G8 Education : GEM Board Changes

29 August 2017

G8 Education Limited ("G8" or "the Group") (ASX: GEM) is pleased to announce a number of upcoming Board changes, providing further impetus to the Group's strategy and growth objectives after a strong FY17 half-year earnings performance.

The changes are part of a managed succession plan to ensure the Board continues to comprise relevant skills and experience to guide the Group's business performance and future growth.

Professor Julie Cogin, Director of the Australian Graduate School of Management and Deputy Dean at the University of New South Wales Business School, and Margaret Zabel, an experienced customer strategy and marketing executive and professional non-executive director, will join the Board on 1 September 2017.

Chairman, Mark Johnson said, "G8 has reached the stage that the performance of the business will be driven by a combination of organic and acquisitive growth, which requires new Board skills. These appointments will add world-class capabilities in marketing and education that will support the Group to achieve the next level of growth."

"The G8 Board also strongly supports the view that greater gender diversity contributes to recruiting and retaining high quality employees and fosters a closer connection with customers. As a member of the Thirty Percent Club, I am delighted that with these appointments, G8 will exceed the target of 30 per cent female directors for ASX-200 boards by the end of 2018."

Matthew Reynolds, who has been a non-executive director of G8 for six years from 2011, will be retiring from the Board on the 31stAugust 2017. He is a non-executive director of AxsessToday Limited and Bubs Australia Limited and has also been invited to assume the role of Chairman of a business that is planning an ASX listing.

Mr Johnson said, "I would like to thank Matthew Reynolds personally and on behalf of the Board for his outstanding contribution to the Group through its early stages of growth. During his time on the Board, G8 almost quadrupled the number of childcare centres and grew revenue by more than 540 per cent."

Professor Julie Cogin is the Director of the Australian Graduate School of Management and Deputy Dean at the University of New South Wales Business School.

Prior to her current appointment, Julie has held numerous senior leadership appointments at the University of New South Wales including Deputy Dean Engagement, Head of School (Management) and Associate Dean Education.

She is a recognised thought leader in high performing workplaces, leadership and corporate culture, having authored several books and published in the world's top academic journals. As an educator, Julie has received national and international teaching awards and spoken extensively about disruption in education.

Julie has over 25 years' experience leading education & consulting engagements for organisations throughout Australia, Asia and the United States, including consulting to the early learning and childcare sector. In 2016, she was named by The Australian Financial Review as one of Australia's 100 Women of Influence for her work to address the gender leadership imbalance.

Julie has a PhD in Organisational Psychology, Master of Education, Bachelor of Business and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Margaret Zabel is a specialist in customer centred business transformation, brand strategy, sales and marketing, digital communications and change leadership. She has 20 years' senior executive experience working for multi-nationals, ASX-100 companies and not-for-profit organisations in FMCG, food, technology and communications industries.

Her previous executive roles include National Marketing Director of Lion Nathan Australia, VP Marketing for McDonald's Australia and CEO of The Communications Council. Margaret has also served as a non- executive director for mental health charity R U OK? for five years.

Margaret holds an MBA from INSEAD (France) and a Bachelor in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo (Canada) and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

ENDS