Governance Institute President Trisha Mok said the Board was delighted that Steven Burrell would be joining the organisation. Steven is the former General Manager of Communications and Public Affairs at the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and brings significant experience and expertise in governance, advocacy and strategy which will be invaluable in driving the Institute’s whole-of-organisation, good governance agenda.

“He is well known and highly respected in the governance community here and overseas, as well as in business, media and governments around Australia and we are confident he will lead Governance Institute to a new level and successfully build on the current chief executive Tim Sheehy’s significant achievements.

“The reality is that there is more to be done to embed good governance in Australia. Certainly, there is widespread recognition in the business sector that good governance is central to protecting the integrity of our markets and safeguarding shareholder interests. However, this is not always the case in the public and not-for-profit sectors or the wider community.

“Under Steven’s leadership we are confident that Governance Institute can successfully encourage a greater commitment to good governance across a much broader cross-section of our community. His significant experience at the AICD, his executive leadership capabilities and vision for Governance Institute will go a long way in ensuring that Governance Institute achieves its ambitious governance agenda,” Ms Mok said.

Steven was previously a leading journalist, columnist and editor at the Australian Financial Review and the Sydney Morning Herald and has won both a Walkley Award and Pan Asian Journalist of the Year Award. He has also been a policy adviser at the Federal Treasury and trained as an economist at the University of Sydney.

Steven Burrell said he was excited about the prospect of leading Australia’s preeminent organisation promoting excellence in the practice of governance saying, “I feel privileged to have this opportunity to lead this important organisation at a crucial point in its growth.

“My primary aims are to ensure that we continue to provide better value to our members and subscribers, enhancing their capacity as governance professionals, and to further lift our standing as the leading voice on issues affecting the governance of our community.”

“World-class governance practice and performance is vital for the success of our businesses, our community organisations and for the prosperity of our society. Governance Institute plays a vital role, through its advocacy and thought leadership, in ensuring Australia has the best possible policy and regulatory framework to achieve that, as well as educating and supporting governance professionals to be the best they can be.”