COMMONWEALTH BANK APPOINTS A NEW NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Mr David Turner, Chairman of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, today announced the appointment of Ms Mary Padbury as an independent non-executive director to the Bank’s Board, with immediate effect.

Ms Padbury is a pre-eminent intellectual property lawyer with an Australian and international legal career spanning over 30 years. She is a partner and the Vice Chairman of Ashurst, having been the Chairman of Ashurst Australia for eight years prior to the firm's  full merger with Ashurst LLP into an integrated global firm in 2013.  Ms Padbury was instrumental in this strategic merger, having led the negotiations and been closely involved in the subsequent integration of the firms.

Earlier in her career, Ms Padbury spent a number of years in the United Kingdom with boutique firm, Bristows and as resident partner of Ashurst Australia. She has undertaken intellectual property work for Australian and multinational corporations and will bring extensive knowledge of technology and governance to the Bank’s Board.

Mary is a director of the Burnet Institute and the Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group. She is also a member of both the Australian Government’s Professional Standards Board for Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys and Melbourne University Law School Foundation.

Ms Padbury holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts. Among her many career acknowledgements, she is recognised by Chambers Global as an ‘Eminent Practitioner’ in intellectual property for patents.

Mr David Turner said: “I am delighted that a person of Mary’s accomplishments and integrity is joining our Board. Her exemplary legal and governance skills, together with her international experience, will greatly benefit the Bank’s Board and will support the Group’s vision and strategic initiatives. We are very much looking forward to her joining our Board.”

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