Board & Career Highlights
Career Highlights and Board Appointments
My Profile
I enjoy a board portfolio as an experienced Non-Executive Director (NED), have deep expertise as a Remuneration and Nominations Committee Chair and Audit and Risk Committee, as well a Digital Technology Committee Member .
I am a Fellow Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow Governance Institute of Australia.
Currently, I have independent Non executive director roles on the boards of ASX listed Ai Media Technologies Ltd (ASX:AIM), and Silk Logistics Holdings (ASX:SLH)I also serve on the board of listed company Beston Global Foods (ASX:BFC). I am Chair of the Rem and Nom Commitee for Beston and Ai Media, and a member of the sustainability committee for Silk Logistics. I sit on ARC for all my Boards.
As a prior Non executive director of Chartered Accountants ANZ, I also sat on the People and Remuneration Committee and the Digital Technology Committee (tenure concluded June 2023).
With a passion for the Arts and Education sectors, I also serve today on the Boards of not for profits Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, Darlinghurst Theatre Company (ends Feb 2024), and Peer Support Australia.
I was honoured to be invited to serve as a member of the Digital Experts Advisory Committee, part of the Dept of PM and Cabinet (completed Dec 2022) and I am currently an elected HCF Councillor.
I am a full member of Chief Executive Women (CEW) and serve on their Policy and Advocacy Committee and the NSW Chapter.
Previous ASX listed boards include Clover Corporation (ASX:CLV), Shriro Holdings Ltd (ASX:SHM) and Hancock and Gore Ltd (ASX:HGL) where I was also Member of Remuneration and Nomination Committees.
I have been a mentor for numerous companies and people over more than twenty years, which today includes mentoring for The Marketing Academy, Women on Boards, NAWO and Mentor Walks.
Built from a lengthy corporate career I bring experience, passion, commitment and skills, with a love of working with companies wanting to achieve digital transformation at scale, growth through diversification, strategic innovation and that have a commitment to customer-centric strategies.
Diversity, inclusion, card for people, a social conscience and sustainability focus are key values that are aligned with my personal values.
Keen to add value to organisations that embrace diverse thinking and are seeking to grow through customer and insight driven change.
I am a whole-of-business senior leader and active contributor with a proven capability to add value through applying a strategic focus to growth, as well as managing the challenges of geographic expansion, product development, digital implementation, innovation and business development.
I have substantial interest in organisations with significant size and scaleable potential that have an articulated focus on transformative growth. My other interest is in IPO or pre-IPO organisations, particularly those with with a technology enabled platform.
My corporate career background in marketing is considered a ‘non-traditional’ path to the boardroom, but I utilise my expertise, diverse perspective and whole of business leadership experience to guide companies that want to disrupt and grow. I am a lifelong learner as well as an experienced and passionate mentor of women of all ages and stages of their professional life, whether in the corporate sector or the entrepreneurial space.
Cheryl’s involvement in our marketing
strategy development has delivered very
pleasing results. As a relatively small
business it has been terrific to be able to
involve and work alongside a marketing
executive of Cheryl’s calibre. Cheryl cuts
to the core of issues very quickly, is highly
productive and hence represents very
good value as a Strategic Marketing
Consultant.
Mark Prendergast
CEO| Managing Director | GAICD
Board Appointment Highlights
2023 – Present
Silk Logistics Holdings Ltd. ASX:SLH
With offices in every major Australian city, we are one of the largest third-party logistics suppliers across Port Logistics, and Contract Logistics, servicing Australia.
SCL provides three distinct services across two primary divisions: our Port Logistics division provides wharf cartage services, whilst our Contract Logistics Division offers warehousing and distribution services. SCL’s long-standing blue-chip customer base spans several key industries, including FMCG, light industrial, food, specialised retail, and containerised agriculture.
2008 – 2020
Clover Corporation Limited. ASX: CLV 2008 – 2020
ASX 300 organisation with strategic IP science-based ingredient technologies. Categories and customers are global and Clover has marketing and distribution reach into China, EU and South America.
Chair, Nominations Committee.
Member, Remuneration and Audit/Risk Committees.
2022 – Present
Ai-Media ASX:AIM
Providing content access to everyone remains the mission to this day, but has evolved the business for deeper inclusion and accessibility.
Ai-Media now has applications for companies, workplaces, events, education, government and broadcast.
From Facebook and Amazon to global events, govt and multi channel media, Ai Media offers the full range of solutions.
Since September 2020, Ai-Media has been publicly-listed.
Member, Remuneration and Nominations Committee
Member, Audit and Risk Committee
2021 – Present
Beston Global Foods. ASX:BFC
As the planet grows and emerging economies enjoy a better standard of living, they seek safe and sustainable foods to help them realise their human potential. Beston Global Food Company Limited (BFC) aims to provide natural and verifiably safe dairy-based food and beverages to global markets so that consumers can make healthy choices. We do this by owning the raw materials, taking advantage of technology in the production process and controlling distribution.
Member, Audit & Risk Committee.
Chair, Remuneration and Nomination Committee.
2016 – 2023
Hancock and Gore Limited. ASX:HNG
Investment focussed marketing and supply chain business, exercising long term and active ownership in diverse portfolio of B2B businesses selling leading brands in specialised markets.
Future focus on strategic, step change growth opportunities.
2020 – 2022
Dept of PM and Cabinet – Digital Experts Advisory Committee
[4 meetings PA]
Member of the committee formed by the Digital Technology Taskforce which was
announced by the Prime Minister in November 2019. It falls under the Dept of PM and Cabinet, formed to advise and guide in driving Australia to become a leading digital economy by 2030.
The committee is responsible for providing advice to the DTT and considering new and emerging trends in digital technology, barriers to creating and adopting digital technologies, and ways to maximise the gains and minimise the risks from digital
technologies.
2008 – Present
Peer Support Australia
[Bi-monthly meetings]
National NFP Education and School-based, wellbeing programmes.
NED and Chair, Nominations Committee, prior Deputy Chair of the Board.
2019 – Present
Darlinghurst Theatre Company
[4 meetings PA]
Darlinghurst Theatre Co. is at the forefront of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion across the Australian Arts industry.
It is based at the Eternity Playhouse, playing a collaborative and encouraging role with professional artists in the programming of original and entertaining productions including providing commercial opportunities for major works and corporate use of the theatre space.
2020 – Present
HCF Councillor
[4 meetings p.a]
HCF Councillor role
Councillors play an important role within the HCF governance framework. The eligibility criteria, term of office, along with the role and responsibilities are set out in the HCF Constitution and Councillor Charter.
2019 – 2022
Shriro Holdings Ltd.
ASX : SHM
Leading manufacturer and distributor of household appliances and distributor of
consumer electronics in Australia and New Zealand.
Brands include Casio, Blanco, Pioneer, Everdure by Heston Blumenthal.
Chair, Remuneration and Nomination Committee
Cheryl has engaged with Blue Chip Companies gaining a reputation to add value through applying a strategic focus to growth, as well as managing the challenges of geographic expansion, product development, digital implementation, innovation and business development.
Career History & Credential Highlights
I am fortunate to have enjoyed a successful and fulfilling leadership career in marketing with global retail and FMCG brands, including George Weston Foods, Yum! Restaurants and Unilever. I led teams to achieve transformational growth, develop new innovative products and deliver strong financial results while bringing the entire business on the journey. I have worked across Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
Various roles, including Marketing & Group Product Manager, Unilever Australia & UK 1983-1992
- Strategy development and project management
- I led the teams that removed CFC’s across Elida Gibbs aerosols and developed ‘Sure’ (UK), which reversed the brand’s aerosol decline
- New product development, including relaunching Rexona, launching Impulse products, Cutex ranges and new brands
- I was an active member of two cross-functional teams that led $20m and $12m cost reductions for powder and liquid detergent respectively
Marketing Director, Time Inc 1992-1993
- I delivered a major psychographic consumer study to underpin the brand and marketing strategies
- This study led to an overhaul of Who Weekly’s advertising strategy to deliver measurable ROI
- Budget control
- Relationship management with advertisers across overseas markets
- I also oversaw sales, PR, consumer budgets
Marketing Director, Yum! Restaurants (formerly Pepsico) 1993-1999
- I was responsible for strategic thought leadership and delivery of new marketing platforms for the KFC and Pizza Hut brands in a turbulent macro economy
- I was in charge of of the business’s large franchise system-corporate and sub-franchisees
- I was responsible for marketing communication to the Board
- I launched Taco Bell in a dynamic and highly competitive market in Australia. Our ‘one store at a time’, local approach became a ‘beach head’ for global expansion
Marketing Director, George Weston Foods 1999-2004
Together with the CEO, I spearheaded a cultural change strategy that shifted the industry’s antiquated production-based focus with a customer-oriented, front end approach to product development. The Baking Division’s profit doubled in FY2000, gaining 3% market share in a competitive market.
- I led my team to identify a competitive opportunity for an innovative, mass-volume product for the premium bread market. Our product ‘Noble Rise’ achieved 250,000 units per week within one month of launch
- I launched Tip Top Up, the only bread in Australia containing Omega-3
- I recruited and trained a strong and accountable marketing team across ANZ
- I was an active member of the Go Grains Committee from inception in 2000
– Entry strategies for global markets and new channels.
– Capability in segmentation, differentiation, positioning development, customer insights
and key marketing methods for devising customer retention and growth strategies.
– Significant input into the strategic opportunities for user experiences utilizing date and
insights, market testing protocols and research techniques.
– Knowledge across contemporary consumer media including digital channels, e-Commerce,
web design and the use of social media platforms.
– Deep involvement in business strategy, transformational opportunities and acquisitions.
– Regeneration of Board Directors – skills matrix and recruitment. CEO recruitment and
appointment.
– Whistle-blowing and subsequent forensic audit, employment law and governance.
– Cyber security attacks and mitigation.
– Development of technology strategy.
I have served as a honorary board member for many years across many Boards. Currently as a NED with both Peer Support Australia and the Darlinghurst Theatre Company (concludes Feb 2024) , recently joined Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and previously St John NSW , the AIFST and Basketball Australia .
i have also been a long-time volunteer for Dressed for Success and a previous member of the fundraising committee for Osteoporosis NSW.
– Australian Institute of Company Directors – Fellow (FAICD)
– Chief Executive Women
– 30% Club education committee
– Governance Institute of Australia (FGIA)
– Cambridge Institute of Sustainable Leadership course (CISL)
• AICD Chair’s Mentoring Programme 2019-2020
• NFP Governance Foundations (ASF Scholarship recipient)
• Leadership in the Boardroom
• AICD Company Director’s Course (Scholarship Recipient)
– Managing for Cyber
– EY Emerging Directors Programme 2018
– Women on Boards WOBSX 2018
– MGSM Strategic Management Program
– University of New South Wales Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing)