Governance Top 100 Winner 2025

We are thrilled to announce the Winner, Outstanding Achievers and Rising Star for Governance Top 100 for 2025

Angela Watson, CS Energy’s Head of Governance, Risk and Compliance has been named the 2025 winner of Governance Top 100, which was launched by 3YS Owls Governance Consultants in 2020.

Angela was chosen from an exceptional standard of outstanding achievers and finalists for this year that represent a diverse range of nominees from a variety of industries across multiple sectors, including Government and Government Owned Corporations, ASX Listed entities, not for profits, private and unlisted public entities.

Angela is recognised for her significant contribution to governance at Queensland Government owned energy company, CS Energy, which she joined in May 2012.

Angela said good governance protects social licence to operate and creates value for business and communities, and I hope my win inspires emerging professionals to see that governance is about shaping the future of responsible and sustainable business.

“This award is an honour and a recognition of my leadership journey, capability, strategic impact, and the investment that CS Energy has made in me over the years. I began my career in finance before moving into governance as Company Secretary, and later into my current role as Head of Governance, Risk and Compliance at CS Energy. My journey reflects just how diverse and rewarding a career built on governance capability can be. Having also served on not-for-profit boards, this recognition highlights the importance of using our professional skills to contribute to the community. It is also an opportunity to champion the Governance Top 100 cause, reminding people that policies and frameworks, ethical leadership and strategic decision making are critical to every organisation and to society.”

Ainslie Cunningham, co-founder and director of 3YS Owls, said Angela is a worthy winner chosen from an exceptional standard of outstanding achievers and finalists for this year that represent a diverse range of nominees from a variety of industries across multiple sectors, including Government and Government Owned Corporations, ASX Listed entities, not for profits, private and unlisted public entities.

“Each of the nominees should be proud of the contribution that they have made and will continue to make to governance within their organisations. This award emphasises the value and benefit of robust frameworks and the individuals that are responsible for driving these initiatives as governance continues to evolve and mature within organisations. Angela is an example of that, being named a finalist for 2020 as well as taking out this year’s award for winner of Governance Top 100 2025, demonstrating her governance journey.”

Congratulations to Angela Watson, winner of the 2025 Governance Top 100 Award, and to all the Outstanding Achievers, Rising Star and Finalists. The Governance Top 100 Awards continue to spotlight professionals who are not only committed to sound governance but are also redefining how it’s practiced. This year’s finalists exemplify a forward-thinking mindset—embedding ethical oversight, embracing innovation, and increasingly integrating AI into governance frameworks to enhance clarity, responsiveness, and strategic insight. It’s energising to see governance recognised as a cornerstone of organisational strength. Thank you to 3YS Owls and my fellow judges for elevating the conversation around governance excellence.

Rachel Adams, Head of Governance and ESG Sales, Asia Pacific, Nasdaq

The judging panel for Governance Top 100 received nominations from governance professionals right across Australia. In recognition of the quality of submissions from this year’s finalists the following individuals were celebrated as outstanding achievers:

  • Anthony Ingegneri – Senior Company Secretary, AMP
  • Dhawal Gadani – Head of Governance and Company Secretary, Australia and New Zealand, HSBC Bank Australia Limited
  • Fiona Zafirakos – Company Secretary (Subsidiaries) and Governance Manager, Telstra Limited
  • Ilona Meyer – General Counsel and Company Secretary, Nuix Limited
  • Joshua Little – Chief People & Risk Officer, Aveo Group (The Living Company)
  • Katrina Johnson – Group Company Secretary & Head of Regulatory Affairs - WiseTech Global Limited
  • Levi Mitchell – Assistant Vice President, Global Regulatory Compliance, Crawford & Company
  • Robin Bates – General Counsel & Company Secretary, Metro Mining Limited
  • Theo Kapodistrias – Senior Legal Counsel, Gentrack Ltd | Chair and Director, NFP
  • Troy Swan – General Counsel & Company Secretary, Winc

2025 Governance Top 100 Outstanding Achievers2025 Governance Top 100 Outstanding Achievers (pictured)

Last year a new category was also introduced for a Rising Star award for emerging talent in the profession, with the award for this year going to Magali Robinson (pictured).

2025 Governance Top 100 Rising Star – Magali Robinson

The judging panel was impressed by the increasingly high standard of the submissions from the nominees and appreciate that Governance professionals are humble and can find it challenging to promote themselves. Some of the attributes that stood out amongst these outstanding governance professionals included: ESG reporting and sustainability as well as a practical approach to key issues such as climate change disclosure and modern slavery; governance modernisation, redesign and structural reform; and an increased utilisation of innovative solutions and emerging technology, including AI and leveraging it to evaluate governance effectiveness, embedding AI considerations into board-level documentation, governance and policies around generative AI and understanding the risks, opportunities, ethical use and implementation.

Ainslie, Co-Founder and Director, 3YS Owls

2025 Governance Top 100 winner Nasdaq NYC Times Square Angela Watson
Angela Watson (pictured), Nasdaq MarketSite, Times Square, New York

Ms Watson added, on a personal level, it is a career-defining milestone that reflects years of dedication, resilience and impact. To be recognised by peers, industry leaders and governance experts is deeply humbling. This recognition is not only an individual achievement; it represents the time, effort and encouragement I have received from so many people throughout my career.

If you are a company secretary, general counsel, risk manager, CRO, CFO, CEO, director, chair or other governance professional that is paving the way for governance in your organisation we want you to be part of Governance Top 100 in 2024. Click here to register your interest.

Governance Top 100 has been made possible through the ongoing commitment and support of culturally aligned partners who are all champions of governance in their own right. The partners include Computershare, McCullough Robertson Lawyers and Nasdaq Governance Solutions.

Congratulations to the 2025 winner, outstanding achievers, rising star and all of the finalists which can be found here: Governance Top 100

The winner and outstanding achievers were announced via a webinar presentation which also showcased our sponsors and subsequent media release

If you would like to find out how to become a Nominee, or would like to be a Sponsor for the event, for 2025 call us at 1300 3YS OWLS (397 695) or get in touch.

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