The Governance Institute of Australia has appointed a new President to herald in the organisation’s governance and structural changes.

Rachel Rees FGIA will take on the role at the leading professional membership group in January of 2019. She joins new CEO Megan Motto as the organisation pushes for greater commitment to good governance and risk management structures.

“I am thrilled to take on this role at such a significant time for the organisation,” Rees said of her appointment, adding: “We have a new CEO, Megan motto, joining us and the organisation is at a fundamental point in its growth.”

On the outgoing President, Rees said: “I thank Warren Baillie for his leadership. He led the board during a year of transformation for our website and development of a new digital Resource Centre as well as supporting the growth of new alliances and improvements in our professional development events.”

Rees is the Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary at Lionel Samson Sadliers Group and is a senior executive and chartered accountant with an extensive strategic leadership experience in multinational and listed companies.

She was appointed to the Governance Institute Board in 2013 and was previously the Chair of the South Australia Regional Council. She is a Fellow member of Governance Institute and completed its Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance.

“There is so much public attention on good governance and our most recent Ethics Index results show Australians have lost faith in corporate ethics in wake of banking scandals,” Rees said. “I’m honoured to drive a strategy to educate and support governance professionals to be the best they can be.”