Biography

Geoffrey Brown OAM – Chief Audit Executive

Geoffrey began his career at Deloitte Haskins and Sells after having completed a Bachelor of Business Studies (Accounting and Marketing) through Nepean CAE (now the University of Western Sydney). In 1983, Geoff commenced work with Ernst and Whinney, where he completed the Institute of Charted Accountants Professional Year Program. On completion of the program, he relocated to Ernst and Whinney in Norway, before joining the Internal Audit team at Mobil Oil, where his position required extensive travel throughout Africa, the Middle East, the UK, Europe, and Australia.

Geoff returned to Australia in 1989 and briefly joined Exxon before moving to Unilever where he spent 3 years as the Australasian Head of Audit, based in Sydney and another 3 years as Asia Pacific Head of Audit in Singapore.

Following his return to Australia in 1996, Geoff briefly took up a position in Ernst & Young, before being approached to head up the Internal Audit Division of Boral. Arising out of his success in this role, he was approached by Qantas to take over the Internal Audit function, and in 1999, moved to become General Manager Internal Audit of Qantas Airways.

In 2001, Geoff moved out of the audit function to take up the position of General Manager Indonesia, of Qantas, British Airways and Australian Airlines. The position held responsibility for all ground operations including sales, marketing, finance and HR for all three carriers. During his time in the role Geoff had to deal with a number of issues including the follow on effects from the September 11 attacks, the first terrorist attacks in Bali and the Marriot Hotel in Jakarta, as well as the impact of SARS and the Bird Flu.

Geoff returned to Australia in 2004, joining Macquarie Bank as a Division Director in the Investment Banking Group. Here, Geoff was involved in a number of potential Asian company acquisitions for the Macquarie International Infrastructure Fund.

In 2006, Geoff was appointed CEO of ZonesCorp Infrastructure Fund, for Macquarie Capital based in Abu Dhabi in the UAE. As CEO, Geoff was responsible for managing a private equity fund with commitments from investors of US$350 million and investments totalling over US$1 billion.

Geoff commenced as Chief Audit Executive of the Audit & Fraud Control Division at the Department of Defence in June 2009.