Our People

The true value of Company Matters is our people.

Melissa Jones
General Manager

As Company Matters' General Manager since 2015, Melissa leads the legal practice and is responsible for overseeing the Company Matters team.

Melissa is an experienced practitioner who has provided high value strategic advice throughout her career, working to enhance corporate governance, manage legal risk and protect business reputation.

Melissa's extensive experience includes acting as Senior Legal Counsel for the Commonwealth Bank of Australia Group, Senior Associate in Mergers & Acquisitions/Corporate Advisory at Mallesons Stephen Jaques (now King & Wood Mallesons) and in the public company team at Qantas Airways Limited. Melissa is admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia.

Anna Sandham
Senior Governance Consultant/Senior Company Secretary

Anna has over 25 years of corporate governance and company secretarial experience in various ASX listed and unlisted private companies, both as the statutory appointed company secretary and in a “white-label” capacity.

Prior to joining Company Matters in December 2012, Anna was a Company Secretary at AMP Financial Services and prior to that worked at Westpac Banking Corporation for 10 years’, including as Westpac Company Secretary for a period of 5 years and also led the secretariat function with the BT Financial Group. Prior to that, Anna held company secretarial roles within the private and public sectors, including NRMA Limited.

Anna holds a Bachelor of Economics (University of Sydney) and a Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance (Governance Institute of Australia).

Anna is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and a member of its Legislative Review Committee and is also a NSW Justice of the Peace.

Bernadette Ellis
Office Manager

Prior to joining Company Matters in 2014, Bernadette acted as Company Secretary for portfolio entities of Ironbridge Capital Pty Limited.

Bernadette supports the corporate administration arm of the Company Matters practice. Bernadette is a member of the Governance Institute of Australia.

Bill Hundy
Senior Company Secretary and Solicitor

Bill is a highly experienced company secretary and lawyer and has held roles in major listed public companies for over three decades in the mining, energy and manufacturing industries including as company secretary and legal counsel for Origin Energy Limited, Email Limited, Placer Pacific Limited, Kidston Gold Mines Limited and Oil Company of Australia Limited. He has extensive background in company secretarial practice, corporate governance, communications, compliance, risk management and insurance.

Bill is also an experienced educator having taught and authored course material and publications in corporate law, company secretarial practice and governance for over twenty years for the Governance Institute of Australia. He is currently a part-time lecturer in Corporate Law at the University of Sydney Law School.

Bill is admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of NSW; holds a Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Commerce (Economics), Diploma of Corporate Management and a Bachelor of Science (Physics, Geology and Geophysics). He is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and the Chartered Governance Institute (formerly the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators) and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Clare Craven
Senior Company Secretary

Clare has over 20 years’ legal, company secretarial and governance experience gained in various listed and private companies. She has a deep understanding of financial services, wealth management, corporate governance, risk management and compliance.

Prior to joining Company Matters in 2019, Clare held various senior leadership roles at Westpac Banking Corporation including Head of Westpac Secretariat, Head of Westpac Subsidiaries and Head of BT Secretariat. Clare’s previous roles included Company Secretarial Consultant to various public and private companies in the financial services, construction, insurance and health services sector, legal and corporate advisory roles at NRMA Ltd and NRMA Insurance Limited (including Company Secretary), and as an Associate Solicitor in private practice.

Clare is admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW, holds a Bachelor of Legal Studies and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance, is a Fellow of both the Governance Institute of Australia and the Chartered Governance Institute (formerly the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators) and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Kimberly Sue
Senior Company Secretary

Kimberly Sue has over 15 years of company secretarial, corporate administration and governance advisory experience across a diverse range of industries and sectors, including in ASX listed, unlisted public and private entities, and not-for-profit organisations.

Prior to joining Company Matters, Kimberly was most recently Senior Manager, Governance & Reporting at Westpac Bank. Before that, Kimberly was Senior Manager, Global Entity & Compliance at PwC professional services firm, Senior Company Secretary at CFO Innovation consulting firm, and Company Secretary at AMP Financial Services.

Kimberly has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons), a Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance, and is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and the international Chartered Governance Institute.

Graeme Blackett
Senior Company Secretary

Graeme has over 30 years company secretarial and governance experience in various listed and private companies, as well as in private practice.

Prior to joining Company Matters in 2018, Graeme most recently worked as Company Secretary of NAB Wealth/MLC and has also previously worked at AMP, Westfield Group (now known as Scentre Group), Reckon Limited and NRMA Group (now known as Insurance Australia Group). Graeme also has worked at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission as Commission Secretary.

Graeme is admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW, holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts, is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and a Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute.

Joanne Lewis
Board Coordinator and Practice Assistant

Jo has over 25 years’ experience in corporate governance, and a very strong background specialising in business administration, compliance, and company secretarial support. This has included lodgement of ASX and ASIC regulatory documents (via the ASIC portals and CAS), preparation of compliance resolutions and Board papers, and providing advice and secretariat support to Boards, Board Committees, and Executive management teams.

Jo has extensive experience, working with and assisting Boards, including Sydney Water, the National Australia Bank (Wealth Division) and MUFG. In particular, Jo also specialises in managing the uploading of documents to various Board portals, including Diligent, BoardVantage and Convene.

Jo holds a Diploma in Business Administration, and a Certificate in Governance Practice from the Governance Institute of Australia.

John Rodriguez
Senior Company Secretary

John holds a Bachelor of Commerce, a Graduate Diploma in Corporate Governance, is a Fellow of the GIA, and a Chartered Secretary with ICSA.

John has over 30 years’ experience in governance and company secretarial roles and has worked with ASX listed, unlisted and Not-For-Profit organisations. John has strong infrastructure joint venture experience which includes work for Northwestern Roads Group (Transurban M7 & NorthConnex motorways); Transport for NSW; VicRoads; QIC joint ventures; Macquarie joint ventures; James Fielding; Mirvac; Optus; Samsung; EDT Retail Management; Singapore Government Investment Company; AustralianSuper; REST; ART.

John is also a Justice of the Peace and has a Working With Children Check, and NDIS Worker Check.

Jonathan Swain
Senior Company Secretary

Jon has more than 25 years’ experience in legal, general management and company secretarial roles. Jon was formerly a partner in the Corporate Advisory and M&A practice at Clayton Utz, and spent several years with Allen & Overy Australia as Head of Corporate Knowhow.

He subsequently held roles as Head of Legal for ASX-listed SFG Australia Limited, and as General Manager Corporate and Company Secretary for Sunnyfield (a not-for-profit organisation in the disability services sector). Jon also acted as Company Secretary for several other ASX-listed entities before joining Company Matters in 2019, where his focus has continued to be in the ASX-listed sector.

Jon is admitted as a Solicitor in New South Wales and is a Fellow Member of the Governance Institute of Australia and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He also serves as a non-executive director of The Junction Works Limited (a not-for-profit organisation in the disability and community services sector).

Lauren Osbich
Company Secretary and Solicitor

Since joining Company Matters in May 2021, Lauren has worked with a number of ASX listed entities, as well as overseas listed entities, technology providers and not for profit boards.

Lauren was most recently employed by ASX as a Listings Compliance Advisor. Prior to her role at the ASX, Lauren worked predominantly in the online legal publishing space with over 15 years’ experience extending to senior roles with a technical legal research focus. She has also worked as a Legal and Compliance Research Consultant where Lauren focused on putting together practical content in relation to governance, risk and compliance programs, particularly focused on the financial services and banking sectors.

Lauren is admitted as a practising Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW, holds a Bachelor of Arts/Law with Honours in English and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice. Lauren has also completed the AICD Governance Foundations for Not-for-Profit Directors Course (2019) and the AICD Company Directors Course (2024) and holds volunteer roles as a Board Member and Board Secretary for the Prisoners Aid Association of NSW and the Western Sydney Community Legal Centre.

Mark Langan
Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary

Mark has over three decades' accounting and commercial experience in various listed and private companies as well as in public practice. He joined Company Matters in 2014. Previously, Mark served as Chief Financial Officer for several small cap listed companies.

Mark holds a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Accounting with a sub major in Business Law and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Mark is a Justice of the Peace and is registered for working with children.

Michael Butijer
Board Coordinator and Practice Assistant

Prior to joining Company Matters in 2021, Michael held various roles within business administration and company secretariat at BlackRock and Macquarie Group.

Michael holds a Diploma in Financial Planning and is a member of the Governance Institute of Australia.

Nicola Betteridge
Senior Company Secretary

Nicola has over 10 years’ experience as a Company Secretary and governance professional in both ASX-listed and unlisted organisations.Prior to joining Company Matters, Nicola spent many years in another professional services organisation assisting a wide range of clients and where she also led the secretariat team.

Nicola has a Bachelor of Law and is an associate member of both the Governance Institute of Australia and the Chartered Governance Institute (formerly the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators).

Sarah Prince
Company Secretary and Solicitor

Since joining Company Matters in 2006, Sarah has assisted many clients either as their statutory appointed company secretary or as an independent adviser to boards and management.

Sarah has significant experience working with both listed and unlisted entities across a broad range of industries including marketing, biotech, tech, professional services, infrastructure, mining exploration, energy and listed investment companies.

Prior to joining Company Matters, Sarah worked as part of the Board Advisory Services arm of KPMG.

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws and a Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance. Sarah is a Fellow of both the Governance Institute of Australia and the Chartered Governance Institute (formerly the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators) and is admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

Swapna Keskar
Senior Company Secretary

With over two decades of experience as a company secretary, Swapna has been a member of the Company Matters' team since 2007, working extensively in providing company secretarial, governance consulting, corporate administration and resident director services to Company Matters' clients.

During her time at Company Matters, Swapna has assisted many clients across a range of different industries, including, financial services, retail and resources and energy. She has also been seconded to Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Qantas, Brambles, Lendlease Services and BT Investment Management Limited.

Previously, Swapna was a company secretary at ASX listed Ainsworth Game Technology Limited and prior to that, she was part of a specialist company secretarial services team in India.

Swapna has a Master of Commerce and a Bachelor of Law and is a Fellow member of the Governance Institute of Australia, The Chartered Governance Institute (UK) and the Institute of Company Secretaries of India and a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Sharon Cullis
Company Secretary

Sharon joined Company Matters in July 2023 and works from our Melbourne team. She has two decades of accounting, company secretarial, paralegal and governance experience developed working within corporate service providers, small boutique accounting firms to large accounting firms, RSM Australia and Pitcher Partners.

She has a deep understanding of corporate governance and compliance and has a strong background in accounting and business administration. Prior to joining Company Matters Sharon held various corporate secretarial administrator roles to develop and grow to senior leadership positions as Assistant Manager and Team Manager. She enjoys working closely with clients to help ensure they understand and meet their corporate governance obligations efficiently and within time requirements.

Prior to joining Company Matters Sharon worked as a Company Secretary at Allens Linklaters, a top tier Australian law firm. Sharon holds a Diploma in Accounting.

Simon Davis
Business Manager

Simon is an emotionally intelligent results driven leader with 30+ years’ experience (20+ years General Management and ~10 years Commercial Analyst) in professional services, corporate and capital markets. He has worked in General Management roles in outsourced professional service firms for 15+ years.

Reporting to General Manager Melissa Jones, Simon is responsible for Operations, Strategy, Finance, New Business Development and Personnel.

Simon holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Auckland and a Master of Commerce (Finance) from the University of Sydney.

Kristy Gibson
Assistant Company Secretary

Kristy has extensive experience in Corporate Governance, Compliance and Secretarial support in the Finance and Medical Device industries.

She has supported the listed Boards and Committees at Cochlear, Commonwealth Bank and AMP and assisted with AGM preparation.

Kristy is experienced with Diligent Boards and Entities, ASIC, ASX and Legal Matter management.

She has held Club secretary positions at her local sporting clubs.

Kristy holds an Advanced Diploma of Legal Services (Paralegal) and a Diploma of Business Management, she is currently completing her Bachelor of Laws and is a member of the Governance Institute of Australia.

Regina Gracias
Company Secretary

Regina has over 15 years of company secretarial and governance experience and has been a member of the Company Matters' Melbourne team since 2023, working extensively in providing company secretarial, governance consulting and corporate administration to Company Matters' clients.

During her time at Company Matters, Regina has assisted many clients across a range of different industries including, real estate, infrastructure, financial services, resources and energy.

Previously, Regina was a company secretary at Allens Linklaters, one of the top tier legal firms in Australia and held various roles within company secretariat and business administration at Tax & Super Australia Ltd and Law In Order. Prior to that she was part of the in-house legal teams for Mahindra Group and Tata Motors in India.

Regina has a Master of Law and Bachelor of Science/Law and a Post Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance and is an Associate member of the Governance Institute of Australia and The Chartered Governance Institute (UK).

Monica Harten
Senior Company Secretary

Monica has more than 20 years of commercial experience, more recently specialising in regulatory compliance, risk management, board governance, policy development, and project management within financial services, large corporates, and consulting.

Monica has held roles in trustee governance, senior risk management, internal audit, and finance for APRA regulated and listed entities, primarily in superannuation and wealth management at MLC Wealth Limited, Qantas Superannuation Limited, Qantas Airways Limited, and Caltex Australia Limited, Monica qualified as a Chartered Accountant at KPMG and is member of the Governance Institute of Australia.

Nina Ho
Paralegal Company Secretariat

Nina is an experienced company secretarial paralegal from the Melbourne office with 10 years of knowledge, specialising in business administration, compliance, and corporate governance. Maintaining high quality assistance to ensure compliance with the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and associated legislation in a practical, pro-active, and commercially aware manner.

Prior to joining Company Matters, Nina was a paralegal in the company secretarial team at a top tier law firm, Allens for 7 years and was a legal secretary to the head of APAC Technology, Media, and Telecommunications for over 3 years.

Eleanor Hutton
Company Secretariat Manager

A seasoned professional who delivers a sound and smoothly operating corporate secretariat function with extensive experience in formation, liquidation and deregistration of companies, corporate registry maintenance, preparation of agendas, board papers, minutes and action schedules, compliance with the relevant requirements of the Corporations Act 2001, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and corporate governance guidelines.

An honest, competent and organised individual with empowering leadership style focused on developing the team to its full potential, building constructive relationships with internal and external stakeholders and dealing with executive and non-executive directors, management and staff.

Eleanor has a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce, major in Management. She was head of Company Secretariat at St.George Bank Limited for 15 years and was the National Secretariat Manager at Allens Linklaters for 13 years before joining Company Matters in 2023. She has been appointed Company Secretary of over 200 client companies.

Ovartin Lesnusa
Team Assistant

Ovartin is a skilled professional with over 13 years of experience in accounting and finance. Prior joining Company Matters, she worked as an Audit Coordinator at Allens, a top tier Australia law firm where she managed solicitor representation requests, prepared legal documents and assisted with audit responses.

Ovartin holds a Bachelor of Accounting, Diploma of Taxation, and Master Degree of Human Resource Management.

Emilia Norris
Board Coordinator and Practice Assistant

Emilia has over 6 years’ experience in team administration and company secretariat support. Prior to joining Company Matters, Emilia spent 5 years working in an outsourced company secretarial team providing corporate administrative support to a wide range of clients including proprietary companies, large subsidiary groups, and foreign companies. Emilia has a solid understanding of the corporate governance and ASIC processes for both Australian proprietary and foreign companies and is very familiar with various board portals. Emilia enjoys working closely with clients to make sure they receive the best support while making sure they meet their compliance and legislative requirements.

Lana Vaisman
Senior Company Secretary

Lana is an experienced Senior Company Secretary in our Melbourne office and has had over 18 years’ experience working in top tier professional services and law firms.

Lana specialises in advising Australian owned proprietary companies, large groups, multinational groups and foreign companies registered in Australia with compliance requirements under the Australian Corporations Act and associated legislation in a practical, pro-active and commercially aware manner.

Prior to joining Company Matters, Lana worked as a Manager in the Entity, Compliance and Governance team at EY and as a Company Secretary at a top tier Australian law firm, Allens.

Gabrielle Sterrey
Company Secretary

Gabrielle is a Corporate Lawyer and Company Secretary with over 5 years Post-Qualification Experience (PQE) in the Financial Services sector, specialising in Asset Management, Equities, Commodity Markets, Banking and Superannuation. She has provided company secretarial services to both ASX Top 100 and NYSE-listed companies.

Gabrielle was previously appointed as Assistant Company Secretary for Mercer Investments Australia, managing over $100B in assets and served as Company Secretary for Macquarie Group Limited subsidiaries, providing governance support for major transactions such as Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) and Aware Supers' $A4.6B acquisition of Vocus Group Ltd., the $A357m takeover of VitalHarvest (Australia's largest agricultural trust), and the $A2.6B acquisition of BINGO Industries Limited.

An affiliate member of the Governance Institute of Australia, Gabrielle is admitted as an Australian Legal Practitioner to the Supreme Court of New South Wales and High Court of Australia. She holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Arts (History)/Art Theory with Honors from the University of New South Wales. Gabrielle is currently pursuing a Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance and Risk Management from the Governance Institute of Australia.

You’re listed - what now?

Company Matters has been fortunate to assist many clients since either prior to or upon ASX admission. As such, we are very familiar with what clients will experience in their first year post listing.

We have extensive experience in guiding and supporting boards and management of newly ASX-listed entities traverse the post IPO landscape as they adjust to the increased reporting and regulatory environment.