Governance Institute’s brand ambassadors

We’re thrilled to announce that Kirsty Wright AGIA ACG and Michael Adams FGIA(Life) FCG join Diane Smith-Gander AO FGIA FCG and Simon Pordage FGIA FCG as our brand ambassadors.

Diane Smith-Gander AO FGIA FCG Simon Pordage FGIA FCG Kirsty Wright AGIA ACG Michael Adams FGIA(Life)


Kirsty, Michael, Diane and Simon are valued members of Governance Institute and champions of our values. 

Straight to: 

About Kirsty

Kirsty Wright AGIA ACG
Risk & Compliance Manager, Suncorp Group Limited (Suncorp)

Kirsty is a Risk and Compliance Manager currently studying a Graduate Diploma through the Governance Institute of Australia. Since joining Suncorp in 2012, she has experience in risk and governance across the first and second lines of defence. Kirsty is currently responsible for implementing standards, processes and systems that enhance risk and compliance practices and risk maturity across the organisation. As a member of the Risk Management Institute of Australasia and Risk Management Association Australia, Kirsty is passionate about advocating, developing and embedding risk management within the financial services industry. Kirsty is a licensed Project Management Professional through the Project Management Institute (PMI) and a member of the PMI Queensland Chapter.

About Michael

Professor Michael A Adams FGIA(Life) FCG
Academic Dean/Head of UNE Law School, Professor of Corporate Law

Professor Michael Adams is a specialist in Australian corporate law and international corporate governance. Michael has expertise in financial services regulation, information governance, consumer protection and the broader area of legal technology and education. Professor Adams was Dean of Law at Western Sydney Law School from 2007 to 2017 and from 2019 the Head of the University of New England Law School. In 2020 he was named Academic Lawyer of the Year by Lawyers Weekly in the 20th Australian Law Awards. 2000 Australian University Teacher of the Year in “Law and Legal Studies” 

About Diane

Diane Smith-Gander AO FGIA FCG
Chair, Committee for the Economic Development of Australia 

Diane Smith-Gander AO is a professional non-executive director maintaining a diverse portfolio across different entities, industries and geographies.  She is an advocate for gender equity and a past president of CEW, Australia’s pre-eminent women’s advocacy group which counts more than 600 of Australia’s senior female leaders as its members. Diane is now Chair of Zip Co Limited, CEDA and the Safe Work Australia member body and a non-executive director of AGL Energy, HBF Health Ltd and Keystart Loans. Diane has also been active in sports administration and is a past Chairman of both Basketball Australia Limited, the sport’s peak body, and the (then) Australian Sports Drug Agency, the government agency responsible for deterring the use of performance-enhancing drugs.  She currently chairs the inaugural Nominations Committee for the World Anti-Doping Agency.

About Simon

Simon Pordage FGIA FCG
Company Secretary, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ)

Simon joined ANZ in May 2016. He is a Chartered Secretary with extensive company secretarial and corporate governance experience. From 2009 to 2016 he was Company Secretary for Australian Foundation Investment Company Limited and a number of other listed investment companies. Other former roles include being Deputy Company Secretary for ANZ and Head of Board Support for Barclays PLC in the United Kingdom. Simon is committed to the promotion of good corporate governance. He is a former National President and Chairman of Governance Institute of Australia and is a member and former Chairman of its National Legislation Review Committee, and regularly presents on governance issues.

Updates from our brand ambassadors

Diane Simon

Boardroom Q&A (National Conference interview)

Career Q&A – company secretary

National Conference testimonial

Quickfire career Q&A — What is a company secretary?

Mini video: What is a director

Director training

Mini video: Top 3 director skills

Member and training testimonial

Managing during a pandemic

 Managing during a pandemic