Board of directors

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, Deputy Group Pty Ltd and Fitness Passport Pty Ltd. Chair of Calix Limited. 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

CEO & President and Managing Director

Appointed to the Board 14 November 2017 and as CEO and President 3 January 2018: Member of the Medical Science and Product and 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 and a Fellow of Engineers Australia. He was appointed as President of Cochlear on 31 July 2017 and became CEO & President on 3 January 2018.

Qualifications:BE (Hons), MBA

Glen Boreham, AM

Non-executive Director

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

Former directorships: Southern Cross Media Group, 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

Caroline Clarke

Non-executive Director

Appointed to the Board 2 September 2024: Member of the People and Culture, Nomination and Product and Services Innovation Committees.

Background: Extensive commercial experience, including 20 years of executive leadership roles at medical devices, medical equipment and healthcare services businesses in large global companies. Most recently was CEO and Executive Vice President ASEAN Pacific for Philips, where she was responsible for the overall strategy, business and management of the Health Systems and Consumer Personal Health businesses in 14 countries across the region.

Other boards: Nil.

Former directorships: Director, Royal Schipol Group.

Qualifications: BA, GAICD

Sir Michael Daniell, KNZM

Non-executive Director

Appointed to the Board 1 January 2020: Chair of the Product and Services Innovation Committee. Member of the Audit and 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. Director, Medical Research Commercialisation Fund.

Former directorships:Advisory Board Chair, Te Titoki Mataora (NZ).

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

Michael del Prado

Non-executive Director

Appointed to the Board 1 January 2022: Member of the Medical Science, Nomination, People and Culture and Product and 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

Christine McLoughlin, AM

Non-executive Director

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

Background: Extensive experience as a director on the boards of ASX Top 50 Companies in financial services (including banking, life insurance, superannuation, asset management and general insurance), resources, health insurance and infrastructure sectors over the past 14 years. She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a member of Chief Executive Women. She has been active in the not-for profit sector over her entire career.

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

Former directorships: Chairman and Director of Venues NSW and, Chairman of Destination NSW. Director, nib Holding Limited, Whitehaven Coal Limited, Spark Infrastructure, the McGrath Foundation and more recently the Chancellor of the University of Wollongong.

Qualifications: BA, LLB (Hons), FAICD

Karen Penrose

Non-executive Director

Appointed to the Board 1 July 2022: Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. Member of the People and Culture, Nomination and Product and 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 and Bank of Queensland Limited. Director, Ramsay General De Sante (associated with Karen’s directorship of Ramsay Health Care Limited), Marshall Investments Pty Limited, NSW Waratahs Ltd and Waratahs Rugby Pty Ltd.

Former directorships: Vicinity Centres, Estia Health Ltd, Rugby Australia Limited and Reece Limited.

Qualifications: BCom, CPA, FAICD

Prof Bruce Robinson, AC

Non-executive Director

Appointed to the Board 13 December 2016: Chair of Medical Science Committee. Member of the Nomination, Audit and Risk and Product and 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, Ecofibre and EOF BIO LLC (associated with the Ecofibre directorship). Deputy Chairman (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