Articles by

Diane Smith-Gander

Diane Smith-Gander is a professional company director with experience at many of Australia’s leading organisations. Her board experience includes AGL Energy, Wesfarmers Limited, Safe Work Australia, Keystart Loans, Henry Davis York, CEDA, NBNCo and Broadspectrum.

Diane is Immediate Past President of Chief Executive Women and a strong advocate for gender equity. She is a keen down hill skier and operates a vineyard in Margaret River.

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5 things I wish I knew on day one of becoming a non-executive director

There are many thrills and challenges unique to being a non-executive director. Every good director will spend their ...

by Diane Smith-Gander
How COVID has changed work health and safety

How COVID has changed work health and safety

Lockdown shone a spotlight on different ways of working, in particular remote working, and the work health and safety ...

by Diane Smith-Gander
If the CEO gets 100% of at risk compensation every year, the system is broken

If the CEO gets 100% of at risk compensation every year, the system is broken

Defending executive compensation is impossible unless we get serious about “at risk” compensation

by Diane Smith-Gander
When should business leaders speak out on social issues?

When should business leaders speak out on social issues?

Employers must act on the issues that their employees care about. If companies want to build productive and sustainable ...

by Diane Smith-Gander
How to combat groupthink on Australian boards

How to combat groupthink on Australian boards

Every director brings their own experience and ideas to the table. But it’s not always easy to stand behind your ...

by Diane Smith-Gander
Where should the board sit on governance vs. guidance?

Where should the board sit on governance vs. guidance?

Neither governance or guidance are the only thing a board should focus on - you can have too much of both. An effective ...

by Diane Smith-Gander
Moving back from COVID governance in a thoughtful way

Moving back from COVID governance in a thoughtful way

Due to COVID-19 there was a need to move to different governance routines so much so it created almost a new governance ...

by Diane Smith-Gander
Fear in the boardroom

Fear in the boardroom

Imagine this scenario: you are seated at a board table, listening with your fellow directors to a presentation about a ...

by Diane Smith-Gander
What Australia can learn from Israel's innovation ecosystem

What Australia can learn from Israel's innovation ecosystem

Israel has a best practice approach to innovation. There’s three elements I’d love to see Australia emulate.

by Diane Smith-Gander