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People on the Move

Rabobank Aust-NZ appoints new chief HR officer, Kathryn Marler

RABOBANK Australia and New Zealand group has appointed Kathryn Marler to the position of group executive chief human resources officer.

Ms Marler will lead the HR and corporate affairs functions across the bank’s Australian and New Zealand operations, joining the regional Australia and New Zealand executive team and reporting to Caroline Oosterbaan, the CEO of Rabobank Australia and regional manager for Australia and New Zealand. Kathryn Marler Rabobank Aust NZ

 Ms Oosterbaan said Ms Marler brought to the role “extensive people and culture experience in complex, highly-regulated organisations, together with deep banking knowledge and a strong commitment to building high-performing, future-ready teams”.

“Kathryn’s blend of deep banking-sector expertise and large-scale transformation experience was central to her appointment,” Ms Oosterbaan said.

“Operating within a global cooperative structure, Rabobank sought a leader able to continue to build a people and culture strategy consistent with the Rabobank Group, while remaining genuinely responsive to the needs of the Australian and New Zealand business,” she said.

Ms Marler joined Rabobank from Westpac Banking Corporation, where she held a number of senior leadership roles shaping enterprise-wide transformation and delivering people and culture strategy.

Part of the global cooperative Rabobank Group, which as a global presence as a specialist food and agribusiness bank, Rabobank Australia and New Zealand is one of the region’s leading agricultural banks and a major provider of corporate and business banking services to the Australian and New Zealand food and agribusiness sectors.

Rabobank also provides online retail savings and deposits in the Australian and New Zealand markets. 

Ms Marler said she “is excited to join Rabobank at such an important time for the bank and the sector it serves”.

“Rabobank's cooperative culture, and its deep, long-term commitment to Australian and New Zealand farmers and food producers, is something I've long admired,” she said.

“I'm looking forward to partnering with Caroline and the leadership team to build the workforce capability that will carry that mission forward.

Ms Marler commences in the role on October 6.

www.rabobank.com

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Australian business champion for Vietnam role for RMIT chancellor Peggy O’Neal

RMIT UNIVERSITY chancellor Peggy O’Neal AO has been appointed by the Federal Government as the new Australian business champion for Vietnam. 

“It is an honour to take on the role of Australia’s business champion for Vietnam,” Ms O’Neal said. “Since joining RMIT University as chancellor in 2022, it has been a genuine privilege to spend time in-country getting to know the people of Vietnam and to see first-hand the potential of the Australia and Vietnam relationship. 

“I look forward to continuing to build on the strong and productive relationship between our two countries, to the benefit of our regional prosperity.”   

Ms O’Neal has a lifetime of community and business achievements. As business champion, she will work closely across government and the private sector to deepen trade and investment opportunities between the two nations and to support regional prosperity. 

The appointment builds on the strengths of RMIT University, which has a strong commitment to bilateral relations between Australia and Vietnam, including as the first and only foreign university established in Vietnam, and through its support of the Australia Vietnam Policy Institute. 

RMIT Vietnam celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2025, marking a turning point for the institution, which is expanding its research footprint and deepening its role in Vietnam’s development. With more than 12,000 students, 1,300 staff, and more than 28,500 alumni, RMIT Vietnam is Australia’s largest offshore university presence.  

Vietnam is one of Australia’s fastest growing economic partners and a key destination for Australian businesses seeking opportunities across sectors including education and skills, agriculture and food, infrastructure, green energy transition and resources. 

Ms O’Neal succeeds Aurecon CEO Louise Adams in the role. Ms Adams was awarded an RMIT honorary doctorate in 2025, in recognition of her contribution to strengthening ties between Australia and Vietnam.

“RMIT has been deeply committed to Vietnam for more than 25 years, through teaching, research and active community engagement,” RMIT University vice-chancellor and president, Professor Alec Cameron said.

“This has contributed meaningfully to the bilateral relationship between our countries and chancellor Peggy O’Neal AO is an outstanding advocate. Speaking on behalf of RMIT’s community in both countries, we are delighted to see her entrusted with this important and appropriate role to which she will bring great acumen and expertise."

Australia’s Ambassador to Vietnam, Ms Gillian Bird PSM said, “Vietnam is a priority partner for Australia, and strong business‑to‑business links are central to deepening our economic relationship.

"Ms O’Neal brings extensive business experience and strong connections in Vietnam, and I look forward to working with her to support Australian investors and promote high‑quality, sustainable investment.” 

www.rmit.edu.au

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Andy Davison is Moreton Bay’s new chief economic dev’t officer

ANDY DAVISON is the new City of Moreton Bay Chief Economic Development Officer.

An economic leader and former diplomat with more than 25 years of international experience, Mr Davison has spent the last five years serving as Moreton Bay’s head of Trade and Investment and his appointment came through a comprehensive recruitment campaign that received more than 150 high calibre applications, according to the council. 

Mr Davison said he was delighted to lead the council’s Economic Development team and guide the city’s economic direction.

“The City of Moreton Bay is entering an exciting period of economic opportunity and a critical time for industry advancement and investment attraction, and I’m excited to be leading our economic development efforts,” Mr Davison said.

City CEO Scott Waters said Mr Davison’s future vision for economic development in the Moreton Bay region, and extensive international trade and investment background, made him a stand out candidate for the role.

“Andy has been head of Trade and Investment with the city for the past five years,” Mr Waters said. “He also brings extensive international experience including senior roles in the Mayor of London’s office and as a Ministerial chief of staff in the United Kingdom, focused on trade and investment attraction.

“This combination of local leadership and global experience provides a strong platform to accelerate the city’s economic trajectory and reputation and further strengthen our already high performing economic development team,” he said.

www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au

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Gallagher Bassett Australia appoints Tanya Ward as CFO

 GALLAGHER Bassett Australia (GB) has appointed Tanya Ward as chief financial officer (CFO).

A company spokesperson said Ms Ward’s new role would help to strengthen the organisation’s executive leadership team as it continues to focus on innovation, smarter ways of working and strong business outcomes.

Ms Ward brings more than 20 years of finance leadership to her new role, having previously held executive roles in the infrastructure, financial services and technology sectors, building deep expertise in financial stewardship, governance and strategic transformation. She is a Chartered Accountant and CPA. 

Prior to joining Gallagher Bassett, Ms Ward led end-to-end finance operations as general manager–finance at Queensland Airports Limited. She has also previously held senior finance leadership roles at Westpac and Pepper Financial Group.

Although new to the claims management sector, Ms Ward said she saw an opportunity to help bring a fresh perspective to the industry.

“Claims is a new space for me,” Ms Ward said. “It’s a complex sector, centred around teams that support customers in their time of need — meaningful work that happens at scale. My role as CFO is at the intersection where financial stewardship, operational rhythm and people outcomes meet.”

“Often, the best opportunities come from looking at established processes with fresh eyes and asking, ‘Is there a better way?’ I’m naturally drawn to where technology can remove friction, reduce manual effort, and free people up to focus on clients and outcomes.”

As CFO, Tanya Ward plans to focus on building strong relationships across the Australian operations and client base, while developing a deep understanding of the organisation’s strategic opportunities and commercial landscape.

Along with her business acumen, Ms Ward also brings a passion for diversity and mentorship with her to Gallagher Bassett, and hopes to continue supporting the development of women in leadership roles.

“I’ve seen how mentoring can shift confidence, build capability and open pathways,”Ms Ward said. “Diversity in leadership supports diversity of thought, which ultimately leads to stronger teams and better decision making.”

www.gallagherbassett.com.au

 

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McAlary-Smith  succeeds Billson as ASBFEO

THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) Bruce Billson has welcomed the announcement of Lynda McAlary-Smith as his successor.

Ms McAlary-Smith is the current Victorian Small Business Commissioner and will commence in her new role on March 11, 2026 at the expiration of Mr Billson’s five-year term. 

“Lynda is an excellent choice as the next Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, given her established network of stakeholders, regulators and policy makers and experience in dispute resolution and advocacy in support of small business in Victoria,” Mr Billson said.

“I’m looking forward to supporting the transition and ensuring Australia’s small and family business community continue to have a strong and fearless ally in their corner, an authoritative and persuasive voice and an advocate of constructive policy measures and initiatives that will help to ‘energise enterprise’.

“After a record year of assistance requests, ground-breaking analytical and research insights and real and meaningful progress on many advocacy priorities including ‘right-sizing’ regulation, improved small business access to justice and then need for more targeted tax reform, ASBFEO has positive momentum that with Lynda at the helm, will no doubt carry forward and be added to.

Federal Small Business Minister, Anne Aly said the role of the ASBFEO had grown in importance over recent years and she congratulated outgoing ombudsman, Bruce Billson, on his skill in helping small business leaders to navigate challenges continually being thrown at the sector. 

“With more than 800,000 new small businesses since May 2022, it’s obvious that Australia is a great place to start and grow a small business,” Dr Aly said.

“The Ombudsman plays an important role in helping us to ensure small businesses have the conditions they need to not only get off the ground but to thrive.

“Ms McAlary‑Smith will be a strong advocate for the more than 2.6 million small businesses and family enterprises right across Australia.

“I also thank outgoing Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, for his significant contributions to the small and family business community and for his strong advocacy on their behalf.”

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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RDA Brisbane chooses Nicole Duguid as CEO

REGIONAL Development Australia (RDA) Brisbane has announced Nicole Duguid as its new chief executive.

Ms Duguid was most recently policy director at the Queensland Resources Council and has worked for the Queensland Government in infrastructure and regional economic development, for Whitsunday Regional Council, and was CEO of RDA Mackay Isaac Whitsunday. 

“Nicole stood out in a high-quality field of candidates due to her diversity of experience and connections across both government and commercial roles and her deep background in, and commitment to, community and economic development and the RDA network,” RDA Brisbane chair Kieren Dell said.

“Nicole has the skills and experience to not only expertly run RDA Brisbane, but to bring together diverse voices across the State to promote regional development,” Ms Dell said.

Ms Duguid said, “I'm thrilled to join the RDA Brisbane team and am eager to collaborate and deliver on regional economic development initiatives that have a lasting impact for our regions.

“The opportunity to work across industry and all levels of government to advance sustainable economic growth across Queensland is truly exciting. I look forward to leveraging my experience and connections to drive significant progress and make a positive impact for our communities.”

www.rdabrisbane.org.au

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