Home / Business and Economy / First Woman to Lead Australia's Corporate Watchdog
First Woman to Lead Australia's Corporate Watchdog
3 Feb
Summary
- Sarah Court appointed as the first female chair of ASIC.
- Court's tenure begins June 1, replacing outgoing chair Joe Longo.
- ASIC has intensified enforcement, securing significant fines from major banks.
Australia is set to appoint Sarah Court as the first woman to head its corporate regulator, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced this historic appointment, with Court scheduled to take over as chair on June 1, 2026. She will succeed Joe Longo, who is retiring after a five-year term.
Court, presently ASIC's deputy chair, has been instrumental in the agency's enforcement and investigation efforts. Her leadership has been credited with achieving record enforcement outcomes, enhancing consumer protection, and improving standards across the financial system. This includes ASIC's recent pursuit of major entities like ANZ Banking Group and Macquarie Group.
ASIC's increased assertiveness has led to substantial penalties. In December 2025, ANZ agreed to pay A$250 million for mishandling a A$14 billion government bond deal. Macquarie later agreed to a A$35 million fine for misreporting millions of short sales over several years. These actions underscore ASIC's commitment to market integrity under Court's growing influence.
