Board of directors
Biographies of the members of the Cochlear board of directors.
Ms Alison Deans
Chair
Appointed to the Board 1 January 2015 and appointed as Chair effective 21 August 2021: Chair of the Nomination Committee. Member of the Audit & Risk and People & Culture Committees.
Background: Extensive experience leading technology-enabled businesses across e-commerce, media and financial services. Former Chief Executive Officer of netus, Hoyts Cinemas, ecorp and eBay Australia and New Zealand.
Other boards: Director, Ramsay Health Care Limited and Deputy Group Pty Ltd. Member of Investment Committee, CSIRO Innovation fund (Main Sequence Ventures) and Member of AICD Corporate Governance Committee. Director of SCEGGS Darlinghurst Limited and The Observership Program.
Former directorships: Westpac Banking Corporation, Insurance Australia Group Limited and Social Ventures Australia.
Qualifications: BA, MBA, GAICD
Mr Rick Holliday-Smith
Retired as Chairman and Non-executive Director on 20 August 2021
Appointed to the Board 1 March 2005: Chair of the Nomination Committee. Member of the Audit & Risk and People & Culture Committees.
Background: Global executive and leadership experience in capital markets and derivatives, and a background in venture capital activities. Former President of NationsBank-CRT, Chicago and Managing Director of Hong Kong Bank Limited, London.
Other boards: Non-executive Chairman, QBiotics and member of the Macquarie University Faculty of Business and Economics Advisory Board.
Former directorships: Chairman, ASX Limited, Snowy Hydro Limited and SFE Corporation Limited. Director, Servcorp Limited, St George Bank Limited, Exco Resources NL, DCA Group Limited and MIA Group Limited.
Qualifications: BA (Hons), FAICD, CA
Mr Dig Howitt
CEO & President and Managing Director
Appointed to the Board 14 November 2017 and as CEO & President 3 January 2018: Member of the Medical Science and Technology & Innovation Committees.
Background: Joined Cochlear in 2000 and has a wealth of experience across the Company in roles including Chief Operating Officer, SVP, Manufacturing and Logistics and President, Asia Pacific. Prior to joining Cochlear, worked for Boral and Boston Consulting Group. Dig is a member of the Male Champions of Change STEM group. Appointed as President of Cochlear on 31 July 2017 and became CEO & President on 3 January 2018.
Other boards: Director, QPBT Pty Ltd.
Qualifications:BE (Hons), MBA
Mrs Yasmin Allen
Non-executive Director
Appointed to the Board 2 August 2010: Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee. Member of the People & Culture, Nomination and Technology & Innovation Committees.
Background: Extensive career in investment banking with senior roles in strategic analysis and corporate advice. Former Vice President of Deutsche Bank AG, Director of ANZ Investment Bank and Associate Director of HSBC London.
Other boards: Chair of Australian Federal Government Steering Group for Digital Skills Organisation. Director, Santos Limited, ASX Limited and National Portrait Gallery. Member of the George Institute for Global Health Board. Chairman, Advance (Global Australian Network), Acting President, Australian Government Takeovers Panel and Chairman, Faethm.org.
Former directorships: Insurance Australia Group Limited. National director of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Member of The Salvation Army Advisory Board. Chair of Macquarie Specialised Asset Management.
Qualifications: BCom, FAICD
Mr Donal O'Dwyer
Retired as Non-executive Director on 20 October 2020
Appointed to the Board 1 August 2005: Member of the Audit & Risk, Medical Science, Nomination and Technology & Innovation Committees.
Background: Executive experience in global general management of healthcare products and medical devices. Former worldwide President of Cordis Cardiology (a Johnson & Johnson company) and President of Baxter's Cardiovascular Group, Europe.
Other boards: Director, Mesoblast Limited, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare and NIB Holdings Ltd. Chairman of Endoluminal Sciences and Director Cordis Asset Management Pty Ltd.
Former directorships: Chairman, CardieX (formerly Atcor Medical).
Qualifications: BE Civil, MBA
Mr Andrew Denver
Non-executive Director
Appointed to the Board 1 February 2007: Member of the Audit & Risk, Medical Science, Technology & Innovation and Nomination Committees.
Background: Extensive experience in the life sciences industry. Former Managing Director of Memtec Limited and President Asia for Pall Corporation.
Other boards: Chairman, SpeeDx and Director, Vaxxas and QBiotics.
Former directorships: Executive Chairman, Universal Biosensors.
Qualifications: BSc (Hons), MBA, FAICD
Mr Glen Boreham, AM
Non-executive Director
Appointed to the Board 1 January 2015: Chair of the People & Culture Committee. Member of the Audit & Risk, Nomination and Technology & Innovation Committees.
Background: Led organisations in information technology, new media and the creative industries through periods of rapid change and innovation. Former Managing Director of IBM Australia and New Zealand.
Other boards: Director, Southern Cross Media Group and Link Group. Strategic Advisor, IXUP.
Former directorships: Data#3. Chairman of Screen Australia, Advance (Global Australian Network), Business School and Industry Advisory Board for the University of Technology, Sydney and Advisory Board IXUP.
Qualifications: BEc, FAICD
Prof. Bruce Robinson, AC
Non-executive Director
Appointed to the Board 13 December 2016: Chair of the Medical Science Committee. Member of the Nomination, People & Culture and Technology & Innovation Committees.
Background: Over 20 years' leadership experience as an academic physician/scientist across research, healthcare and medicine, and tertiary education. Former Dean, The University of Sydney's Sydney Medical School, Head of Medicine at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital and Head of the Cancer Genetics Laboratory at the Kolling Institute for Medical Research.
Other boards: Chairman, National Health and Medical Research Council. Director, MaynePharma, QBiotics and Ecofibre. Director, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and Senior Advisor to McKinsey & Company and MinterEllison.
Former directorships: Chairman, Medical Benefits Schedule Review Taskforce. Director, Lorica Health Pty Limited, Firefly and Digital Health Agency CRC.
Qualifications: MD, MSc, FRACP, FAAHMS, FAICD
Mr Abbas Hussain
Retired as Non-executive Director on 20 July 2021
Appointed to the Board effective 1 December 2018: Member of the Nomination, Medical Science and Technology & Innovation Committees.
Background: Over 30 years' global experience in the pharmaceutical industry with significant experience in building relationships with professionals within the healthcare industry. Former Global President, Pharmaceuticals at GlaxoSmithKline.
Other boards: Director, Teva Pharmaceuticals and TARGTEX. Senior Advisor, CellResearch Corp and C-Bridge Group, Hikma PLC, and Advisor, Indegene Inc.
Former directorships: CSL Limited and Immunocore Limited.
Qualifications: BSc (Hons)
Sir Michael Daniell, KNZM
Non-executive Director
Appointed to the Board 1 January 2020: Chair of the Technology & Innovation Committee. Member of the Nomination and Medical Science Committees.
Background: Over 40 years’ experience in the medical device industry with extensive executive leadership experience. Former Managing Director and CEO of Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Limited responsible for the global business and operations including the design, manufacture and marketing of innovative products and systems for use in respiratory care, acute care and the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.
In June 2021 Sir Daniell was made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to business, healthcare and governance.
Other boards: Director, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd, Council member, The University of Auckland, Director, Tait International Limited, Chair, New Zealand Medical Technology Centre of Research Excellence, Director, Medical Research Commercialisation Fund.
Qualifications: BE (Hons), Electrical, CMInstD (NZ)
Ms Christine McLoughlin, AM
Non-executive Director
Appointed to the Board 1 November 2020: Member of the Audit & Risk, Nomination and People & Culture Committees.
Background: Ms McLoughlin has served on the boards of a number of ASX50 companies and is a highly respected company director with domestic and international experience. She has had wide ranging experience covering health, insurance, resources, infrastructure and financial services.
Christine is co-founder and a Chairman of the Minerva Network, a not-for-profit organisation focused on supporting the professional careers of elite women athletes and connecting communities through sports participation.
In June 2021, Ms McLoughlin was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours for her services to business, the not-for-profit sector and women.
Other boards: Chairman of the Suncorp Group Limited, Chancellor of the University of Wollongong. Chairman, Destination NSW. Australian Private Sector Representative, G20 EMPOWER Council.
Former directorships: NIB Holding, the McGrath Foundation and Venues NSW.
Qualifications: BA, LLB (Hons), FAICD