Carolyn Colley

Rabobank Australia Limited has announced the appointment of Carolyn Colley as its new Chair, succeeding James Fazzino, who is stepping down after more than six years on the board.

Ms Colley has been a member of the Rabobank Australia Limited board since April 2025 and brings more than 30 years’ executive and non-executive experience in financial services, technology and digital innovation to the position.

Announcing the appointment, effective from August 31, 2026, Rabobank managing board member Wholesale & Rural Els Kamphof said Ms Colley’s extensive leadership experience spanning financial services, technology, product development and innovation made her an ideal successor to Mr Fazzino in board renewal for Rabobank’s growing Australian business.

“Carolyn’s exceptional understanding of the financial services marketplace, and her expertise in technology strategy and digital transformation, makes her ideally placed to lead the board as Rabobank supports our Australian clients’ future growth,” Ms Kamphof said. “Carolyn brings deep experience across audit, risk, financial and product governance in complex regulated environments. Added to this, Carolyn has a strong affinity with, and commitment to, Australia’s food and agri sector.”

Ms Colley is currently an independent non-executive director of Count Ltd, the ASX’s Clearing and Settlement boards and Smartgroup Corporation. She is Chair and Treasurer of not-for-profit Liverpool Neighbourhood Connections.

Ms Colley has previously served on the boards of Milford Asset Management, IOOF Trustees and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. She has held senior executive roles at Macquarie Bank, St George Bank and BT Financial Group.

She also co-founded – and was Chief Operating Officer of – Faethm, a global SaaS analytics platform helping companies and governments address the future of work.

Ms Kamphof thanked outgoing Chair James Fazzino for his contribution to the board, where he has served as Chair since 2023 and a director since 2020.

“James’s passion for Australian agriculture and his leadership and business acumen have been invaluable to Rabobank Australia,” she said.

Mr Fazzino said it had been a “privilege to work with the exceptional people of Rabobank in supporting Australian farming families and communities”. “I’m grateful to my fellow board members for their dedication and partnership throughout my time as Chair, and I leave confident the bank is well positioned for the future,” he said.

Ms Colley said she was “honoured and excited to take on the role of Chair of Rabobank Australia”. “This is a great business, backed by the strength of our global parent, and I look forward to working with Caroline Oosterbaan, her executive team, my fellow board members and the wider Rabobank team as we continue to grow our position in the Australian market, strengthen our internal capabilities and deliver great products, services and support to our customers,” she said.

Other members of Rabobank Australia Limited’s board are Christine Feldmanis, Clive Stiff, Geerten Battjes, Angelique Meddeler and Rabobank Australia & New Zealand Regional Manager and CEO Rabobank Australia Limited Caroline Oosterbaan.

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Ms Marler will lead the HR and Corporate Affairs functions across the bank’s Australian and New Zealand operations, joining the Region Australia, New Zealand Executive Team and reporting to Caroline Oosterbaan, CEO of Rabobank Australia and Regional Manager, Australia and New Zealand.

Announcing the appointment, Ms Oosterbaan said Ms Marler brought to the role “extensive People and Culture experience in complex, highly-regulated organisations, together with deep banking knowledge and a strong commitment to building high-performing, future-ready teams”.

“Kathryn’s blend of deep banking-sector expertise and large-scale transformation experience was central to her appointment. Operating within a global cooperative structure, Rabobank sought a leader able to continue to build a People and Culture strategy consistent with the Rabobank Group, while remaining genuinely responsive to the needs of the Australian and New Zealand business,” Ms Oosterbaan said.

Ms Marler joins Rabobank from Westpac Banking Corporation, where she held a number of senior leadership roles shaping enterprise-wide transformation and delivering People and Culture strategy.

Part of the global cooperative Rabobank Group, the world’s leading specialist food and agribusiness bank, Rabobank Australia & New Zealand is one of the region’s leading agricultural banks and a major provider of corporate and business banking services to the Australian and New Zealand food and agribusiness sectors. Rabobank also provides online retail savings and deposits in the Australian and New Zealand markets.

Ms Marler said she “is excited to join Rabobank at such an important time for the bank and the sector it serves”.

“Rabobank’s cooperative culture, and its deep, long-term commitment to Australian and New Zealand farmers and food producers, is something I’ve long admired. I’m looking forward to partnering with Caroline and the leadership team to build the workforce capability that will carry that mission forward,” she said.

Ms Marler commences in the role, subject to regulatory approval, on October 6.

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