If you want to be successful, find someone who has achieved the results you want and model them. Mentor List showcases Australia's most successful business leaders.
Michael Smith was the CEO of Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. (ANZ) from 2007 to 2015 and following his retirement he remained an Adviser to the Board until July 2017.
Prior to this Michael held several other high-ranking business positions. He was President and Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Chairman of Hang Seng Bank Limited, Global Head of Commercial Banking for the HSBC Group, and Chairman of HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad.
Elizabeth Proust is Chairman of Cuscal Ltd, a non-executive director of Lendlease Ltd, and Chair of SuperFriend, a not for profit in the mental health space. Towards the end of 2020, she concluded 2 other key roles: Chairman of Nestle Australia, and Chairman of the Bank of Melbourne.
In 2010 Elizabeth was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to public administration and to business, through leadership roles in government and private enterprise, as a mentor to women, and to the community through contributions to arts, charitable and educational bodies.
Previously Elizabeth worked in senior roles at the ANZ Banking Group, in local, State and Federal Government, and in BP Australia and BP International. She has held senior positions in the Victorian Government, including as Secretary (CEO) of the Department of Premier and Cabinet and Secretary of the Attorney-General’s Department. She was also CEO of the City Of Melbourne. Past directorships include Perpetual, Spotless, and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. She is the immediate past Chairman of the Australian Institute of Directors.
She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has a Law degree (University of Melbourne) and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from La Trobe University. She has received honorary doctorates from Monash, La Trobe and Wollongong Universities.
On a personal level, she has been married to Brian Lawrence for almost 50 years, has a daughter and 2 grandsons. Her interests include classical music, theatre, reading and following the Collingwood Football Club. She grew up in Balmain, country NSW and Wollongong, and lived in Melbourne for almost 40 years. The pandemic has seen her move back to Sydney to be closer to family who live in Sydney.
David Thodey is Chair of the Commonwealth Science, Industry & Research Organisation (CSIRO) and a Director of Ramsay Health Care, Tyro Payments, Vodafone Group UK and Xero.
Previously David was CEO and Executive Director of Telstra, appointed in May 2009. He formally retired from the CEO position on 30 April 2015. Telstra is Australia’s leading Telco with an international presence spanning Asia, Europe and North America. Before joining Telstra, David was CEO, Australia and New Zealand at IBM. During his 22 years at IBM, David held several senior executive positions across Asia Pacific.
Brian Hartzer is an experienced financial service professional and a former CEO of Westpac.
He is a veteran of New York-based banking strategy firm, First Manhattan Consulting Group, and has held senior roles at ANZ and the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Gail’s banking career spans 35 years, split equally between South Africa and Australia. While in South Africa, Gail held a number of senior executive positions in the Nedbank Group.
Gail served as the Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of two banks in Australia – St.George Bank from 2002 to 2007 and Westpac from 2008 to 2015. In 2008, these two banks came together under Gail’s leadership in what was the largest in-market merger in Australian financial services. At the time of her retirement in February 2015, The Westpac Group was the country’s 2nd largest bank and the 12th largest bank in the world, in terms of market capitalisation.
Claire Rogers was chief executive of World Vision Australia, the country’s largest not-for-profit organisation, working in partnership across 90 countries to provide short and long term assistance to 100 million people.
Claire, a social innovator, has a proven track record of strategising and delivering major change initiatives, helping organisations adapt to the tech-disrupted economy, aligning physical and digital execution to maximise opportunities.
Claire was recently head of digital channels at ANZ Bank, spearheading its digital transformation, leading mobile and internet banking and digital security.
A highly networked influencer, Claire brings to different environments finely-honed communication and negotiation skills, strength and compassion that creates strong community buy-in and support.
Claire has an MBA from Melbourne Business school, formerly chair of Ridley College Melbourne and is a director on the board of ACFID, the Australian international charities industry peak body.
Claire is married with two children, and lives in Melbourne. Her family have been World Vision child sponsors since 2006. In November 2016, Claire was able to visit her sponsored child in Myanmar.
James Fazzino is a strategic leader with an impressive track record taking local Australian business through significant growth & expansion into international markets. During his tenure as the Managing Director and CEO of Incitec Pivot (IPL), James led the largest Australian corporate growth story on record. Over his 14 year tenure, first as CFO and then as CEO, the company increased in size 6-fold to an enterprise value of $8bn.
James is currently the Chairman of Manufacturing Australia, Chairman of Osteon Medical, a leading digital health business, Non-Executive Director of Australian Pipeline Limited, Non-Executive Director of Rabobank Australia Limited & Non-Executive Director of Tassal Group Limited, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow & Adjunct Professor at La Trobe University. James passionately believes in diversity and is a member of the Melbourne Male Champions of Change group.
Mike Foster was previously the CEO and Executive Director of Fujitsu Australia and New Zealand (FANZ). In line with restructuring of Fujitsu’s global organization he was appointed as Head of the Oceania Region in April 2014 reporting directly to the Global President. He had been instrumental in driving the company’s business strategy at the enterprise level and to develop Fujitsu’s presence as a Tier 1 Technology Services Integrator with over 5,000 people in Australia and New Zealand.
Mike’s career to date spans over 25 years in the ICT industry in Australia and North America. Prior to Fujitsu, he spent nine years in senior executive positions at Telstra, including Managing Director, Business Sales, and more recently as the Chief Executive Officer, KAZ Group. Before joining Telstra, he was Managing Director, EMC, Australia/New Zealand and Managing Director, NCR Australia.
After distinguished working career , with the last half in CEO roles, Malcolm now concentrates his endeavours on non-executive roles as Chairman, Director and Mentor. With the diversity and depth of his experience he brings a unique set of skills whether that be private sector vs government, listed vs multi-national, Australian vs international or high growth vs rescue mission.
His executive roles include CEO of Elders, Coates Hire, Manpower Services, Defence SA and the SA Fire & Emergency Services Commission. He spent the first 15 years of his working life at sea as an officer in the New Zealand Navy. He has degrees in Pure Mathematics and Accounting, is a Fellow of the AICD and is a recipient of the Centenary of Federation Medal.
Whilst the role of any non-executive has a bias towards strategy, financial performance and governance it is working with the CEO and the Executive team on creating a culture of "accountability and expectation" to drive overall performance that provides Malcolm with the greatest level of satisfaction.
Without the constraints of an executive role Malcolm now enjoys spending more time with Kristen and their ever-increasing family as well as travelling together, playing very average golf and enjoying good wine. He remains a die-hard All Black supporter and a Hawthorn tragic.
Paula Dwyer is a professional independent non-executive Chairman and Director. Prior to this she was a senior investment banker, with extensive experience in both Australian companies and international companies operating in Australia.
Paula has a strong record of achievement across a wide variety of sectors including regulated industries: financial services (banking, insurance and investment), gambling entertainment, healthcare, energy and utilities; non-regulated industries: fast moving consumer goods, engineering and construction, property and retailing; and for-purpose organisations: sport, medical research and commercialisation, and education.
Paula Dwyer has been recognised for her leadership by her peers as 2019 AICD “Distinguished Fellow”; and as 2017 University of Melbourne “Alumni of Distinction”.
The Hon Julie Bishop served as Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2013 until her resignation in 2018. She was the first female to hold the role as well as the first female Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, serving for 11 years.
As Foreign Minister, Ms Bishop was responsible for strengthening Australia’s key strategic and economic relationships with Ministerial responsibility for more than 5,000 departmental staff, 110 overseas missions as well as government agencies Australian Secret Intelligence Service and Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research.
In 2014, she led the international response to the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine, and was awarded the Commander of the Order of Merit of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Under her leadership, the 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper was developed, providing a comprehensive policy framework for the next decade; and the New Colombo Plan was established, enabling Australian undergraduates to live, study and work in the Indo-Pacific region. Within five years more than 40,000 students have participated in the Plan.
Glen is the founding Managing Director of Greencross (ASX listed 2007 to 2019 ASX:GXL) and was a co-founder and Director of Mammoth Pet Holdings Pty Ltd (Petbarn) before it merged with Greencross.
Greencross is Australasia’s leading veterinary hospital operator and specialty pet care retailer, with more than 200 animal hospitals operating under the brand names Greencross and Animal Emergency Centres and 300 pet stores operating under the brand names Petbarn and City Farmers in Australia and Animates in New Zealand. The company employs over 6000 employees including veterinarians, nurses, retail team members, groomers and managers.
He is chairman and shareholder of ASX-listed companies Healthia (ASX:HLA) (a national network of over 300 physiotherapy, podiatry, optometry, exercise physiology and hand therapy clinics with more than 1200 employees) and People Infrastructure (ASX:PPE) (a diversified workforce solutions firm delivering a wide range of services to Australian businesses across four main sectors including healthcare, community services, industrial services and information technology with over 500 internal employees and 12,000 candidates) .
He is also chairman and shareholder of two private companies Cardionexus (a technology enabled cardiac science business delivering cardiac diagnostic services and training across Australia) and Naturo Technologies (food technology businesses value adding the supply chain in Avocado and Milk industries in Australia and South Africa).
He is also a non-executive director and shareholder of SmartVet (USA domiciled agri-tech company operating in USA), De Motu Cordis (Qld based Medical Technology Device Co) and Adventure Holdings Australia (Oztrail and Companion brands operating in camping and leisure industry).
Glen was a resident panellist and investor on Channel 10’s Shark Tank Series (Seasons 2-4).
Andy Penn became the CEO and Managing Director of Telstra, Australia’s largest telecommunications company, on 1 May 2015. At Telstra Andy is leading an ambitious change program transforming Telstra to be positioned to compete in the radically changing technology world of the future with 5G at its core.
Andy has had an extensive career spanning more than 4 decades across 3 industries - telecommunications, financial services and shipping. He joined Telstra in 2012 as Chief Financial Officer. In 2014 he took on the additional responsibilities of Group Executive International.
Prior to Telstra, Andy spent 23 years with the AXA Group, one of the world’s largest insurance and investment groups. His time at AXA included the roles of Chief Executive Officer 2006-2011 AXA Asia Pacific Holdings and Chief Financial Officer. At AXA, Andy was instrumental in building one of the most successful Asian businesses by an Australian company sold to its parent in 2011 for more than A$10bn.
With a depth of experience in executive roles in sales, commercial, operations and human resources, Henriette is pragmatic and outcome focused. She is passionate about working with teams to drive sustainable performance and implement change in complex situations. Most recently Henriette was Chief Transformation Officer at Network Ten, where she embedded a new executive team through the departure of the CEO and transitioned to a new operating model. Prior to joining KordaMentha, Henriette was COO at ASX listed digital comparison iSelect and Managing Director of global consulting firm Hay Group managing Australia, NZ, Japan and Korea. Henriette has a focused approach to building teams to challenge executives, drive performance, implement strategy and build enduring cultural change. Henriette works with a strong team of senior colleagues to implement sustainable turnaround in complex, politically charged, time sensitive, and financially challenged environments.
Peggy has a Bachelor of Arts from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia. She also has a Diploma in Superannuation Management from Macquarie University.
Peggy has been a non-executive director of several companies in the superannuation and financial services sectors. She is currently the chair of Vanguard Superannuation and is also a director of Infrastructure Specialist Asset Management.
Peggy is on the board of Women's Housing Limited, on the investment advisory panel of Home for Homes (an initiative of the Big Issue) and is an ambassador for micro-finance organisation, Opportunity International. She is also on the board of Australia Dementia Network Limited.
Peggy is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is also a member of Chief Executive Women and the Melbourne Forum.
Peggy has been president of the Richmond Football Club since October 2013, having served on the Club's board since 2005. She is the first woman to be president of an AFL club, and the Richmond Football Club won the 2017, 2019 and 2020 premierships. In April 2018, Peggy was appointed by the AFL to its inaugural Competition Committee which advises the AFL Commission on issues regarding the design and future of the AFL competition.
In August 2014 she was appointed to chair the Victorian Minister for Sport's year-long Inquiry into 'Women and Girls in Sport and Active Recreation' and until June 2018 was convenor of the Minister's Change Our Game Champions program.
Martin is the CEO of The Bean Centre, an organisation founded with a single mission: To partner with visionary education experts, breakthrough technology companies and future thinking education providers to create a future that works.
Through The Bean Centre and drawing on his deep knowledge of the intersection of technology and education, Martin provides strategic advice to educational organisations of all types - private, public and community.
Previously, Martin was Vice-Chancellor and President of RMIT University, an institution with over 80,000 students based in Melbourne, Australia, with campuses in Vietnam and formal University partnerships in Singapore and China. He previously held the positions of Vice-Chancellor of The Open University, the UK’s largest academic institution and leader in the provision of flexible learning, and General Manager of Microsoft’s Education Products Group in Seattle, Washington. He has held various executive leadership roles in companies focused on integrating technology and learning solutions.
In 2012, he launched FutureLearn, the UK’s first at-scale provider of Massive Open Online Courses, and in 2014 he was named one of the UK Prime Minister's Business Ambassadors.
Martin was the Australian Government representative on the Commonwealth of Learning Board of Governors, Chaired the Australian Technology Network of Universities in 2017 and 2018 and Chaired the Victorian Vice-Chancellors' Committee in 2018 and 2019.
In 2021, Martin was appointed by the Australian Government as one of three Business Champions to support the Australia – Vietnam Strategic Partnership and jointly led a Federal Government Review of university-industry collaboration in teaching and learning.
He has won numerous awards in the UK and US for his contribution to education including an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of London in 2013 and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2015 United Kingdom New Year's Honours list, both for services to higher education.
Adrian is an experienced technology entrepreneur and investor who has started and built several extremely successful companies including booking.com Europe’s largest online hotel booking website, sold in 2004 after four years, delivering a 16 fold return to investors.
Adrian was then founder of AlertMe.com in 2006, a home energy monitoring system and leading technology innovator in cloud based Smart Home Services. He sold to Centrica PLC in 2009 for £44m before moving to Australia.
Adrian has angel investments in 12 technology companies and is currently a shareholder and board member of ASX listed Eastern Iron Limited and is encouraging them to use clean energy for both the future mine site and transport needs. In 2010 Adrian co-founded Australian Solar Group to help drive the expansion of large- scale solar projects in Australia.
Throughout the above successes, Adrian has always been able to move into a space or existing market and provide a different perspective or technology to it. Disrupting established sales channels and leveraging emerging technology. Adrian will be able to discuss innovation, digital disruptors and leveraging direct to consumer opportunities.
Adrian is co-located between Byron Bay and Melbourne and has recently purchased a Winery in regional Victoria.
Prior to becoming Chief Executive Officer, Mr Demetriou served as AFL General Manager – Football Operations for three years, overseeing all aspects of the AFL competition. This followed a stint as head of the AFL Players Association when he was instrumental in establishing programs to look after players both during and after their playing careers. Following an AFL playing career of 106 games, Mr Demetriou was the Managing Director of the Ruthinium Group, a business importing acrylic teeth, growing the business significantly by expanding manufacturing and exports to 70 countries worldwide and he currently remains a Board member.
Mr Demetriou is a Director of the Melbourne Sports Marketing firm, Bastion Group, Co-Chair of the National Basketball League (NBL) Advisory Board, Chairman and Non-Executive Director of Capitol Health Limited and Chairman of Board of Management, Cox Architecture.
Mr Demetriou also served as Non-executive Chairman of the Baxter Group, a waste management group listed on ASX in 2003 with a market capitalisation of $40 million – the company was later sold to Transpacific for $260 million – and is a former Chairman of the Australian Multicultural Advisory Council. He recently completed a two year term on the Australian Referendum Council for Indigenous recognition in the Constitution.
