SPEAKER

Pru Bennett

Independent Director and Chair, Financial Risk and Audit Committee, UN Global Compact Network Australia

Pru Bennett is a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and currently holds the following positions:

– Partner at Brunswick Group
– Chair of the National Foundation for Australia China Relations
– Council member of the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s Corporate Advisory Council
– Council member Asian Corporate Governance Association
– Council Member Oasis Capital.

Pru was formerly a Member of the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong’s Public Shareholder Group (six year term completed in 2021).

Until January, 2019, Pru Bennett was a Managing Director at the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, and Head of BlackRock’s Investment Stewardship team for the APAC Region based in Hong Kong. At BlackRock Pru was responsible for leading a team engaging with BlackRock’s investee companies on ESG issues. Pru also oversaw the proxy voting process.

Pru is an active participant in the public debate on corporate governance and stewardship. In 2018, Pru received the Asia Industry Leadership Award from 100 Women in Finance. In 2013, Pru was named as one of Australia’s top 10 Women of Influence in Corporate Governance.

Before taking on her role at BlackRock in August 2010 Pru was head of Corporate Governance at institutional adviser Regnan Governance and Research until 2010. From 1998 to 2009 Pru was a director of Australian proxy adviser Corporate Governance International, which was acquired by US proxy advisory firm, Glass Lewis & Co in 2006 and is now known as CGI Glass Lewis. Prior to working in corporate governance Pru was Investor Relations Manager for Qantas Airways Limited.

Pru has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of New South Wales, is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, a member of the Singapore Institute of Directors and a graduate and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.