Head of Research (Australia and New Zealand)

Let’s be #BrilliantTogether

Overview

ISS STOXX is growing! We are seeking a key member to join our global research leadership team. The Head of Australia and New Zealand Research is a senior leadership role within ISS Governance Research, responsible for delivering high-quality, investor-focused analysis and thought leadership across one of the world’s most advanced governance ecosystems.

This position is pivotal in ensuring that ISS’s research and policy development remain responsive to the evolving needs of institutional investors, while also being grounded in a deep understanding of issuer practices and local regulatory frameworks. The Head of Australia and New Zealand Research will shape regional strategy, contribute to global policy evolution, and ensure that ISS continues to deliver market-leading insights and stewardship support to clients across the region.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and nurture the growth of the Sydney-based AUNZ research team (scaling during proxy season to deliver timely, high-quality governance research on ~1,100 shareholder meetings annually), while also fostering capability and engagement across supporting regional hubs.

• Champion investor-focused research and engagement, ensuring alignment with institutional stewardship goals and evolving market expectations.

• Maintain deep issuer and regulatory insight to ensure research is contextually grounded and responsive to Australia and New Zealand’s advanced governance ecosystem.

• Drive the evolution of ISS benchmark policies with a local compliance lens, ensuring responsiveness to sophisticated investor needs.

• Leverage technology to enhance research quality, scalability, and operational efficiency across the research lifecycle.

• Understand how technology is transforming our investor client operations and expectations and ensure that research delivery evolves to meet the changing needs of clients in governance and stewardship.

• Represent ISS in high-level engagements with investors, issuers, regulators, contributing to thought leadership and policy development.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with global research leaders, Sales, and Client Success teams to support client engagement and strategic alignment.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (e.g., MBA, JD) or relevant professional designation (e.g., CFA) preferred.

• 10+ years of experience in corporate governance, financial services, legal, consulting, or related fields.

• Demonstrated leadership experience (5+ years), including managing diverse teams and cross-functional collaboration.

• Deep understanding of the governance landscape in Australia and New Zealand, including regulatory frameworks, investor expectations, and issuer practices.

• Strong familiarity with the proxy advisory industry and the broader investment stewardship ecosystem.

• Excellent communication skills, confidence in public speaking, media engagement, and client interaction.

• Highly organized, analytical, and capable of managing multiple priorities under tight deadlines.

• Passion for innovation and a track record of leveraging technology to improve outcomes.

• Amenable to work at our Sydney office in a hybrid working arrangement (at least 3 days work onsite per week).

#LI-NS1

#DIRECTOR

What You Can Expect from Us

At ISS STOXX, our people are our driving force. We are committed to building a culture that values diverse skills, perspectives, and experiences. We hire the best talent in our industry and empower them with the resources, support, and opportunities to grow—professionally and personally.

Together, we foster an environment that fuels creativity, drives innovation, and shapes our future success.

Let’s empower, collaborate, and inspire.

Let’s be #BrilliantTogether.

About ISS STOXX

ISS STOXX GmbH is a leading provider of research and technology solutions for the financial market. Established in 1985, we offer top-notch benchmark and custom indices globally, helping clients identify investment opportunities and manage portfolio risks. Our services cover corporate governance, sustainability, cyber risk, and fund intelligence. Majority-owned by Deutsche Börse Group, ISS STOXX has over 3,400 professionals in 33 locations worldwide, serving around 6,400 clients, including institutional investors and companies focused on ESG, cyber, and governance risk. Clients trust our expertise to make informed decisions for their stakeholders' benefit. 

Founded in 1985 as Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) Inc., ISS Governance is a leading global provider of independent and objective shareholder meeting research and recommendations, providing multiple voting policy choices as well as end-to-end workflow solutions for institutional investors. More than 1,600 clients worldwide utilize ISS Governance’s actionable expertise to help them make informed investment stewardship decisions, and to help them manage their voting responsibilities. Covering over 50,000 meetings annually, ISS Governance leverages its extensive global footprint, deep experience, high quality data and analysis, unified client support, and technology infrastructure to continuously evolve and extend its innovative suite of solutions to meet clients’ evolving portfolio, fiduciary, and stewardship requirements. 

Visit our website: https://www.issgovernance.com       

View additional open roles: https://www.issgovernance.com/join-the-iss-team/      

Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”) is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion. It is our policy to prohibit discrimination or harassment against any applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, creed, religion, sex, age, height, weight, citizenship status, national origin, social origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, pregnancy status, marital status, familial status, mental or physical disability, veteran status, military service or status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law (referred to as “protected status”).  All activities including, but not limited to, recruiting and hiring, recruitment advertising, promotions, performance appraisals, training, job assignments, compensation, demotions, transfers, terminations (including layoffs), benefits, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment, are and will be administered on a non-discriminatory basis, consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local requirements.