Board of directors

Biographies of the members of the Cochlear board of directors.

Non-executive Director Alison Deans

Ms Alison Deans

Chair

Appointed to the Board 1 January 2015 and as Chair 21 August 2021: Chair of the Nomination Committee.

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, Calix Limited and Deputy Group Pty Ltd. Venture Partner and Member of Investment Committee, Main Sequence. Director of The Observership Program.

Former directorships: SCEGGS Darlinghurst Limited, Westpac Banking Corporation, Insurance Australia Group Limited and Social Ventures Australia. Former Member of AICD Corporate Governance Committee.

Qualifications: BA, MBA, GAICD

Dig Howitt Chief Executive Officer

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 Product & Services Innovation Committees.

Background: Joined Cochlear in 2000 and has a wealth of experience across the Company in roles including Chief Operating Officer, President, Asia Pacific and SVP, Manufacturing and Logistics. Prior to joining Cochlear, worked for Boston Consulting Group and held a General Management role at Boral. Dig is a member of the Champions of Change Coalition, STEM group. He was appointed as President of Cochlear on 31 July 2017 and became CEO & President on 3 January 2018.

Qualifications:BE (Hons), MBA

Non-executive Director Yasmin Allen

Ms Yasmin Allen, AM

Non-executive Director

Appointed to the Board 2 August 2010: Member of the Audit & Risk, People & Culture, Nomination and Product & Services 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.

In June 2023, Ms Allen was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in the King's Birthday Honours for her service to finance and business, and to the not-for-profit sector.

Other boards: Chair of Australian Federal Government Future Skills Organisation and Tiimely Pty Ltd. Director, Santos Limited, ASX Limited and QBE Insurance Group Limited. Acting President Australian Government Takeovers Panel.

Former directorships: Insurance Australia Group Limited, National Portrait Gallery and The George Institute for Global Health. National director of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Member of The Salvation Army Advisory Board. Chair of Macquarie Specialised Asset Management, Faethm.org and Advance (Global Australian Network).

Qualifications: BCom, FAICD

Non-executive Director Glen Boreham, AM

Mr Glen Boreham, AM

Non-executive Director

Appointed to the Board 1 January 2015: Member of the Audit & Risk, Nomination and Product & Services 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. Strategic Advisor, IXUP.

Former directorships: Data#3 and Link Group. 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

Non-executive Director Michael Daniell

Sir Michael Daniell, KNZM

Non-executive Director

Appointed to the Board 1 January 2020: Chair of the Product & Services Innovation Committee. Member of the Audit & Risk, 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.

Other boards: Director, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd. Director, Tait International Limited. Advisory Board Chair, Te Titoki Mataora (NZ). Director, Medical Research Commercialisation Fund.

Qualifications: BE (Hons) Electrical, CMInstD (NZ)

Non-executive Director Michael del Prado

Mr Michael del Prado

Non-executive Director

Appointed to the Board 1 January 2022: Member of the Medical Science, Nomination, People & Culture and Product & Services Innovation Committees.

Background: Over 34 years’ global experience in the medical device and pharmaceutical industries with senior executive leadership roles in Johnson & Johnson medical device businesses in the US, Asia-Pac and EMEA. Former Company Group Chairman of Ethicon, the world’s largest and most comprehensive surgical company.

Other boards: Ambu A/S

Former directorships: Co-lead Director, Verb Surgical. Advisory Board, Singapore Management University Lee Kong Chian School of Business.

Qualifications: BSc Industrial Engineering, MBA, MA

Non-executive Director Christine McLoughlin

Ms Christine McLoughlin, AM

Non-executive Director

Appointed to the Board 1 November 2020: Chair of the People & Culture Committee. Member of the Audit & Risk, Nomination, People & Culture and Product & Services Innovation 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.

Other boards: Chairman of Suncorp Group Limited. Co-founder and Chairman of the Minerva Network.

Former directorships: Chairman, Destination NSW. Chairman, Venues NSW. Director, nib Holding Limited and the McGrath Foundation and the Chancellor of the University of Wollongong.

Qualifications: BA, LLB (Hons), FAICD

Non-executive Director Ms Karen Penrose

Ms Karen Penrose

Non-executive Director

Appointed to the Board 1 July 2022: Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee. Member of the People & Culture, Nomination and Product & Services Innovation Committees.

Background: Extensive executive career in senior leadership and Chief Financial Officer roles in financial services. An experienced company director, having served on the boards of a number of ASX100 companies and experienced across health care, financial services, property and infrastructure industries.

Other boards: Director, Ramsay Health Care Limited, Estia Health Ltd and Bank of Queensland Limited. Director, Ramsay Sante (associated with Karen’s directorship of Ramsay Health Care Limited), Rugby Australia, Marshall Investments and Reece Limited.

Former directorships: Director, Vicinity Centres.

Qualifications: BCom, CPA, FAICD

Non-executive Director Prof. Bruce Robinson, AC

Prof. Bruce Robinson, AC

Non-executive Director

Appointed to the Board 13 December 2016: Chair of the Medical Science Committee. Member of the Nomination and Product & Services Innovation Committees.

Background: Over 20 years' leadership experience as an academic physician/scientist across research, healthcare and medicine, and tertiary education. Co-Head of the Cancer Genetics Laboratory at the Kolling Institute for Medical Research and Chair of Research, North Sydney Local Health District. Former Dean, The University of Sydney's Sydney Medical School and Head of Medicine at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital.

Other boards: Director, MaynePharma, QBiotics and Ecofibre. Director (former Chairman), Hoc Mai Foundation. Senior Advisor to McKinsey & Company and Advisor to MinterEllison.

Former directorships: Chairman, National Health and Medical Research Council. Chairman, Medical Benefits Schedule Review Taskforce. Director, Lorica Health Pty Limited, Firefly and Digital Health Agency CRC and Woolcock Institute of Medical Research.

Qualifications: MD, MSc, FRACP, FAAHMS, FAICD