Director’s Liability – Insights, Challenges, Real Life Experiences

On 18 October 2016 solicitors from wilson/ryan/grose joined with local experts to deliver an engaging, informative and thought provoking evening to Townsville members of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Sally McCutcheon, solicitor in the employment and workplace relations team, spoke about director’s duties and potential liabilities in the work health and safety space, using pertinent case examples to highlight the expectations and obligations imposed on directors.

Dan Morton, partner in charge of the planning and environment workgroup, described how directors may be liable under environmental legislation and offered an overview of recent environmental prosecutions.

Peter Duffy, partner in charge of the commercial workgroup, took attendees through some very topical cases relating to director’s liability under Corporations Law. Peter then led a lively discussion with 3 invited panelists: Fay Barker OAM, director of RACQ and chair of The Townsville Hospital Foundation; Daryl Holmes, managing director of 1300 Smiles Limited and chairman of Cowboys Leagues Club Ltd; and Peter Honeycombe, managing director of Honeycombes Property Group, CEDA member, Qld Board of Governors, non-executive director of Townsville Enterprise Ltd and non-executive director of College of the Nations Ltd.

Audience members embraced the opportunity to take advantage of a wealth of local knowledge and expertise, asking highly relevant and probing questions. All 3 panelists were extremely generous with their time, sharing personal experiences of the pitfalls of being a director and strategies for managing the risks and getting the most out of the experience.