The appointments come as the body prepares for a new chapter in pushing for greater governance and risk management structures from boards and executives. Its recent Ethics Index found that Australians have lost faith in corporate ethics in the wake of the banking scandals.
Rees said in a statement she is thrilled to take on the role at such a significant time, especially alongside its new CEO. “We have a new CEO, Megan Motto, joining us and the organisation is at a fundamental point in its growth,” she said. “I’m honoured to drive a strategy to educate and support governance professionals to be the best they can be.”
Rees also thanked outgoing president Warren Baillie, particularly for his work leading the board during a year of transformation and development.
Rees is currently the CFO and Company Secretary at Lionel Samson Sadleirs Group. She a chartered accountant with extensive strategic leadership experience in multinational and listed corporations.
Megan Motto is the former head of Consult Australia, and is currently on the boards of Standards Australia and the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA).
“World-class governance practice and performance is vital for the success of our business and community organisations and for the prosperity of our society,” she said on her appointment. “Governance Institute plays a vital role, through its advocacy and thought leadership, in ensuring Australia has the most effective policy and regulatory framework to achieve that, as well as educating and supporting governance professionals to be the best they can be,’ Ms Motto concluded.
Rees and Motto both start at the Governance Institute of Australia in January 2019.