Non-aligned adviser board appointment raises gender bar

Claire Mackay, principal adviser at Quantum Financial and ifa Excellence Award winner, is the first financial planning practitioner to join the board and will do so on 1 July.

APESB chair Nicola Roxon said that "the board welcomes Ms Mackay's range and depth of expertise which includes roles at Macquarie Bank and PwC".

"Claire brings with her a broad variety of skills and experience from the financial sector as well as great energy," she said.

Ms Mackay is also a qualified chartered accountant, certified financial planner, self-managed super fund expert and a qualified lawyer.

According to an APESB statement, the appointment brings equal numbers of men and women to the board for the first time. The board also now has directors from five states across Australia – enhancing its diversity in several ways.

At the same time, Ms Roxon welcomed another recent appointment to the board, former president of CPA Australia, Penny Egan.

APESB is an independent body whose purpose is to develop and issue, in the public interest, high-quality professional and ethical standards.

CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) and the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) are the three Members of the APESB.