Mr John Heaton FCG

John Heaton is President of the UK, Republic of Ireland and Associated Territories Division and serves on the Institute’s Council, having recently been elected Vice President.

John became involved with the ICSA in 1996 when he joined the ICSA Registrars Group, decided to qualify and graduated in 1999, becoming a Fellow in 2003. Currently a self-employed consultant in the share registration industry, John previously worked for Equiniti and the Lloyds Bank Group, carrying out a number of senior management roles in operations, compliance and risk, and client relations, and has been involved in a wide range of activities in the banking and securities industries across the UK all his working life.

Gillian Meller FCG HKFCG

Gill Meller FCG HKFCG (PE) is MTR Corporation Limited’s Legal & Governance Director. She is responsible for leading the Company’s environmental, social and governance initiatives and for overseeing the Company’s legal, company secretarial, insurance, risk management and sustainability functions and a central procurement and supply chain function. She is also responsible for leading the Company’s assurance function with the aim of providing a strengthened second line of defence across key risk areas of the Company. She graduated from Hertford College, University of Oxford and obtained her postgraduate qualifications in law from The College of Law in the United Kingdom. She is a vice chairman of the Legal Committee of The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Standing Committee on Company Law Reform and immediate Past President and ex-officio council member of The Hong Kong Chartered Governance Institute

Dr Denis Mowbray FCG

Denis advises the "Third Teams" (Boards and Executives) of organisations and undertakes research in 'Behavioural Governance: its influence and impact on organisational performance,' through the eyes of organisational psychology and cognitive science.

A creative and strategic thinker, who has broad general management experience combined with commercial exposure across several industries with accountability for building strategic relationships and achieving growth. Is committed to innovation and is driven by ideas and the possibilities that new strategic directions offer. Has an open leadership style, approachable and operates with logic, a good sense of humour, and always with integrity. Has a commitment to continued self-development and skills enhancement in all areas of his life.

Jill Parratt FCG

Corporate Experience
I am an experienced business professional, with over three decades’ experience in Corporate Governance, Financial Management and Administration. I have been the financial director of a property management company, the company secretary of a listed transport company and the company secretary of two listed property companies. I am currently the group secretary of one of the largest insurance companies in South Africa, Liberty Holdings Limited, a position I have held for 10 years. I play a pivotal role in facilitating the Board to achieve the Group’s vision and strategy, as well as compliance with relevant laws and regulations. I act as point of communication between the Board and Company’s shareholders and as a vital link between the Board and executive management. I have a key focus on reinforcing corporate fairness, promoting transparency, sustainability and discipline.

Chartered Secretaries Southern Africa (CSSA)
I was elected onto the Southern African board in 2001. I served as Vice President in 2007, Senior Vice President in 2008, and finally President in 2009 which coincided with CSSA’s centenary. I have played a key, supportive role in the Division over the past 17 years.
I was appointed as the Southern African representative to the International Council in 2012 and was elected onto the International Exco in 2016. In 2018 I was appointed Vice President.
I chaired the Education and Examinations committee from 2012 to 2017 and monitored and guided the education and examination process in Southern Africa. I was very involved in the many submissions from Southern Africa on the drafting of the new qualification. I served as moderator of Corporate Secretaryship and Corporate Administration for five years. I have assisted students with pre-exam seminars on Corporate Secretaryship. I am also the chairman of Mentor which is a bursary fund for disadvantaged students from 2010 to the present. Keeping in touch with students and the qualification is a passion of mine.

Pauline Vamos

Pauline is a non-executive director of Mercer Superannuation Australia Limited and Chief Executive Women and is the Chair of Interaction Disability Services and K2fly limited. Pauline is also the President and Chair of Governance Institute of Australia and a member of the International Council of The Chartered Governance Institute.  

Pauline is recognised as an expert in broad financial services, governance, risk management and public policy.

She has over 30 years’ experience in the financial services industry, including as a senior regulator with ASIC, various directorships on listed and fiduciary entities, CEO positions and as an international adviser on pensions governance.

Jean Jeannot FCG

Jean-W Jeannot is a Fellow of the Canadian Corporate Governance Institute. He holds a Master’s degree in Financial Banking from Dalhousie University (Halifax, Nova Scotia). He spent most of his career in the field of Investment advice. He is also a Fellow of the Canadian Bankers association, Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute and Member of The Canadian Trust Institute.

He Began his career in the Trust Industry (Royal Trust & Central Guaranty Trust) where he held various position in Corporate Bond Trusteeship as well as Stock Transfer services. He continued his career in the Securities industry (BMO Nesbitt Burns) where he was Investment Advisor, Branch Manager, Associate Portfolio Manager, as well as Certified Financial Planner. He has acted in a number of managerial roles with BMO Nesbitt Burns.

He retired from the Investment industry in 2019 and currently serves on the board of CGI Canadian division as Vice-President. Also serves a treasurer for the Quebec Chapter of CGIC. He also pursues participation on other Not for Profit Boards, as well as an active role on the disciplinary committee of the Investment Industry Regulation of Canada (IIROC).

Edith Shih FCG (CS, CGP) HKFCG (CS, CGP)(PE)

Edith Shih is the International President of The Chartered Governance Institute and Chairman of its Executive Committee from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2020.  She is the China/Hong Kong division representative on CGI council and a current member of the Constitutional Agreements Committee and the first Chair of the Thought Leadership Committee from 2016-2018.

Professionally, Shih is Executive Director and Company Secretary of CK Hutchison Holdings Limited, a Fortune 500 Company listed in Hong Kong at which she oversees legal, regulatory, corporate finance and compliance matters of the Group with a team of about 260 lawyers and 65 company secretaries.

Shih holds a Bachelor of Science in Education (Music) degree and a Master of Arts (Education) degree from the University of the Philippines; and a Master of Arts (TESOL) and a Master of Education (Allied Linguistics) degree from Columbia University, New York.  She attended the University of Law in London and is qualified to practise law in England and Wales, Hong Kong and Victoria, Australia.   She is in addition a Fellow of CGI and the Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries (HKICS) with both chartered secretary and chartered governance professional designations.

Shih is a Past President of HKICS - from 2011 to 2014, and the current Chairman of its Nomination Committee and the Institute Naming Group.   She is a Member of the Council and the Human Resources Committee of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Trustee of Teachers College, Columbia University and Member of the Advisory Board of the MBA programme of the University of Hong Kong.   In addition, she is a Member of Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications, a Member of the Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme Vetting Committee and the Process Review Panel of The Financial Reporting Council.   She is also a Member of the Executive Council and the Council of Hong Kong Management Association, and a Founding Member and Steering Committee Member of The Forum for World Education. 

Gillian Meller FCG HKFCG

Gill Meller FCG HKFCG (PE) is MTR Corporation Limited’s Legal & Governance Director. She is responsible for leading the Company’s environmental, social and governance initiatives and for overseeing the Company’s legal, company secretarial, insurance, risk management and sustainability functions and a central procurement and supply chain function. She is also responsible for leading the Company’s assurance function with the aim of providing a strengthened second line of defence across key risk areas of the Company. She graduated from Hertford College, University of Oxford and obtained her postgraduate qualifications in law from The College of Law in the United Kingdom. She is a vice chairman of the Legal Committee of The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Standing Committee on Company Law Reform and immediate Past President and ex-officio council member of The Hong Kong Chartered Governance Institute

Mr Paul Stafford FCG HKFCG

Mr Paul Stafford FCG HKFCG 

Paul Stafford FCG HKFCG is the Corporation Secretary, Regional Company Secretary and Head of Corporate Governance, Asia-Pacific, Corporate Governance & Secretariat of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC). He is responsible for leading a team of more than 80 governance professionals that support Boards and Directors throughout Asia-Pacific. He also has responsibilities for HSBC Holdings plc’s primary listing on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. Paul is a past Vice-President of The Hong Kong Chartered Governance Institute from 2016 to 2018 and from 2021 to 2023.

Datuk Suseela Menon FCIS (CS) (CGP)

Datuk Suseela Menon is the Immediate Past President of MAICSA. She held the position of President from October 2020 to June 2022. Currently, she serves as the President of the Corporate Secretaries International Association (CSIA). She is also the Institute’s representative on the Council of CSIA.

She was initially elected to the MAICSA Council in June 2017 and then appointed as the Deputy President of MAICSA in July 2018, eventually assuming the role of President in October 2020. She has served and continues to serve on various committees of the Institute. She was the Chairman of the Transformation & Re-branding Committee, where she played a leading role in the re-branding exercise undertaken by the Institute. Presently, she holds the position of Chairman of the Editorial Board, Chairman of the Thought Leadership Committee, and Chairman of the Appeals Tribunal Committee.

Suseela was re-elected as the President of CSIA for the term 2023/2024, after having served her first term as President (2022/2023). CSIA is an international federation of governance professional bodies for corporate secretaries and governance professionals.

She served as Executive Director of UMW Corporation, having risen to that position from the role of Group Secretary. UMW was a prominent public-listed conglomerate in Malaysia. It is noteworthy that she was the first female Executive Director in the Group. The UMW Group has diverse businesses in heavy equipment, the exclusive Toyota distributorship in Malaysia, auto parts manufacturing and Oil and Gas. Suseela sat on the Boards of several companies in the UMW Group, including the Perodua group of companies (the top selling automotive brand in Malaysia). Her 30 years’ of working experience encompass company secretaryship, corporate communications, branding, corporate governance, investor relations, IT, property and administration.

She is a shareholder and Director of Goodlabs Medical (M) Sdn Bhd, a company that supplies medical products to government and private hospitals in Malaysia. Additionally, she engages in consultancy work for companies that require her expertise.

Suseela continues to find time to pursue her passion for social and community work. In this regard, she served as the first-ever female President of the All-Malaysia Malayalee Association. She has been a Disciplinary Committee member of the Malaysian Bar Council for many years, and Advisor of several charitable organisations. Additionally, she takes fitness programmes seriously and is an avid badminton player.

Datuk Suseela was conferred the Panglima Jasa Negara (PJN) in June 2014 by His Royal Highness, the King of Malaysia, which carries the title “Datuk”, in recognition of her corporate work and charitable activities.

Dr Denis Mowbray FCG

Denis advises the "Third Teams" (Boards and Executives) of organisations and undertakes research in 'Behavioural Governance: its influence and impact on organisational performance,' through the eyes of organisational psychology and cognitive science.

A creative and strategic thinker, who has broad general management experience combined with commercial exposure across several industries with accountability for building strategic relationships and achieving growth. Is committed to innovation and is driven by ideas and the possibilities that new strategic directions offer. Has an open leadership style, approachable and operates with logic, a good sense of humour, and always with integrity. Has a commitment to continued self-development and skills enhancement in all areas of his life.

Mr Nathaniel Vanniasingham FCG

Nathaniel is the Director of RHT Capital Pte Ltd. He has a varied and diversified experience which ranges from being an in-house company secretary, audit, financial accounting and working for an out-sourced company secretarial service provider as well as continuing sponsor for companies listed on the Catalist Board of the Singapore Stock Exchange. He has over 30 years of experience in the corporate secretarial industry.

In his years of experience, he has done feasibility studies, due diligence exercises involving fraud investigation in audit, financial analysis, viability of a business, liquidation and advising clients as an out-sourced secretarial service provider. Nathaniel has about 20 years of experience handling listed companies and he has been and is a company secretary of several listed and private companies. He has also been involved in making representations on behalf of clients to the Regulatory Authority with regards to compliance matters.

Nathaniel is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) and Chartered Secretaries Institute of Singapore (CSIS) and an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). He the Vice-Chairman of CSIS from March 2016 to March 2018 and Chairman from March 2018 to March 2019.

As Chairman, he has represented the views of practicing company secretaries, both in-house and out-sourced firms, including liaising with the Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority of Singapore (ACRA) and with the Singapore Exchange Limited (SGX) on new changes and other matters. He has been a speaker and panellist moderator for the CSIS Seminars held on the propose changes to the Companies Act, Code of Corporate Governance and the Listing Rules as well as certain in-house seminars held by the RHT Group of companies for their clients.

Jill Parratt FCG

Corporate Experience
I am an experienced business professional, with over three decades’ experience in Corporate Governance, Financial Management and Administration. I have been the financial director of a property management company, the company secretary of a listed transport company and the company secretary of two listed property companies. I am currently the group secretary of one of the largest insurance companies in South Africa, Liberty Holdings Limited, a position I have held for 10 years. I play a pivotal role in facilitating the Board to achieve the Group’s vision and strategy, as well as compliance with relevant laws and regulations. I act as point of communication between the Board and Company’s shareholders and as a vital link between the Board and executive management. I have a key focus on reinforcing corporate fairness, promoting transparency, sustainability and discipline.

Chartered Secretaries Southern Africa (CSSA)
I was elected onto the Southern African board in 2001. I served as Vice President in 2007, Senior Vice President in 2008, and finally President in 2009 which coincided with CSSA’s centenary. I have played a key, supportive role in the Division over the past 17 years.
I was appointed as the Southern African representative to the International Council in 2012 and was elected onto the International Exco in 2016. In 2018 I was appointed Vice President.
I chaired the Education and Examinations committee from 2012 to 2017 and monitored and guided the education and examination process in Southern Africa. I was very involved in the many submissions from Southern Africa on the drafting of the new qualification. I served as moderator of Corporate Secretaryship and Corporate Administration for five years. I have assisted students with pre-exam seminars on Corporate Secretaryship. I am also the chairman of Mentor which is a bursary fund for disadvantaged students from 2010 to the present. Keeping in touch with students and the qualification is a passion of mine.

Mr John Heaton FCG

John Heaton is President of the UK, Republic of Ireland and Associated Territories Division and serves on the Institute’s Council, having recently been elected Vice President.

John became involved with the ICSA in 1996 when he joined the ICSA Registrars Group, decided to qualify and graduated in 1999, becoming a Fellow in 2003. Currently a self-employed consultant in the share registration industry, John previously worked for Equiniti and the Lloyds Bank Group, carrying out a number of senior management roles in operations, compliance and risk, and client relations, and has been involved in a wide range of activities in the banking and securities industries across the UK all his working life.

Mr Charles Brown FCG

Charles is President of CGIUKI. He is also a member of the CGIUKI's Company Secretaries Forum and the Association for the General Counsel and Company Secretaries of FTSE 100 companies. Company Secretary for Experian plc in Dublin, he covers corporate governance, statutory and listing rules compliance and reporting, board support, shareholder services and sustainability. 

Victoria Penrice FCG

Victoria is Immediate Past President of the CGIUKI Division. A Chartered governance professional with over 30 years’ experience as Company Secretary in UK and internationally listed companies. Victoria has experience in a number of sectors and is skilled in corporate governance, project delivery and board leadership.

Letitia Gaga

Letitia is a Past President of CGI Zimbabwe, a Chartered Governance Professional and Registered Public Accountant,

She is a seasoned financial expert with extensive experience in both public and

private sectors. An Associate member of IMTA - South Africa, current Vice Chairperson of Private Hospital Association and Chairperson of Baines Pension Fund.

Letitia  is the Finance & Administration Director of Baines Avenue Clinic, a leading maternity hospital in Zimbabwe.  She sits on a number of Boards.

Prof Alan Kai Ming Au FCG

Prof. Alan Au is Dean of Lee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration as well as Director of Institute of International Business and Governance at Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU). Prior to becoming the Dean of the School in 2015, he had headed the Marketing, Management and Decision Science department and had eventually assumed associate deanship in 2010. Before joining HKMU, he had served in various academic positions in both Hong Kong and New Zealand. 

Currently serving on the Council, Court and Senate of HKMU, Prof. Au is also a member of the Council for the China/Hong Kong division and Chairman of the Professional Standards Committee of The Chartered Governance Institute (CGI). He is regularly invited by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) to serve as an expert member in panels for the accreditation of both local and overseas degree programmes offered in Hong Kong. He is also appointed by the HKCAAVQ as a Specialist in disciplines relating to business and governance. He has been appointed as External Examiner for DBA, PhD and MPhil thesis for local and overseas universities, and was a Visiting Professor of Université Paris II Panthéon – Assas between 2015 and 2018.  

With a wide range of publications in internationally refereed journals, covering areas such as business ethics, international management, technology transfer and marketing, Prof. Au was a Regional Editor and Guest Editor for Cross Cultural Management Journal and has undertaken associate editorships with two international journals. He has also published more than 200 articles in topics relating to branding, consumer behaviour, management and marketing communications (in Chinese) in major Hong Kong newspapers and business magazines. Over the years, Prof. Au, as Principal/Co-Principal Investigator, has received over HK$20 million in external competitive/internal grants. 

 

Prof. Au initiated the production of a number of TV programmes on Corporate Governance, Management and Marketing for the University’s “Knowledge for All” programme broadcasted on two major public broadcasting Channels in Hong Kong.

Gertrude Takawira ACG, MSc Corp.Gov

Gertrude Ratidzo Takawira joined CGI-Global in June 2021, as Policy Advisor. Her role includes working with the Thought Leadership Committee, in the development of the Institute’s global policy programme.

Gertrude, has over 40 years of work experience in Zimbabwe, the SADC region as well as in East and West Africa. She is former Ambassador to the Republic of Zambia, where she was also Permanent Representative to the COMESA (2014-2020).

Her governance experience include; co-ordination of continental-wide African Governance Outlook (AGO), an ACBF/AfDB financial governance pilot project; she participated in several peer review missions under the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), capacity assessments on behalf of UNDP, Global Fund grant recipients and KPMG Risk Advisory Services. She also contributed to the development of the National Code on Corporate Governance in Zimbabwe, as a Research Consultant. In 2008 Gertrude participated in a Mid-Term Evaluation of the Governance and Economic Management Assistance Programme (GEMAP), a multi-stakeholder funded programme, involving the Government of Liberia, United States Government, European Commission, World Bank and UNDP among other stakeholders in Liberia, which was aimed at strengthening financial governance institutions. Earlier in her career Gertrude worked for Coopers and Lybrand (now Ernst & Young in Zimbabwe) and she served a local authority, the City of Gweru for 3 years.

Gertrude has previously served on several boards and is currently on the board of Island Hospice & Healthcare in Harare.

She published several weekly governance related articles with a daily newspaper, the Herald for 2 consecutive years (2011-2012). She is passionate about delivery of good governance and building strong inclusive institutions.

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Kerrie Waring FGC

With over 25 years of corporate governance experience, Kerrie joined CGI Global as Director General in December 2024.  Previously, she served as Chief Executive Officer of the International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN) after joining the organisation in 2008 as Chief Operating Officer. 

Prior to ICGN, she promoted high-quality corporate reporting, auditing and assurance as Corporate Governance Manager at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales. Earlier, she was International Relations Manager at the UK Institute of Directors where she was part of an influential effort, led by the OECD and World Bank, to establish corporate governance foundations around the world through the creation of codes, institutes, and director training programmes. A specialist in Japanese governance, Ms Waring served for seven years as a Member of the Council of Experts convened by the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Financial Services Agency to advise on governance and stewardship reforms. 

Kerrie was named Rising Star of Corporate Governance by the Millstein School of Corporate Governance at the Yale School of Management (2008). She was lead author of the IFC’s Global Director Training Toolkit (2002) and co-authored the Handbook on International Corporate Governance (2004). A Chartered Company Secretary, she holds a BA honors degree in international business and Japanese. 

Cynthia Mora Spencer ACG

A Company Secretary and a Governance Professional with over 15 years’ experience, Cynthia provides advice to The Charter Governance Institute in her capacity as Institute Secretary as well as company secretarial and governance support to the governing body of the CGIUKI Division and the CGIUKI Group including its subsidiary companies.