CHRISTIAN ZAHRA | AM FAICD
Principal
Christian is a dynamic and focussed leader widely regarded for his ability to see the big picture and develop innovative solutions to complex problems. A highly accomplished CEO and Non-Executive Director, he has extensive experience across the corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors and excellent relationships at senior levels. Christian has a deep understanding of public policy and government and how shifts in policy can have a serious impact on businesses and not-for-profits.
Christian is one of Australia’s leading rural and regional development experts and has previously served as Chairman of the Federal Government’s $1B Regional Development Fund Advisory Panel and as a Member of the Federal Government’s Ministerial Advisory Council on Regional Australia. He is a Founding Non-Executive Director of Australia’s leading think-tank on rural and regional issues, the Regional Australia Institute, and also serves as a an Independent Non-Executive Director of a Kimberley based Traditional Owner corporation and one of its subsidiary companies. Following the dismissal of the South Gippsland Shire Council in 2019, Christian was appointed by the Victorian Government as the Deputy Chairman of Panel of Administrators that was put in place to manage the Council.
Christian has also served as Chairman of the Victorian Sustainable Timber Industry Council and as a Non-Executive Director of VENCorp (precursor to the Australian Energy Market Operator).
Christian has extensive experience in managing service delivery, both in the not-for-profit sector and the corporate sector. For two years he was Chief Executive Officer of Wunan Foundation Inc. a large Aboriginal organisation leading social reform in the East Kimberley. Employing more than 100 staff and with an annual turnover of more than $11M, Wunan is one of Australia’s largest and most well-regarded Indigenous organisations. During his time as CEO, Wunan recorded its largest ever profit, significantly expanded its service delivery function and played a leading role in achieving historic welfare reform in the region.
Christian has also worked in a number of Senior Executive roles in professional services, including as a Partner in Australia’s leading bipartisan Government Relations firm and as a Director in the Strategy Consulting Practice at one of the Big Four professional services firms. He has significant expertise in providing high-level advice on government relations and in leading business strategy development and implementation.
In 1998, Christian was elected to the House of Representatives as the Federal Member for McMillan in regional Victoria. In 2001 he was promoted to Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Communications and in 2002 became Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport & Regional Development. At the time, he was the youngest person ever to be appointed Parliamentary Secretary.
Prior to his election to the Federal Parliament, Christian served for three years as the CEO of an Aboriginal Health & Housing Cooperative, where he managed a multi-million-dollar budget and 18 staff to deliver a health clinic, housing services and a range of other programs. His ability to manage people and steer organisations through difficult change allowed him to lead a challenging reform program that resulted in significant improvements in financial performance and service delivery.
Christian holds a Master of Assessment & Evaluation from the University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Economics from La Trobe University. He is a graduate of the AICD Company Directors Course (2004) and completed the Course Update in 2014. Christian was appointed as a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors in 2011.
In 2018, Christian was made a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to rural and regional development, to the advancement of Indigenous welfare, and to the Parliament of Australia.