Judith Downes

Judith has been on the bankmecu Board since March 2012 and stepped into the role of Chair in March 2014.  Judith also serves on the Devine Limited's Board as an independent nonexecutive Director.

Judith's most recent position was Chief Financial Officer, Alumina Limited, where she was responsible for finance, accounting, treasury, investor relations and taxation.

Judith has extensive financial experience gained during her career at Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, and prior to that in public accounting. Prior to joining Alumina Limited in 2009, Judith was the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, Institutional Division, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) and Group General Manager Finance of ANZ. She joined ANZ Bank Group in 1996.

Judith is a member of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Advisory Council of International Accounting Standards Board. Judith is also a member of G100 Executive (Australia). She is a past Director of ING Australia and member of the Audit and Risk Management Committees, past member Australian Accounting Standards Board and Australian Urgent Issues Group and a past Director of Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute.

Seminars

Seminar 1 - Accounting in a Global Village
Judith considered the impact of IFRS on global accounting, the risks and benefits of IFRS, likely future directions, and the challenges globalisation places on corporates.  She also shared with us some of her experiences as a member of global accounting groups (the IFRS Advisory Council, and the IBFed Accounting Task Force), and also her work within the global mining and financial services industries.

Seminar 2 - The Ultimate Spreadsheet
Judith discussed keys items typically on the minds of CFOs in Australia today. She also discussed a range of matters currently on the agenda of the G100 Executive (G100 consists of CFOs from the top 100 companies in Australia).  This included the corporate bond market, underlying profits, integrated reporting, carbon tax, XBRL and bank covenants.