Amid increasing governance and regulatory complexity, a leading Australian independent school partnered with Future Leadership to appoint a high‑calibre Risk and Compliance leader capable of strengthening enterprise risk frameworks while operating as a trusted advisor to both executive leadership and the Board.
The Brief
Following the announcement that its incumbent Risk and Compliance Manager would be departing to take up a promotion to a Business Manager role at another independent school, a leading Australian independent school engaged Future Leadership to conduct a comprehensive search and appointment process.
In the context of an increasingly complex regulatory environment and heightened governance expectations, the School sought to appoint a highly capable professional with the ability to manage multiple, concurrent projects while operating as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and the Board. The position plays a critical role in ensuring that the School’s risk management and compliance frameworks remain robust, integrated, and aligned with contemporary best practice.
Reporting to the executive leadership team and serving as a member of the School Board’s Risk and Compliance Committee, the successful appointee would be responsible for reviewing, updating, and continuously strengthening risk management processes across the organisation. This includes supporting regulatory compliance, enhancing governance maturity, and contributing to informed strategic decision‑making at both operational and Board levels.
The School was therefore seeking an accomplished risk and compliance professional with strong technical expertise, sound judgement, and the interpersonal capability to work collaboratively across a complex organisational environment. Of equal importance was the capacity to identify emerging challenges, engage proactively with key stakeholders, and develop practical, creative solutions that balance sound governance with the operational realities of a contemporary school setting.
The Process
The Future Leadership team, led by Liam King, commenced the engagement with a comprehensive briefing involving the Head of School, Business Manager, and members of the senior leadership team. This initial phase was complemented by a series of one‑on‑one consultations with other key stakeholders to ensure a deep understanding of the School’s operating context, governance environment, and the strategic expectations of the role.
The search strategy was intentionally broad and targeted, focusing on high‑calibre candidates currently working in leadership or specialist roles within leading independent schools, as well as individuals with strong legal, risk, and compliance backgrounds. In addition, Future Leadership identified and assessed commercially focused professionals from adjacent sectors whose experience and capability could translate effectively into a school environment.
To support the search, a coordinated online and print advertising campaign was implemented to enhance market reach and attract high‑quality applicants. This proactive approach resulted in a strong and diverse field of candidates.
Future Leadership presented a shortlist of highly credentialed candidates, who progressed through two rounds of panel interviews involving senior leaders and key stakeholders. For the preferred candidate, a comprehensive due diligence process was undertaken, including full referee checking and psychometric assessment. The assessment insights were used not only to inform the final appointment decision, but also to support the ongoing professional development and future growth of the successful appointee.
The Outcome
Following a rigorous and comprehensive search process, a highly experienced risk and compliance professional was appointed to the role and commenced with the School in early 2023.
The successful appointee brought more than a decade of specialist experience in risk and compliance within complex school environments. Their background included senior roles within well‑regarded independent schools, where they developed deep expertise in governance frameworks, regulatory compliance, and enterprise risk management aligned to educational contexts.
This depth of sector‑specific experience, combined with a practical and collaborative approach, positioned the appointee to make an immediate and positive contribution to the School’s governance capability and to support the ongoing strengthening of risk and compliance practices across the organisation.
