30 Chief Executives at Listed Companies Across NSW

Last updated: 10 August 2026

New South Wales is home to a dense mix of banks, property groups, retailers, infrastructure companies, technology firms, healthcare businesses and industrial operators. Their chief executives carry different mandates, but each one works at the point where strategy becomes choices for thousands of people.

A chief executive role is never only about the person at the top. It is about the quality of the decisions that travel through the organisation, the clarity people feel when priorities compete and the standards that hold when the pressure rises.

Zubin Appoo is Chief Executive Officer at WiseTech Global. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Zubin Appoo assumed the CEO role in July 2025 after serving as Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief Innovation Officer.

That combination makes Zubin Appoo a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Amanda Bardwell is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Woolworths Group. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Amanda Bardwell became CEO in September 2024 after leading the WooliesX digital and eCommerce business.

That combination makes Amanda Bardwell a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Frank Calabria is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Origin Energy. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Frank Calabria has led Origin since 2016 after senior finance and strategy roles within the energy group.

That combination makes Frank Calabria a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Matt Comyn is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Matt Comyn has led CBA since 2018 and previously ran the bank’s largest retail banking division and CommSec.

That combination makes Matt Comyn a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Trevor Croker is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Aristocrat Leisure. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Trevor Croker has been CEO since 2017 after leading technology, digital and customer-facing businesses at Aristocrat.

That combination makes Trevor Croker a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Brett Charlton is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at McPherson’s. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Brett Charlton has led the listed consumer products company since August 2023 after senior roles across consumer and retail businesses.

That combination makes Brett Charlton a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Natalie Davis is Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Ramsay Health Care. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Natalie Davis started as Group CEO in December 2024 after leadership roles at Telstra, Singtel Optus and Woolworths.

That combination makes Natalie Davis a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Jim Clayton is Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Breville Group. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Jim Clayton leads the global kitchen appliance company from its Alexandria base and has held senior roles across the group.

That combination makes Jim Clayton a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Ross Du Vernet is Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Dexus. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Ross Du Vernet brings two decades of real assets experience and has studied at UTS and the Wharton School.

That combination makes Ross Du Vernet a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Mike Emmett is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at AUB Group. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Mike Emmett leads the insurance broking and risk services group from its North Sydney base.

That combination makes Mike Emmett a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Gregory Goodman is Group Chief Executive Officer at Goodman Group. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Gregory Goodman co-founded Goodman and remains Group CEO after the business grew from one South Sydney industrial building.

That combination makes Gregory Goodman a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Tarun Gupta is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Stockland. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Tarun Gupta has led Stockland since June 2021 after executive roles in property and infrastructure.

That combination makes Tarun Gupta a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

David Harrison is Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer at Charter Hall. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that David Harrison has more than 30 years in property and oversaw growth from a $500 million ASX listing in 2005.

That combination makes David Harrison a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Nick Hawkins is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Insurance Australia Group. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Nick Hawkins has led IAG since November 2020 after senior roles in insurance, operations and customer businesses.

That combination makes Nick Hawkins a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Matthew Halliday is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Ampol. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Matthew Halliday became CEO in 2020 after joining Ampol as CFO and earlier working at Rio Tinto.

That combination makes Matthew Halliday a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Campbell Hanan is Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Mirvac. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Campbell Hanan joined Mirvac in 2016 and became Group CEO in 2023 after leading its commercial property portfolio.

That combination makes Campbell Hanan a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Dig Howitt is President, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Cochlear. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Dig Howitt joined Cochlear in 2000 and moved through operations and product leadership before becoming CEO.

That combination makes Dig Howitt a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Jayne Hrdlicka is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Endeavour Group. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Jayne Hrdlicka started as CEO in January 2026 after leading Virgin Australia, a2 Milk and Jetstar.

That combination makes Jayne Hrdlicka a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Vanessa Hudson is Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Qantas. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Vanessa Hudson was appointed in September 2023 after serving as Qantas Group CFO and Chief Customer Officer.

That combination makes Vanessa Hudson a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Jim Newcombe is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Sonic Healthcare. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Jim Newcombe became CEO in November 2025 after leading Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology in Sydney.

That combination makes Jim Newcombe a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Doug Jones is Chief Executive Officer at Metcash. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Doug Jones leads the listed wholesale distribution and retail services group from Sydney.

That combination makes Doug Jones a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Katie Page is Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer at Harvey Norman Holdings. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Katie Page has served as CEO since 1999 and helped shape the listed retailer’s long-running international model.

That combination makes Katie Page a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Anthony Miller is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Westpac Group. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Anthony Miller was appointed Group CEO in December 2024 after leading Westpac Business and Wealth and Westpac Institutional Bank.

That combination makes Anthony Miller a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Russell Proutt is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at GPT Group. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Russell Proutt leads one of Australia’s listed property trusts from its Sydney headquarters.

That combination makes Russell Proutt a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Jonathan Rubinsztein is Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Nuix. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Jonathan Rubinsztein leads the listed software company whose products support investigation and intelligence work.

That combination makes Jonathan Rubinsztein a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Elliott Rusanow is Chief Executive Officer at Scentre Group. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Elliott Rusanow became CEO in October 2022 after senior finance and property roles within the Westfield group.

That combination makes Elliott Rusanow a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Robert Spurway is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at GrainCorp. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Robert Spurway has led the listed agribusiness since March 2020 after senior leadership roles in food and agriculture.

That combination makes Robert Spurway a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Blair Vernon is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at AMP. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Blair Vernon was appointed CEO in March 2026 after serving as AMP’s Chief Financial Officer.

That combination makes Blair Vernon a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Adam Watson is Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at APA Group. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Adam Watson has led APA since December 2022 after a long career across energy infrastructure and operations.

That combination makes Adam Watson a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Shemara Wikramanayake is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Macquarie Group. The role puts this leader close to decisions about customers, capital, people and long-term direction. The public record also notes that Shemara Wikramanayake has led Macquarie since late 2018 after a decade heading Macquarie Asset Management.

That combination makes Shemara Wikramanayake a useful example for anyone thinking about executive leadership in a listed organisation. The point is not celebrity. It is the practical work of setting a clear direction, making trade-offs visible and helping a large group of people move together.

Across this group, the strongest pattern is movement between functions. Several leaders reached the top role after working in finance, operations, customer experience, property, technology or commercial portfolios. That matters because executive judgement is usually built by seeing how decisions affect more than one part of the business.

Use these names as a starting point for sector mapping, executive research or a conversation about the kind of leadership your organisation needs next. Read the role descriptions, notice the pathways into the top job and then ask what decisions, conversations and habits your own leadership team needs to make more visible.

They are presented alphabetically by surname and the list does not score or compare the people.

The companies are publicly listed businesses with a New South Wales headquarters, registered office or major operating base. The scope is designed to be useful for people looking for leaders connected to the state, rather than a claim that every company has the same kind of local footprint.

Thirty people have enough public role and organisation evidence for useful short profiles in this package. The honest count is more useful than padding the article to match a round target.

The chief executives in this list show how varied the top job can be. Some lead banks, retailers or property groups. Others lead companies working in energy, healthcare, software, infrastructure, food and agriculture. Their industries differ, but each role asks the same broad question: what will people do differently because this leader has set a direction?

You may also find our guides on leadership team alignment, executive team offsites, organisational health, Working Genius in the workplace and make hidden tension discussable useful.

You may also find our guides on leadership team alignment, executive team offsites, organisational health and Working Genius in the workplace useful.

If your leadership team needs to make a difficult decision, align around a new direction or turn values into clear choices, I can help with a keynote, workshop or facilitated leadership session. Email jonno@consultclarity.org.

Jonno White is a Brisbane-based leadership consultant, keynote speaker and Certified Working Genius Facilitator, and the author of Step Up or Step Out. He works with schools, corporates and nonprofits around the world. To enquire about a keynote, workshop or facilitated leadership session, email jonno@consultclarity.org.