Female directors who resigned early with no explanation
January 4, 2025
A typical director will do 6-10 years on a public company board so when someone chooses to go in less than two terms, it should be explained. This list looks at the trend where female directors leave boards after shorter terms and no explanation if offered as to why.
Patricia Akopiantz: appointed to the Ramsay Health Care board on April 4, 2015, she resigned abruptly on November 9, 2018 after 3 years and 7 months. There was no inkling of this in the 2017-18 annual report. See director profiles on p12.
Paula Dwyer, Leighton: joined the Leighton Holdings board in December 2011 and then resigned without explanation at the end of the 2014 AGM after just 2.5 years, apparently after taking on the Spanish bullies who controlled the board.
Paula Dwyer, David Jones: served on the David Jones board from 2003 until 2006 and then declined to serve another term. The public announcement talked about wanting to focus on other roles when the real issue was more to do with then CEO Mark McInnes, who she felt was a bully.
Jane Hemstritch: appointed to the Telstra board in August 2016 and resigned with immediate effect in January 2019 without serving a full term. The explanation was to pursue her philanthropic interests.
Christine Holman, Wisetech: only lasted 11 months on the board before resigning due to bullying concerns about founder Richard White, which were written up in The AFR in October 2024.
Christine Holman, Vocus Communications: only lasted 81 days in 2017 as The AFR noted in this feature in October 2024 after the Wisetech scandal blew up.
Vickki McFadden: appointed to the Leighton board in June 2013 but quit at the end of the 2014 AGM after 18 months without anyone explaining the situation to shareholders. Again, it was the Spanish bullies.
Jackie McArthur: joined the Blackmores board in early 2018 and resigned effective immediately without explanation in August 2019, along with another female director, Helen Nash. Apparently there were issues with the way chairman Marcus Blackmore went about it.
Sheila McGregor: joined then Seven West Media board in June 2015 and then quit in February 2017 after it refused to sack CEO Tim Worner after the Amber Harrison revelations but she never publicly explained her reasons.
Patricia Mckenzie: only spent 5 years on the AGL board, the last two as chair, before making way for Miles George with a transition that was announced in August 2024 and took effect in February 2025 after the release of the half year results.
Helen Nash: spent 6 years on the Blackmores board before resigning effective immediately without explanation in August 2019, along with fellow female director Jackie McArthur. Apparently there were issues with the way chairman Marcus Blackmore went about it.
Margaret Searle: appointed to the Ramsay Health Care board on April 28, 2015, she resigned abruptly on October 31, 2018 after 3.5 years. There was no inkling of this in the 2017-18 annual report. See director profiles on p12.
Copyright © 2025 The Mayne Report. All rights reserved
