Helen Nugent AC

Dr Helen Nugent AC is an experienced company director who is committed to giving back to the community. Helen is currently Chairman of Ausgrid Pty Ltd; Senior Independent Director of TPG Telecom; a Non-Executive Director of IAG, and a member of the Global Advisory Board of UST and the Advisory Board of the Centre for Australia-India Relations. She is also Chairman of the Order of Australia Association Foundation. She previously served as Chairman of Veda Group; the National Disability Insurance Agency; Australian Rail Track Corporation; Sydney Airport; Funds SA; Swiss Re (Australia) Life and Health; and was a Non-Executive Director of Macquarie Group; Origin Energy; Carter Holt Harvey; Australia Post; and Freehills, among others. Helen has given back to the community in areas including health, the arts, education, and the Olympics. In health, she was a Non-Executive Director of the Garvan Institute for Medical Research. In the arts, she is currently a member of the National Portrait Gallery of Australia Foundation, having previously been Chairman of the National Portrait Gallery of Australia; Chairman of the National Opera Review, the Major Performing Arts Inquiry, and the Major Performing Arts Board; and Deputy Chairman of the Australia Council and Opera Australia. In education, she was Chancellor of Bond University, President of Cranbrook School and a member of Bradley Review into tertiary education. She is a member of the Australian Olympic Foundation. She is a former partner at McKinsey & Company, Director of Strategy at Westpac, and Professor of Management and Director of the MBA Program at the AGSM. Prior to attending Harvard Business School, she taught Indian history and culture for ten years at the University of Queensland. Helen holds an MBA (Distinction) from the Harvard Business School; and a Doctorate of Philosophy (in Indian history) and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Queensland. She has received an Honorary Doctorate in Business from the University of Queensland, and an Honorary Doctorate from Bond University. She was awarded the Order of Merit by the Australian Olympic Committee and the Richard Pratt Business Arts Leadership Award from Creative Partnerships Australia. Her achievements have been recognised with her being made a Companion of the Order of Australia.