New Board appointments for Medibank Private

The Rudd Government today announced new appointments to the Board of Medibank Private Limited.

Lindsay Tanner, Minister for Finance and Deregulation announced that both Ms Elizabeth Alexander and Professor Leanne Rowe have been appointed to the Board as non-executive directors for a three year term effective from 23 October 2008 and 17 December 2008 respectively.

Lindsay Tanner said: “I wish to congratulate Ms Alexander and Professor Rowe on their appointments. Their experience and expertise will be valuable contributions to the Medibank Private Board.

“It is also important to note that these two new appointments increases the female representation on the Medibank Private Board to 50 percent. Only 8.3 per cent of directors of Australian’s top 200 ASX companies are women, and only 6 per cent have 25 per cent or more women board directors.”

Professor Rowe brings strong health professional credentials, with expertise in health care and preventive health. She was admitted to the Order of Australia in the 2007 for service to medicine, particularly in the field of adolescent and Indigenous health. Professor Rowe also has considerable Board experience in the private and public health industry. Her current roles include Deputy Chancellor of Monash University; member of VicHealth Research and Evaluation Advisory Committee; and Chair of the Health Services Committee on the Board of GMHBA Limited.

Elizabeth Alexander brings to the position high level skills in accounting and corporate governance. She holds a number of directorships including a director of DEXUS Property Group, DB RREEF Funds Management and Chair of CSL Ltd and she is a member of the Takeovers Panel, Deputy Chair of the Financial Reporting Council and former National President of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants. In addition, Ms Alexander also possesses health-related expertise through chairing CSL Ltd Limited, a manufacturer of vaccine and plasma protein biotherapies.

Tanya Plibersek, and also recognised the new board appointments as another example of the Rudd Government’s commitment to developing and supporting women’s leadership in every aspect of Australian society.

Tanya Plibersek said: “The Rudd Government is committed to increasing the proportion of highly qualified and highly competent women on Government boards and decision-making bodies.

“I congratulate Ms Alexander and Professor Rowe on their appointments to the Medibank Private Board and am pleased to note that their involvement now brings the proportion of female representatives on the Medibank Private Board to 50 per cent – a much better result than for most organisations in the public or private sectors.”