Herald Sun coverage of Paula's RACV board coup
January 14, 2008
The Herald Sun's George Lekakis produced this account of Paula Piccinini's election victory in the 2006 RACV elections.
Melbourne barrister Paula Piccinini has become only the third candidate in 20 years to be elected a director of unlisted insurer and roadside assistance provider, RACV, without board endorsement.
Ms Piccinini, 39, topped the vote in a six-way contest to fill two vacancies on the board.
While final figures on the poll will not be disclosed until the RACV's annual meeting next month, it is understood that Ms Piccinini has displaced long serving member, David Mattei, from the board.
Mr Mattei has been a director since 1979 and currently chairs the club's foundation advisory committee. Ms Piccinini is a family law barrister and her only previous board experience is on a kindergarten committee.
She told BusinessDaily that as a director she would push for greater support for the RACV's 1.3 million roadside members.
"There should be greater representation of roadside members on the board," she said.
Ms Piccinini is married to shareholder activist Stephen Mayne who has made 24 unsuccessful attempts to get onto the boards of listed companies including Telstra, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, AMP and Woolworths.
"Stephen has criticised aspects of the RACV board structure and governance in the past but it is important that we both recognise the importance of confidentiality and working harmoniously now that I'm a director,'' Ms Piccinini said.
The 15-member RACV board now has a record three female directors.
Mr Mayne said he was thrilled but also a little jealous of his wife's successful election to the board of a $2 billion company.
"It certainly is ironic that I've been striving to get on a board for years and then Paula gets elected at only her second attempt,'' Mr Mayne said.
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