Shareholder activism and stakeholder engagement

Robert is considered one of Europe’s leading experts on NGOs and activism. He has contributed numerous articles and papers to management and academic publications, and has been interviewed widely, from the Financial Times and BBC Television News to Reuters Television and Swiss National Radio. He is also founder and managing director of SIGWATCH, a research and strategy consultancy on NGOs and activism. Today SIGWATCH counts amongst its clients many of the world’s leading multinationals, financial institutions and investment management funds.

John has more than 25 years’ experience as a communications and financial markets professional. In 2019, he was appointed as a member of the Takeovers Panel. He is a former Chairman Australia and Senior Managing Director of FTI Consulting Strategic Communications, one of the world’s leading financial communications firms. He worked as an industrial equities analyst and institutional dealer with Porter Western (now part of Macquarie Equities) and later was the CEO of national group Australian Discount Stockbroking Limited. John then established Castle Gates Australia as an independent, specialist advisory firm providing confidential, value-added advice in a range of disciplines. In 2002, John acquired a 50% interest in financial PR firm Porter Novelli Perth. In 2008, the combined business was acquired by NYSE-listed FTI Consulting Inc. He is a former business editor and state political editor of The West Australian newspaper, and also a columnist with The Australian newspaper.

Sandy is the national head of Corrs Chambers Westgarth’s M&A and corporate practice and has consistently been listed as a leading lawyer by legal directories and publications including Chambers and Partners and Best Lawyers.

She acts for both corporate and private equity clients in Australia and across the globe on public and private mergers and acquisitions, foreign investment, equity raisings, buy-backs and restructurings. She also advises on ASIC and ASX regulatory work, foreign investment regulations and corporate governance and board issues.

Sandy has practised in Sydney, London and Hong Kong and is a member of the Australian Takeovers Panel.

Andrew has more than 25 years’ international experience across a range of industries and with government in advocacy, policy, corporate affairs and commercial operations. Before joining APPEA in April 2019 he spent a decade with global agribusiness Syngenta, in external affairs and communications.

Christian has 30 years’ experience in senior roles across both the private sector and in diplomacy, with a particular focus on reputation management and advocacy.

Christian joined Woolworths in 2017, and today is the Group Head of Reputation and leads the Government Relations and Industry Affairs team and is a member of Woolworths’ 16-person Group Executive. Previously, he led government relations for General Electric across SE Asia, Australia, PNG and New Zealand, global public policy for BHP Billiton and was Group Executive of Public Affairs at Santos.

In government, Christian spent 14 years in Australia’s diplomatic service, including postings in southern Africa, Asia and the United States and secondments into the Office of the Foreign Minister (North Asia and Economics Adviser) and Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet. Christian was promoted into DFAT’s Senior Executive in 2003 and in 2004 appointed Australian High Commissioner to Brunei.

Christian sits on the Boards of the Australian American Fulbright Foundation and the Royal Institution of Australia. He is a former Board member of the Federal Government’s Australia Malaysia Council and the Council on Australia Latin American Relations.

Christian holds B.LLB (Hons), B.Comm and MBA degrees from the University of Melbourne.