KPMG appoints first female Chair

KPMG Australia has appointed Alison Kitchen as its new national chair, effective September 2017.

Kitchen, who is the first woman to chair a big four professional services firm in Australia, commenced her career with KPMG in the UK working in the firm's audit and tax practices, before moving to KPMG's Perth office where she worked in internal and external audit, corporate finance and restructuring roles.

She is currently based in Melbourne where she specialises in external audit, management and governance. Previously she served as a board member of KPMG Australia and is an active member of Chief Executive Women, with a particular focus on championing future women leaders.

Commenting on her appointment, Peter Nash, the firm's outgoing national chair, said: "Alison is well known and respected by Boards and CEOs across Australia as a leader and effective decision maker."

Kitchen added: "I have boundless energy and enthusiasm for the chair role, and I could not be more pleased and excited by this opportunity. I look forward to utilising my experience to help inform public debate and bridge the current trust deficit between business, politics and society."