Appointed Group Executive – Legal and Compliance in January 2023, Sharon has over 13 years’ experience in financial services, compliance, risk and governance. She previously worked at National Australia Bank, Raphael’s Bank in the UK and, most recently, Bank First.  

Sharon is responsible for effectively formulating, driving and ensuring the timely, professional execution and delivery of legal advice and the compliance and governance frameworks.

Roles and responsibilities 

Group Executive – Legal and Compliance:

• Continuous improvement and implementation of an efficient and effective compliance management framework

• Leading the compliance team in the development and execution of the compliance business plan
• Regular and timely reporting to the Board, Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee, Group Executive and other stakeholders on  legislative and regulatory obligations and risks

• Implementing an appropriate infrastructure of policies, processes, personnel, reports and systems for managing and monitoring legislative and regulatory obligations
• Providing expert advice on legislative and regulatory obligations      

• Establishing and maintaining strong working relationships with all business units and the leadership team to understand business unit obligations and to support the implementation of effective controls and processes

• Communicating legislative and regulatory obligations to stakeholders and enhancing awareness across the organisation on a continuous basis

• Keeping up to date with industry trends and providing insights on leading compliance management practices

• Identifying regulatory, statutory or standards based obligations for various operations/projects      

• Continuous improvement and implementation of an efficient and effective governance framework

• Support of the company secretariat function including, but not limited to, fit and proper assessments, maintenance of ASIC registers, management of all licences, and director training

• Maintain an effective working relationship with all regulators in conjunction with the CRO
• Direct and manage the organisation's legal activities including the use of external law firms and counsel

Year of appointment 

• 2023 

Qualifications and memberships 

• Bachelor of Arts / Law (Honours), Monash University

• Postgraduate Diploma Legal Practice, Leo Cussens

• Admitted to practice, Supreme Court of Victoria

• RG146 accredited

• Governance, Risk & Compliance Institute Associate 

Experience 

• Head of Compliance and Corporate Legal at Bank First

• Head of Compliance at Hostplus

• Head of Risk & Regulation at Raphaels Bank (UK)

• Manager, Management Assurance at NAB

• Partner at Aeon Consulting