ASB MAGAZINE:  Surfing Australia has announced the appointment of former New South Wales Premier Mike Baird to the Board of Surfing Australia. Mike’s long and illustrious career in banking began back in the late 1980’s as a National Australia Bank (NAB) graduate in Sydney, something he used as a springboard to senior roles at NAB’s Corporate and Institutional Banking team in Australia and the United Kingdom.

His career has also included roles as Senior Corporate Finance Manager at Deutsche Bank and Head of Corporate and Institutional Banking at HSBC in Australia and New Zealand.

Mike is currently the Chief Customer Officer – Corporate and Institutional Banking at NAB, a role he took on in 2017 after having been the forty-fourth Premier of New South Wales. In his current role, Mike leads a team of more than 7000 employees across 700 banks.

The former Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Western Sydney, and the Leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party from April 2014 to January 2017 said his love of Surfing made the challenge of sitting on the board an easy decision.

“It’s an honour to be serving on the Board of a sport I am so passionate about. Surfing Australia has an important role in encouraging participation in a sport that is part of our nation’s DNA, developing up and coming talent, and preserving its history. I will be proud to play a role and hopefully get some surfing tips along the way.”

Surfing Australia Chair and 8 x World Champion Layne Beachley said: “Mike is a respected leader, an avid surfer and a great bloke so I’m excited to have him join the board of Surfing Australia. His immense depth of knowledge and experience in politics, banking and philanthropy will bring tremendous value to the organization and I look forward to working with him and sharing a few waves with him as well.”

Surfing Australia CEO Chris Mater said: “Mike brings a wealth of experience in the financial sector to the board of Surfing Australia as well as his obvious leadership experience as a former New South Wales Premier. Very importantly Mike loves surfing and we warmly welcome him to the board of directors.”

 

VIA PRESS RELEASE