Perspectives from a Leader in Financial Services and the Banking Industry
Rob Whitfield AM
HCA is delighted to invite you to our first professional leader’s journey that features leaders from professional and business domains sharing their personal stories and offering insights on the role leadership has played in their careers.
Our opening event focuses on Banking in the Financial Services sector.
We are delighted to have HBS alumnus Rob Whitfield, Non-Executive Director of Commonwealth Bank, former CEO of Westpac Institutional Bank and former Secretary of NSW Treasury, share his journey as an influential leader in financial services. Rob will offer insights on his professional journey, the challenges and the lessons discovered on leading with purpose & vision while empowering employees and serving the community and the industry.
The session will be facilitated by Tim Ford, who operates a leadership advisory practice working with some of Australia’s ASX Top 50 companies to develop their leadership talent.
Please join us for an exciting event to hear and learn from a highly acclaimed leader in Financial Services, plus a networking opportunity with fellow members over drinks and canapés.
Place: Card Room and Knox Room, Union, Universities and Schools Club, 25 Bent Street, Sydney
Date: Wednesday, 11 May 2022
Time: 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Cost: $75 per person including drinks and canapés.
Dress code: Smart casual
BIO: Rob Whitfield AM
Rob is an experienced board member, banking & finance expert, and internationally focused executive with over 35 years of extensive leadership experience in the private and public sectors. As a visionary leader, he is deeply committed to diversity, sustainable economic growth & development, and the transformation of businesses that create positive stakeholder, shareholder, and societal outcomes.
During Rob’s executive career with Westpac Banking Corporation, he held a number of senior leadership positions, including Chief Executive Officer of the Institutional Bank, Chief Risk Officer, Group Treasurer and Chairman of the Asia Advisory Board.
Rob was previously Chairman and Director of NSW Treasury Corporation, Secretary of NSW Treasury, and NSW Industrial Relations. Under his leadership, the vision for NSW Treasury was redefined, helping the government deliver on its promises to the people of NSW that the state will always be a great place to live and work.
Rob currently serves as the NED (Non-executive Director) and Chair of the Risk and Compliance Committee at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, NED of Transurban Group, Chair of People, Remuneration and Culture Committee, and NED GPT Group, Chair Sustainability and Risk Committee.
In 2020, Rob was awarded the Order of Australia (AM) for his significant service to the banking and finance sector and public administration.
Rob holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of NSW, a Grad Dip in Banking, and a Grad Dip in Finance from UTS and has completed Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. Rob is also a senior fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia and a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
BIO: Tim Ford
Tim Ford operates a leadership advisory practice serving Boards and Executive Teams in areas encompassing succession planning, developmental assessments, team optimisation and executive coaching. He has been invited to manage leadership development and talent progression programs at the most senior levels of organisations and has partnered with a number of Boards of ASX Top 50 companies to ensure that successful leadership selection and transition occurs.
At a personal level, Tim is passionate in his support of mission-driven organisations and has provided his time and expertise to sporting, not-for-profit and faith-based organisations. Recently he worked with the Australian Men’s Cricket Team in their pursuit of stronger values-based team culture and improvement in demonstrated team character.
Tim graduated with high honours in Psychology and Social Relations from Harvard College, and he has an MBA from Harvard Business School. While at Harvard, he was elected Captain of the Men’s Swim Team. He has represented Australia in two sports - swimming, where he was a Commonwealth Games Silver Medallist, and surf lifesaving.
He served on the Board of Swimming Australia and is on the Board of Frontier Services and Chair of the Forbes & Ursula Carlile Foundation.