Governance Committee

Pauline is a non-executive director and chair of a number of organisations. Pauline is also the President and Chair of Governance Institute of Australia and a member of the International Council of The Chartered Governance Institute.
Pauline is recognised as an expert in broad financial services, governance, risk management and public policy.
She has over 30 years’ experience in the Australian financial services industry, including as a senior regulator with ASIC, various directorships on listed and fiduciary entities, CEO positions and as an international adviser on pensions governance.

Charlie is Immediate Past President of the CGIUKI Division. He is also a member of the CGIUKI's Company Secretaries Forum and the Association for the General Counsel and Company Secretaries of FTSE 100 companies. As Group Company Secretary for Experian plc in Dublin, he covers corporate governance, statutory and listing rules compliance and reporting, board support, shareholder and share plan services, and sustainability.

John Heaton became Global President in 2024 having previously been the President of the Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland from 2017 to 2020. He has been a member of the Institute since 1996 but started his career with Lloyds Bank moving into their share registration subsidiary and working closely with company secretaries and governance professionals. He still does consultancy work, but leading the Institute at such a pivotal time is the focus of much of what he now does.

Gill Meller FCG HKFCG (PE) is MTR Corporation Limited’s Legal & Governance Director. She is responsible for leading the Company’s environmental, social and governance initiatives and for overseeing the Company’s legal, company secretarial, insurance, risk and assurance management and procurement and supply chain functions.

Gill is qualified to practise as a solicitor in Hong Kong and England and Wales. She graduated with a Master of Arts degree in Geography from Hertford College, the University of Oxford and obtained her postgraduate qualifications in law from The College of Law in the United Kingdom. She is the chair of the Legal Committee of The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Listing Committee of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and an independent director of Hong Kong, China Rugby. She is also a representative of the China/Hong Kong Division on the Council of the international Chartered Governance Institute, a former President of The Hong Kong Chartered Governance Institute, and a Fellow of both of these institutes.

Dr Denis Mowbray is a globally recognised governance expert and strategic thought leader who transforms organisational performance through innovative behavioural governance approaches. As Managing Director of Gryphon Management Consultants since 1994, Denis has pioneered proprietary research-based methodologies that analyse the "Third-Team" dynamics between boards and executives across diverse sectors worldwide.

His consulting and review engagements have benefitted government bodies, listed entities, and major sports organisations across Australasia, Europe, and the Pacific.

A Fellow of both The Chartered Governance Institute and Governance NZ, Denis’s qualifications span a PhD on board effectiveness (AUT), and a Master’s degree (Claude Bernard University, Lyon, France). He has shaped thinking as a published author—contributing to leading international journals and management handbooks.

Denis has presented at prestigious international conferences across Europe and Asia, with peer-reviewed publications exploring the critical intersection of governance, strategy, and organisational culture. His insights challenge conventional governance thinking, emphasising that in the boardroom "compliance regulation is not the problem; behaviour and culture are."

Denis combines rigorous academic research with practical commercial experience, making him a sought-after advisor for organisations seeking to unlock the true potential of effective governance.

Specialities: Behavioural Governance | Strategic Leadership | Organisational Performance | Board Effectiveness

Paul Stafford FCG HKFCG is the former Corporation Secretary, Regional Company Secretary and Head of Corporate Governance, Asia-Pacific, Corporate Governance & Secretariat of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC). He was responsible for leading a team of more than 80 governance professionals that support Boards and Directors throughout Asia-Pacific. He also had responsibilities for HSBC Holdings plc’s primary listing on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. Paul is a past Vice-President of The Hong Kong Chartered Governance Institute from 2016 to 2018 and from 2021 to 2023.