Dr Helen Nugent AC AO has over 30 years of experience in the financial services sector including as chair of Veda Group (2013 to 2016), Funds SA, Swiss Re (Australia) and Swiss Re (Life and Health) Australia; and as non-executive director of Origin Energy (2003 - 2017), Macquarie Group (1999 - 2014), Mercantile Mutual, and the State Bank of New South Wales.
She was also the director of strategy at Westpac Banking Corporation; Professor and Director of the MBA Program at the Australian Graduate School of Management; and principal of McKinsey & Company where she specialised in the financial services and resources sectors.
In 2001, Dr Nugent was awarded a Centenary Medal. In 2004, she was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia for service to the performing arts, to business and the financial services industry, particularly in the area of corporate governance and to the community. In 2009, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Business by the University of Queensland in recognition of her community contribution and career; and in 2018 Bond University awarded her an Honorary Doctorate. In 2022, Dr Nugent was awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent service to people with disability through leadership of social and economic policy reform and implementation, to business, to the arts, and to the community.
