Elizabeth Proust joins Lend Lease board
Lendlease has appointed high-profile former public servant and finance executive Elizabeth Proust to its board.
The announcement of her becoming an independent non-executive director from next February came ahead of its annual general meeting on Friday.
Ms Proust, one of the country’s top business figures and networkers, will join the David Crawford-led board which includes Nicola Wakefield Evans and Jane Hemstritch.
She was recently listed on the list of 15 of Australia’s super networkers by the Institute of Managers and Leaders.
The new Lendlease director spent eight years at ANZ Group, including four years as managing director of Esanda.
Before joining ANZ, Ms Proust ran Victoria’s Department of Premier and Cabinet and had been chief executive of the City of Melbourne.
Ms Proust is also chairman of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and of Nestle’s Australian arm, as well as heading the Bank of Melbourne’s advisory board.
Ms Proust is also deputy chairman of the Catholic Church’s Truth, Justice and Healing Council.
Mr Crawford said that Ms Proust was highly regarded in both the public and private sectors and her appointment would enhance the board’s mix of skills, diversity and experience.
An Australian Council of Superannuation Investors report in 2015 showed that women accounted for almost 40 per cent of the directors who were appointed by S&P/ASX 100 companies in the previous 12 months, adding about 50 per cent them already held directorships at other companies.
After the report's release Australian Institute of Company Directors chair Elizabeth Proust rejected suggestions of a "girls club" at ASX 100 companies.
She also advised women against stepping down from executive roles in order to become non-executive directors.