Mr John Churchill

John Churchill currently works as Strategic Counsel working closely with Boards, Chief Executives and senior management of significant private and public companies to provide strategic guidance and advocacy in the areas of governance, problem solving, corporate advisory work, restructuring, capital raisings, private equity negotiations, management buy outs, the management and selection of legal resources on significant projects.

The role involves working as a “strategic trusted advisor” and draws upon his legal and commercial experience in managing complex issues, client relationships and professional advisors.  He has worked across a number of industry sectors, including banking, fast moving consumer goods, professional services, wine, wealth management and manufacturing.

John has extensive experience serving on the boards of a diverse range of publicly listed, private and charitable enterprises.  He is currently a non-executive Director of Blooms the Chemist Pharmacy Chain.  In the past his directorships have included serving as Chairman of Candida Stationery Ltd, Chairman of Woodhead Architects, Chairman of Staging Connections Ltd, Young Presidents Organisation and the Stephenson Mansell Group as well as a non-executive Director of Promentum Ltd and Australian Executor Trustees Limited.

John was the Chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal Australia from 1999 to November 2001. Prior to this from 1982 to 2001 he was Managing Partner of Dunhill Madden Butler Solicitors Sydney, a firm which under his leadership expanded from a four partner practice to Australia’s tenth largest law firm. He has also practiced as a lawyer in employment law as well as industrial relations. He continues to specialize in CEO contracts, succession and transition.

John holds a Master of Laws from Sydney University Law School in International Trade and Business Law and has also completed Executive Management courses at Harvard Business School and IMD. He has lectured and presented at Sydney University Law School and more recently for the Australian Institute of Company Directors on non-executive director duties, remuneration and disclosure.

Current Board Appointment

• Chairman of Blackwattle Investment Partners

Former Board Appointments

• Non-Executive Director of Candida Stationery Limited (New Zealand)
• Non-Executive Chairman, Woodhead Architects
• Deputy Chairman, Promentum Limited, assuming role of Chairman during private equity sale of company
• Director, Australian Executor Trustees Limited
• Director, Questor Financial Services Limited
• Chairman, PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal Australia
• Member of the Landwell Global Executive Board
• Managing Partner, Dunhill Madden Butler Solicitors Sydney
• Chairman, Stephenson Mansell Group
• Non-Executive Chairman, Staging Connections
• Non-Executive Director of Blooms The Chemist

Memberships / Interests

• The Law Society of NSW
• The Fellow of the American College of Law Practice Management
• A member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Admitted as a Solicitor to The Supreme Court of NSW and The High Court of Australia