Following yesterday’s resignation of Justin Milne, ABC board member Kirstin Ferguson will be appointed Acting Chair.
She is the Prime Minister’s preferred choice for the full time role, but her appointment will need to be confirmed by the Governor General and to fit within the formal process of appointing an ABC Chair.
The Prime Minister made the announcement in Sydney, and confirmed he will take her name to the Governor–General today. She will be appointed Deputy Chair and take on the role of Acting Chair, while a formal process of selecting and appointing a Chair of the board through the mandated process takes place.
“Should the Governor-General accept that recommendation then she will also be in the position of acting chair of the ABC until such time as a new chair appointment is made through the normal process,” said Scott Morrison.
Ferguson is an independent, non-executive director with experience on ASX100, ASX200, private company, not-for-profit and government boards.
She is an Adjunct Professor at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Business School and a member of Chief Executive Women and Women Corporate Directors.
Kirstin Ferguson currently sits on the boards of:
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
SCA Property Group Limited
EML Payments Limited
Hyne Timber Pty Ltd
Layne Beachley’s Aim for the Stars Foundation
Her most recent executive role was as CEO of the international consultancy, Sentis. Providing cognitive based health and safety services to the mining and resources industry, Kirstin led a team of psychologists with offices in locations including Australia, Canada, US and Europe. During her time as CEO, Sentis was named by BRW Magazine as the 5th Best Place to Work in Australia.
Prior to her role as a CEO, Kirstin spent many years in a professional services environment as a senior executive with the international law firm Norton Rose Fulbright (then known as Deacons). Kirstin’s was Director of Corporate Services and sat on the firm’s Executive Committee, and also worked closely with the CEO and board of directors on strategy development.
Kirstin began her executive career as an Administration Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force after graduating from the Australian Defence Force Academy. On graduation, Kirstin Ferguson was posted to an F-111 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley.
