MELBOURNE, Australia–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Global financial technology platform Airwallex has appointed respected business leader Elana Rubin AM as the independent chair of its Australian board as the company continues to enhance its leadership in key markets.
Ms Rubin will be joined by former New Zealand Prime Minister The Right Honourable Sir Bill English, who joins the Australian board as an independent non-executive director after being appointed chair of Airwallex’s NZ Board on 26 March. Both appointments to the Australian board are effective immediately.
Ms Rubin brings unparalleled experience to Airwallex through her long career with some of Australia’s largest and most successful businesses and organisations across the technology, financial services, infrastructure and public sectors.
She is currently a non-executive director of Dexus, a member of the Reserve Bank of Australia Governance Board, and chair of the Australian Business Growth Fund and Infoxchange. Her previous leadership roles include chair of Afterpay, AustralianSuper and Victorian Managed Insurance Authority, and non-executive directorships with Telstra and Mirvac.
Sir Bill is a non-executive director of Wesfarmers, chair of Mount Cook Alpine Salmon, disability services provider Manawanui Support and social investment firm Impact Lab Ltd, and a director of the Paul Ramsay Foundation.
He was the 39th Prime Minister of New Zealand and served as Minister of Finance for eight years before becoming PM.
Airwallex Co-founder Jack Zhang said “Elana and Bill joining Airwallex is an important step in the company’s evolution. They bring deep governance and business expertise to Airwallex as we continue to expand the company and move into our next phase of growth. Their extensive experience and insights will be vital as we continue to build the infrastructure and technology to help more Australian and New Zealand businesses grow and expand globally.”
“Strengthening our Australian leadership with two highly-credentialed leaders reflects Airwallex’s long-term commitment to Australia and the company’s determination to deliver the world’s best financial infrastructure to support innovation, competition and global growth for our customers.”
Ms Rubin said “I am excited to take on the role of chair of Airwallex’s Australian Board. The company has demonstrated exceptional growth and successfully established itself as a leader in global payments and financial infrastructure.
“Australia has a great track record of fintech innovation and Airwallex is well-positioned to help more businesses expand globally and deepen its impact on our economy. I look forward to working closely with the Airwallex team and its stakeholders to ensure the business continues to deliver for its customers.”
Sir Bill English said “Airwallex has built a genuinely modern financial platform that gives businesses of all sizes a real edge in how they manage their day-to-day finances. From global business accounts to spend management, these tools free up time and capital that businesses can reinvest in growth. I’m proud to join a company delivering efficient financial infrastructure to businesses across the economy in Australia and New Zealand.”
Airwallex is now the financial technology platform of choice for more than 40,000 Australian businesses including Qantas, Canva, CultureAmp and Afterpay.
The company facilitates more than $39 billion in payments for Australian customers annually and provides global financial infrastructure for almost 40 per cent of the nation’s digital and technology sector.
Airwallex Australia
Airwallex Australia helps more than 40,000 Australian companies manage their global payments, treasury and financial operations more efficiently. The company plays an increasingly important role in supporting Australia’s productivity and international competitiveness.
As financial services enter an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, Airwallex is embedding AI across payments, treasury and spend management workflows. This enables businesses to automate financial operations, optimise working capital and gain real-time insights into their global performance. This shift toward AI-enabled finance is expected to play a key role in helping Australian companies grow more efficiently and compete more effectively in international markets.
About Airwallex
Airwallex is a leading global financial platform for modern businesses. We are building the future of global banking for a borderless, real-time, intelligent economy.
More than 250,000 companies worldwide, from startups to public enterprises, use Airwallex to manage their global banking and financial operations, or to build and monetise their own financial products.
Founded in Melbourne in 2015, Airwallex holds 80+ licenses across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, forming one of the most comprehensive financial infrastructures in the world. This regulated backbone powers Airwallex products at global scale, including payment acceptance, billing, global accounts, corporate cards, and spend management.
The company is co-headquartered in San Francisco and Singapore with over 2,200 employees across 26 offices. Learn more at www.airwallex.com.
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