Climate Governance Forum

Penny Bingham-Hall is a non-executive director of BlueScope Steel, Dexus Property Group, Fortescue Metals Group, Macquarie Specialised Asset Management, Port Authority of NSW and Taronga Conservation Society.

With over 30 years’ experience in senior executive and non-executive roles in large ASX listed companies, Penny has a deep understanding of corporate governance. She currently chairs three HR & Remuneration Committees and is a member of numerous audit, risk, sustainability, safety and nominations committees.

Prior to becoming a company director, Penny was Executive General Manager, Strategy at Leighton Holdings (now CIMIC) after an extensive career in the construction, mining and property group. As part of the leadership team at Leighton she had responsibilities across the group’s Australian and Asian operations.

She has been Chairman of Advocacy Services Australia, Deputy Chairman of the Tourism and Transport Forum, and a director of Australia Post, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia and The Global Foundation. Penny has a BA degree in Industrial Design, is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Senior Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia and a member of Chief Executive Women and CorporateWomenDirectors.

Karen Chester commenced as an ASIC Deputy Chair on 29 January 2019.

Before joining ASIC, Karen was a Commissioner at the Productivity Commission since 2013 and Deputy Chair since May 2016.

Previously, Karen was a Partner at Mercer and Global Head of Infrastructure. Before joining Mercer, Karen was a Partner at Access Capital Advisers and the CEO of Access Economics. Karen has held directorships on several Australian infrastructure company boards.

Before moving to the private sector, Karen held senior economic policy roles in the Australian Treasury and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Karen has a first class honours degree in Economics from the University of Queensland and was awarded an honorary doctorate in Economics by the University in 2017.

Ming Long is a non-executive director with experience in funds and investment management, real estate, education and professional associations. She has held leadership positions including CEO and CFO roles with a track record of taking on challenging roles, including successfully navigating the global financial crisis.

Ming was named as one of the 100 Women of Influence and was a finalist in the Telstra Business Women's Awards. She is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand, a Fellow of Finsia, a Graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of Chief Executive Women.

Ming is the Chair of AMP Capital Funds Management Limited, is Deputy Chair of Diversity Council of Australia, a director of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand and on the advisory board for YBF Ventures to support the Fintech industry in Melbourne.

Diane Smith-Gander AO is a professional non-executive director maintaining a diverse portfolio across different entities, industries and geographies. She is an advocate for gender equity and a past president of CEW, Australia’s pre-eminent women’s advocacy group.

Diane is Chair of Zip Co Limited, DDH1 Limited, HBF Health Ltd, CEDA, and a non-executive director of AGL Energy, and Keystart Loans.

Diane has also been active in sports administration and is a past Chairman of both Basketball Australia Limited, the sport’s peak body, and the (then) Australian Sports Drug Agency. She currently chairs the inaugural Nominations Committee for the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Diane holds an MBA from the University of Sydney and a BEc from the University of Western Australia (UWA), who awarded her an Honorary Doctorate of Economics. She is a Fellow of the AICD and Governance Institute of Australia and an adjunct professor of corporate governance at UWA where she chairs the advisory board of the Business School.

Diane is a keen downhill skier and enjoys spending time in Australia’s premier wine region, Margaret River.

Michael is currently Chairman of Lendlease and Director of Woolworths Limited. He retired in 2021 as Chairman of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Trustee of the National Gallery of Victoria however has continued his involvement assuming the roles of Chair of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Advisory Board and a Member of the National Gallery Victoria Foundation Board.

Michael has extensive governance experience and brings strategic, financial and management expertise to his roles. Michael is a Fellow of the AICD.

Dr Katherine Woodthorpe AO FAICD is a professional non-executive director with experience on a wide range of not-for-profit and commercial boards over twenty years. She is currently a director of several organisations, across a range of sectors, broadly in the innovation space. Amongst her current appointments, she is Chair of the Antarctic CRC and of tech startup space Fishburners, a director of listed healthcare company Sirtex Ltd and ARENA, the renewable energy agency. She was previously the Chief Executive of AVCAL, the Australian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association.

She has a PhD in Science and was awarded an honorary doctorate from UTS. She was cited in the Australian Financial Review as one of the 2013 “100 Women of Influence” and in 2017 she was appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia for her distinguished services to business and commercialisation of research . Katherine joined the AICD NSW Council in 2013.