Deirdre Blythe

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT DEIRDRE BLYTHE

With over 30 years of senior executive and non-executive experience across the commercial, government and not for profit sectors, I bring a strong understanding of business levers, financial and non-financial performance improvement, and effective risk management, compliance and governance. I have extensive international health and general insurance, healthcare, events management and arts and culture experience, including Board roles and as CEO and COO. I am a resilient and personable strategic thinker with a values-based commercial approach and a passion for effective execution and alignment. I have a deep commitment to curiosity, integrity and kindness and a proven expertise in business analysis and advice, M&A and turnaround, international businesses, creating and developing teams, change management, and process improvement.I am motivated to support organisations to develop and grow both commercially and for the benefit of the customers and communities they serve. This has led me to develop my career primarily in organisations which operate at the nexus of commercial and for purpose, and balance commercial return and sustainability with a values and purpose based approach, high levels of integrity and complex stakeholder relationships.For eight years until August 2023 I was the Chief Operating Officer at Arts Centre Melbourne, where I led the finance, PMO, IT and digital, data and insights, risk management and compliance, legal and governance, and facilities management functions.My intention is to build on my existing portfolio of NED roles, and I am also interested in Interim CEO, COO and CFO roles during this period.I am a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (FCA) and hold a BSc Hons in Management Science from the University of Manchester.My Board experience spans 20 years, until recently alongside my Executive roles. I am a NED and Chair of the Risk, Audit and Finance Committee at Breakthrough Victoria. I also recently completed my term as NED at public health service Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, where I was Chair of the Audit and Risk Management Committee.As a Non- Executive Director at Cell Therapies Pty Ltd, I contribute to the growth and development of an innovative, globally focused biotechnology company that provides cell and gene therapy manufacturing services, and I have recently joined the Audit and Risk Committee of Melbourne Recital Centre.