Carolyn Hewson

Carolyn Hewson
AO
Born
Carolyn Judith Somerville

1955 (age 68–69)
NationalityAustralian
Alma materUniversity of Adelaide, Cambridge
OccupationBusiness leader
Board member of
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1988; div. 2004)​
Children1 daughter

Carolyn Judith Hewson AO (née Somerville; born July 1955)[1] is an Australian businesswoman.[2]

She studied at the University of Adelaide and at the University of Cambridge.[3]

She is a Director of CSL,[4] the Reserve Bank of Australia,[5] YWCA,[6] and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.[7] She is a former director of BHP, retiring from the role in late 2019.[8]

She has previously held top executive positions with Schroders Australia; BT Investment Management,[9] Westpac,[10] AMP,[11] CSR,[12] AGL Energy,[13] the Australian Gas Light Company,[14] SA Water,[15] and the Economic Development Board (South Australia).[15]

Carolyn Somerville married John Hewson in 1988.[16][17] The couple have a daughter born around 1995 after John retired from Parliament but their marriage ended in 2004.[18] The Hewsons lived in Sydney, but Carolyn flew to Adelaide once a month for board meetings, and took her pre-school daughter with her.[19]

Hewson was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours "for service to the community through support for charitable organisations, particularly YWCA, and to business,"[20] has been recognized as "one of Australia’s most influential company directors,"[21] and ranked as "Australia’s most influential female board directors"[22] by The Australian Financial Review. In 2017 she was on the panel of judges for the Workplace Giving Excellence Awards. In 2014 she was named as one of four possible candidates to become South Australia's next Governor,[23] but the position was eventually given to Hieu Van Le.[24]

In January 2019, Hewson was announced as one of the members of the board of Infrastructure SA, an organisation tasked by the Government of South Australia under Steven Marshall to develop a 20-year infrastructure strategy and five-year plans.[25]

In November 2019, Hewson stepped down as non-executive director of BHP.[8] In December 2019, Hewson was appointed as non-executive director of CSL Limited.[26]

Hewson has spoken in support of proposed laws that would mandate 40% of roles on Government boards be filled by women[27] and that cultural roles needed to adapt to support the realities of bringing up children.[28]

In December 2020, Hewson was appointed as a member of the board of Reserve Bank of Australia.[5]

  1. ^ "Carolyn Judith HEWSON - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  2. ^ Wilmoth, Peter (10 April 2004). "Hewson pays price: hard work means hard lessons - National". The Age. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  3. ^ "Power List - The 50 South Australians who have a mighty influence". Adelaide Advertiser. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  4. ^ "Carolyn Hewson". CSL. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  5. ^ a b Wright, Jennifer Duke, Shane (17 December 2020). "Alison Watkins and Carolyn Hewson to join RBA board". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 July 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Carolyn Hewson Set To Share Insights With SA Business Leaders". Glam Adelaide. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  7. ^ "Carolyn Hewson: master of discretion". Australian Financial Review. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  8. ^ a b admin (18 November 2019). "Carolyn Hewson retires from BHP". Energy Source & Distribution. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  9. ^ "Notice of Annual General Meeting 2011" (PDF). BT Investment Management.
  10. ^ Henshaw, Caroline. "Westpac Director Carolyn Hewson to Retire from the Board". MarketScreener. 4-Traders. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  11. ^ "Carolyn Hewson | BHP Billiton". europe.businesschief.com. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  12. ^ "BHP director urges women on government boards". Financial Review. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  13. ^ "Appendix 3Z - Carolyn Hewson". www.agl.com.au. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  14. ^ "Carolyn Hewson". Business News. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  15. ^ a b ""Women in Economics & Leadership" Carolyn Hewson AO talks to economics students". School of Economics. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  16. ^ "Son tells how it didn't exactly make father's day". 30 September 1991. p. 1 – via Trove.
  17. ^ "Hewson 'supported' by former wife while studying". 30 August 1991. p. 5 – via Trove.
  18. ^ "The man we knew as Hewson". Sydney Morning Herald. 10 April 2004. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  19. ^ "Hewson pays price: hard work means hard lessons". The Age. 11 April 2004. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  20. ^ "The Queen's Birthday 2009 Honours List" (PDF). gg.gov.au.
  21. ^ "CEDA - Women and Leadership Series: Carolyn Hewson AO". www.ceda.com.au. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  22. ^ Chancellor, Jonathan. "BHP Billiton's Carolyn Hewson sells up in Vaucluse: Title Tattle". www.propertyobserver.com.au. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  23. ^ Starick, Paul. "High-flying women in the mix to be SA's next Governor". Adelaide Now.
  24. ^ Martin, Sarah (2 September 2014). "SA Governor Hieu Van Le 'a beacon of hope'". The Australian. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  25. ^ "Marshall's infrastructure advisers revealed". InDaily. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  26. ^ MarketScreener (9 December 2019). "CSL Limited Appoints Carolyn Hewson AO as an Independent Non-Executive Director -December 09, 2019 at 12:12 am EST | MarketScreener". www.marketscreener.com. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  27. ^ "BHP director urges women on government boards". Financial Review. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  28. ^ Lamont, Leonie (8 September 2011). "Bring in a nanny army to move women into boardrooms, says Hewson". Executive Style. Retrieved 14 July 2018.