Chairman Role in Australian Finance: Duties, Influence & 2025 Changes

The term “chairman” often conjures images of boardroom gravitas and decisive leadership. But as Australia’s financial landscape shifts in 2025, the chairman’s role is being redefined—balancing tradition, regulation, and the demands of a rapidly changing economy. So, what does a chairman really do, and why does it matter to investors, businesses, and everyday Australians?

The Chairman’s Core Responsibilities in 2025

At its heart, the chairman (or chairperson) leads the board of directors, setting the tone for governance and strategy in listed companies, superannuation funds, credit unions, and major banks. Their role is distinct from the CEO, who handles daily operations. Instead, the chairman’s remit is to:

• Set the agenda: Determine what the board discusses, focusing on strategic priorities, risk management, and compliance.

• Foster effective governance: Ensure the board functions transparently, ethically, and in line with the ASX Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations (updated for 2025).

• Bridge stakeholders: Serve as the link between executive management, shareholders, regulators, and the broader community.

• Lead board evaluations: Oversee annual assessments of board performance, composition, and succession planning.

For example, in 2025, the chairman of a major Australian bank must steer the board through tightening APRA prudential standards on climate risk, ensuring that both risk appetite and disclosure keep pace with regulatory expectations.

How the Role Is Changing: Regulation, Diversity, and ESG

Recent years have seen significant shifts in boardroom dynamics, and the chairman’s role is at the centre of this transformation. Key 2025 trends include:

• Regulatory scrutiny: ASIC and APRA have increased focus on board accountability—especially after the Royal Commission. The chairman now faces personal liability for failures in risk oversight, especially around anti-money laundering and consumer protection.

• Diversity mandates: The ASX’s 2025 guidelines set targets for gender and cultural diversity at the board level. A chairman must lead the push for inclusive recruitment, ensuring diverse voices shape the organisation’s future.

• ESG leadership: Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors are now boardroom essentials. Chairmen are expected to drive sustainability strategies, oversee climate reporting, and engage with activist shareholders demanding transparency.

For instance, in early 2025, several ASX 200 companies appointed new chairmen with experience in sustainability and digital transformation, signalling the market’s expectations for forward-thinking leadership.

Real-World Examples: Chairmen Making Headlines

Let’s look at how chairmen have influenced outcomes in Australian finance:

• Superannuation funds: The chairmen of leading industry super funds like AustralianSuper have recently been praised for proactive engagement with members during the 2025 market volatility, ensuring transparency and sound governance as funds navigate new Your Future, Your Super performance benchmarks.

• Banks: The chairman of NAB played a decisive role in 2025’s post-Royal Commission reforms, overseeing board renewal and the implementation of digital risk management frameworks in response to heightened cyber threats.

• ASX-listed corporates: Several resource and energy sector companies have seen their chairmen step up to lead climate transition planning, balancing shareholder value with new mandatory climate disclosure rules effective July 2025.

Why the Chairman Matters to Everyday Australians

Whether you’re a retail investor, super fund member, or a customer of a major bank, the quality of board leadership directly impacts you. Chairmen influence everything from executive pay and company culture to the resilience of your investments in an uncertain world.

With 2025’s regulatory changes, Australians can expect more transparent, accountable, and responsive boardrooms—if the chairman steps up to the challenge.