Chair Profile
‘As an executive with one of Australia’s Big 4 banks, I successfully led a team of several hundred to transform a struggling business into the top-ranked in the country for three consecutive years. My leadership was instrumental in driving both financial success and team morale, achieving staff satisfaction scores above 78% and a Customer Net Promoter Score of 75%.’
Nesan Naidoo has spent nearly 30 years as a Director, CEO, and NED, driving business performance across diverse industries such as IT, Legal Practice, Banking and Finance, Construction, Manufacturing, and Property. He is a highly motivated and inspiring coach with high energy and a unique approach that leverages a ‘gender intelligent’ framework. Described as both tough and empathetic, Nesan understands the self-limiting beliefs (Resistance to Change) that business owners often face and uses various methods to break through these barriers, helping executives and business owners excel and sustain high performance.
Nesan has held executive roles at all of Australia’s Big 4 banks, where he was responsible for managing profits and overall financial health. At ANZ Bank, he led large teams across New Zealand and Australia, achieving an impressive 27% average year-on-year growth. He also successfully transformed a siloed financial services firm into an integrated business, increasing revenue by 400%.
He has helped senior executives achieve career breakthroughs, including coaching a General Manager from CBA to become CEO of a Tier 2 bank. Nesan also led the rollout of gender-based leadership programs for SAP in Australia, China, South Korea, and Singapore, collaborating with the Gender Intelligence Institute of New York and Dr. John Gray, author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus.
Having lived and worked in South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia, Nesan has served clients in Japan, South Korea, the USA, Ireland, Singapore, and various Pacific and African countries. He has held roles such as Director of Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre, Director of Bendigo Community Bank, and Executive Committee Member of the Australia Africa Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves as an Advisor to Afghan Women on the Move (NFP) and holds three Executive Directorships.
Career highlights:
- Led the transformation of a siloed financial services firm, growing revenue by 400%.
- Achieved a 27% average annual growth in profits while leading teams at ANZ Bank across Australia and New Zealand.
- Successfully launched gender-based leadership programs for SAP in Australia, China, South Korea, and Singapore, in partnership with the Gender Intelligence Institute of New York.
- Coached a General Manager from CBA to transition into a CEO role at a Tier 2 bank.
- Developed a go-to-market strategy for NAB in Southeast Victoria, serving 168 culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) customers.