Appoint a trusted resident director in Australia with ABN Australia
The appointment of a resident director is a statutory requirement under the Corporations Act 2001, yet it is also a governance decision that directly affects an international company’s standing in Australia.
By Ro Elvinia
Unfortunately, some providers treat this obligation as transactional, leaving clients vulnerable. We recently encountered an international business whose previous provider’s resident director resigned partway through their engagement, creating serious compliance risk. The client had already paid the full annual fee but was left without representation. This example illustrates the potential consequences of choosing the wrong resident director.
ABN Australia’s resident director framework
At ABN Australia, our resident directors are not contractors or “name-only” appointees. They are in-house compliance and accounting professionals with deep expertise in supporting international businesses.
We provide:
- Credibility – Directors with proven governance, compliance, and accounting expertise
- Continuity – A firm-based structure ensures uninterrupted representation
- Compliance certainty – Alignment with Australian corporate, tax, and ASIC requirements
- Commercial approach – Solutions tailored to the needs of foreign companies entering Australia
When you appoint ABN Australia, you are engaging our firm, not just an individual. This means that in the unlikely event one of our directors ceases their role, we always have another qualified professional ready to step in. This ensures your business maintains proper representation in Australia without interruption, providing certainty and continuity that many other providers simply cannot offer.
If you’re expanding into Australia, contact ABN Australia early to secure a trusted resident director and avoid unnecessary risks.
How does ABN Australia ensure compliance continuity?
It can be tempting for new international companies in Australia to appoint a local employee, family member, or friend as resident director simply to meet the legal requirement. However, our experience has shown that these arrangements often fail and lead to:
- Sudden resignations due to personal or professional reasons
- Lack of understanding of the legal risks and director responsibilities in Australia
- Conflicts of interest, especially when directors are also employees
- Uncomfortable levels of authority, as directors have extensive powers over company records and decisions
By contrast, appointing ABN Australia ensures that your business has qualified, independent representation, continuity of service, and a structure free from personal conflicts of interest.
Meet our resident directors
We currently have David Garry and Tracii Soh as our resident directors. David is the Chairman of ABN Australia and has been directly involved in the group’s activities for almost 50 years now. A lifelong Australian resident, David has decades of experience in corporate compliance, taxation, and board representation. He continues to act as a non-executive director for numerous international companies operating in Australia, providing them with strategic oversight and regulatory assurance.
Tracii is the former Managing Director of TMF Group, a highly reputable corporate services provider across the Asia Pacific. He has resided in Australia for almost a decade and has been in a working relationship with ABN Australia for two years, following a five-year professional association prior. Tracey brings deep corporate governance expertise, along with a pragmatic, commercial approach to supporting international businesses.
The ABN Australia advantage
International clients choose ABN Australia because we provide resident directors who are experienced professionals, directly connected to our firm, and invested in client success. Unlike arrangements with employees, acquaintances, or outsourced providers, our model ensures credibility, continuity, and accountability. And because you are engaging ABN Australia as a firm, you benefit from a structure where there is always a qualified professional available to represent your company, no matter the circumstances.
With almost five decades of trusted service to international businesses, ABN Australia delivers resident director solutions that combine compliance certainty with commercial understanding, giving you the confidence to focus on growing your business in Australia. Contact ABN Australia to appoint a trusted resident director.
Published: 02nd Oct 2025 | Last updated: 02nd Oct 2025
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