Education and Advocacy Service)
Christopher Doherty
General Manager, Legal & Company Secretary, Alpha Flight Services Pt Ltd trading as dnata Catering & Retail
David Kelley
Interim Chief Operating Officer, Holdfast Group
David Royston-Jennings
Risk & Resilience Coordinator, Local Government Mutual Services
Deborah Costin
Risk and Compliance Manager, St Hilda’s school
Diana Nestorovska
Director of Legal Services - STEM, University of Melbourne
Edwin (Eddie) Gibbons
Company Secretary/Corporate Governance, Girton Grammar School
Elizabeth Duncan-Lee
Group General Counsel, NCC Group Pty Limited
Elizabeth Harrison
Company Secretary, Korowa Anglican Girls' School
Emma Braun
Company Secretary, Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
Emma Snell
Deputy Company Secretary, Alinta Energy
German Hernandez Olivo
Senior Analyst, Enterprise Risk, Alinta Energy
Glenn Tomai
General Manager Audit, Risk and Scheme Integrity, Container Exchange
Graham Chee
Managing Director, Local Knowledge
Gregory Seeto
Chief Legal & Governance Officer, Asia Pacific Internet Development Trust
Heidi Rodgers
Company Secretary, CleanCo Queensland Limited
Ian Pelayo
Director of Corporate Secretarial Group, ABN Australia Accounting Services Pty Ltd
Jack Aleckson
Deputy Governance Officer, Australian Red Cross Society
Jackie Ellis
Manager Company Secretariat, Suncorp Group Limited
Jacqui Knight
Company Secretary, Thirrili
Jane Burton
General Counsel-APAC & Co-Head of AI Governance, Ashurst Perkins Coie Australia
Janelle Reid
Senior Legal Counsel, Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave Funding) Corporation
Jarod Graham
Board Secretary, Life FM
Jaya Prasad
Sustainability & Governance Manager/ Deputy Company Secretary, New Hope Group (New Hope Corporation Limited ASX:NHC)
Joanne Gonsalves
Senior Governance Manager, Containers Exchange
Joanne Jefferies
General Counsel and Group Company Secretary - Platinum Asset Management Limited (now L1 Group Limited)
Jo-Anne Johnson
Chief Governance Officer & Company Secretary, Community Services Australia Ltd
John Elisher
General Counsel & Company Secretary, Australian Military Bank Limited
Joshua Little
Chief Risk & Compliance Officer, The Living Company
Karanveer Dhaliwal
General Counsel and Company Secretary, CJC Management Services Pty Ltd
Karen Grumley
Head of Risk and Resilience, Pacific National
Kate Allder-Conn
Manager Corporate Governance/Public Officer, Kyogle Council
Katrina Brigham
General Counsel, APAC & Global Head of Compliance, Cprime
Katrina Johnson
Group Company Secretary & Head of Regulatory Affairs, WiseTech Global Limited
Kennan Herkiloglu
Company Secretary, Australian Payments Network
Kerry McGoldrick
Global Head of Governance Risk Compliance & Legal, UBT
Khurram Khan
Manager, Governance, Risk and Strategy, AUSMASA
Kirsten Kiel-Chisholm
General Counsel and Company Secretary, Translational Research Institute
Kohei Katagiri
Company Secretary, Foodbank NSW & ACT Limited
Komal Jagad
Company Secretary, Grand Pacific Health
Kousai Elali
General Counsel, Company Secretary and Head of Corporate Operations, Settlement Services International Limited (SSI)
Laurain Durrani
Practice function Lead Risk and compliance advisory for investments, products, sales and marketing, Netwealth
Levi Mitchell
Chief Governance, Risk and Compliance Officer and Company Secretary, Cowden Insurance Brokers
Lisa Scanes
Investment Governance Manager, Marsh
Louisa Kirkwood
VP, General Counsel and Company Secretary at Willow, Willow Technology Operations Pty Ltd
Magali Robinson
Group Assistant Company Secretary, nib
Mark Anning
General Counsel and Company Secretary, COSOL Limited
Matthew Crossley
Group Company Secretary & Executive Manager - Quality, Risk and Compliance, National Affordable Housing
Meghna Piplani
Assistant Company Secretary, Bio101 Financial Advisory Pty Ltd | Joint Cosec, Entropy Neurodynamics Ltd (ASX ENPJ)
Melissa Lee
Coordinator Governance and Risk, Woollahra Municipal Council
Melissa Sutton
Manager Governance, Integrity and Ethics, Wollondilly Shire Council
Michael Guilday
Chief Legal & Risk Officer, Sydney Fish Market Pty Ltd
Michael McLaws
Regional Legal Counsel (QLD), InfraBuild Construction Solutions Pty Ltd
Michael Pearson
Company Secretary, ATC Williams
Michael Sapountzis
Company Secretary, CAR Group Limited
Michaela Walsh
Company Secretary and Governance Operations Lead, Bio101 Financial Advisory
Morri Farrugia
General Counsel & Compliance Officer, Schindler Lifts Australia Pty Ltd
Nicole Nott
Chief Legal Officer & Company Secretary, CBHS Health Fund Limited
Olivia Byron
Head of Corporate Legal and Company Secretary, L1 Group Limited
Paula Davies
General Counsel & Company Secretary, Adelaide Primary Health Network Ltd
Raff Del Vecchio
Assistant Secretary PANSW, Police Association of NSW
Raj Kumar
Executive General Manager Governance, Risk and Compliance, DKG Insurance Group
Rajes Selvanathan
Partner, Business Risk & Compliance, RAC WA
Ramona Roach
CEO, Director and Company Secretary, Ethika Group Pty Ltd
Rebekah Foster
Associate Director, Governance, Federation University Australia
Robert Bonotto
Chief People and Corporate Officer, FUJIFILM Business Innovation Australia Pty Ltd
Robin Bates
General Counsel & Company Secretary, Metro Mining Ltd
Sam Nimkar
Deputy Company Secretary, CBHS Health Fund Limited
Shara Reid
Founder & Principal Consultant, The Business-Growth-Hub Pty Ltd
Sharan Gill
General Counsel, Law Mutual (WA)
Shaun Conroy
CEO The Barclay Group, Greenmount Developments Pty Ltd
Sonia Whiteley
CEO, Aspire Higher Education
Stephen Adeleke
Project Risk Manager, Powerlink Queensland
Steven Maycock
General Counsel, TT-Line Company Pty Ltd
Theo Kapodistrias
General Counsel at Stacked Farm + Chair Story Island Project, Stacked Farm
Vanessa Davidson
Principal Consultant - Clearly Strategic, Eastern Waste Management Authority and Australian Medicines Handbook
Vicki Coles
General Counsel, City of Wanneroo
Vinod Kumar
General Counsel & Company Secretary, BlackRock Investment Management (Australia) Limited
Zoltan A Borbay
Executive General Manager, Always Care Services | Board Member, Arpad Aged Care | Lecturer, Torrens University Australia
Key Dates
Nominations Open
The date which nominations for Governance Top 100 open at 9am (AEST).
Nominations Close
The date which nominations for Governance Top 100 close at 5pm (AEST).
Governance Top 100 For 2026 Announced
The date which the finalists for Governance Top 100 for 2026 will be published on the website.
Due to the overwhelming response this year, this date has been extended by 1 week to allow the judging panel time to consider the nominations. The date which the finalists for Governance Top 100 for 2026 will be published on the website.
Judging to be Completed
The final date which judging is to be completed.
Winner to be Announced
The date which the winner will be announced via a live webinar at 9am (AEST) / 10am (AEDT). Register here in advance for the webinar. The winner will also be announced via the website and notified direct.
Award for the overall winner
The overall winner for Governance Top 100 2026 will receive an award and a prize which is their choice of an Apple iPad or an Apple Watch and a hamper from Australian Gourmet Gifts up to a value of $1,200 (inclusive of GST).
Nominations
Nominations for 2026 have now closed. Future dates for 2027 to be announced.
