Michael Cooper Email & Phone Number

Sydney, Nsw, Au

North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia

Report to the Group Executive Chairman and CEO.Member of the Group Leadership Team and of the Executive Committee for several of the Group’s operating brands.Led the Group’s legal, compliance, governance, insurance and safety functions, and provided support to the leaders managing the Group’s risk, HR, payroll and property functions. Trusted key advisor to the Board, executives, senior management and other key stakeholders, providing the full range of legal, compliance, governance, insurance and safety services. • Negotiated key commercial contracts and provided legal support for a range of M&A activity.• Provided the Group’s company secretarial services and coordinated Board activities and governance.• Managed relationships with external stakeholders, including regulatory agencies, service providers and industry bodies.• Coordinated activities with, and reported to, the Group’s international parent companies in Europe & South Africa.• Executive sponsor for a range of projects, including contract management, WHS and IT system implementations.• Supported a range of procurement activities, including waste collection, road transport and ocean freight.• Coordinated due diligence program in preparation for the divestment of the Group’s operating businesses.• Led a holistic review and roll-out of the Group’s legal and regulatory compliance program.• Developed and implemented a revised governance framework for the Group following the wind-up of the Group’s centralised governance and compliance functions.• Developed and maintained a suite of precedent contracts for adoption across the Group.• Achieved and maintained a team engagement score of 80%.

North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia

Report to the Group Chief Operating Officer.Trusted advisor to members of the Board, executives, senior management and other key stakeholders, providing the full range of legal and compliance services with a particular focus on commercial matters and legal and regulatory compliance.

Sydney, Australia

Originally employed as a Solicitor, and also held the position of Senior Associate. Provided employment, safety & industrial law services to employers in a range of industries with a particular focus on facilities management, FMCG, allied health, hospitality and retail.• Represented employers in the Federal Court of Australia, Federal Circuit Court of Australia, Supreme Court of New South Wales, District Court of New South Wales and the Fair Work Commission, both as instructing solicitor and advocate.• Managed client and other external stakeholder relationships, and advised employers on issues including: - work health & safety and industrial law compliance - enterprise bargaining & industrial instruments - workplace investigations & regulatory investigations - organisational change, restructuring & redundancy - employment contracts & post-employment restraints - dismissal & dispute management - managing employee performance - misconduct, bullying and discrimination - transmission of business - protecting confidential information• Seconded as the General Counsel of Greyhound Racing New South Wales, to provide advice in connection with the establishment of new investigative and regulatory activities in the wake of the 4Corners episode ‘Making a Killing’. • Acted for the Director of the Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate and several Inspectors in the Trade Union Royal Commission.

• Overall responsibility for ER, IR and employment law management and compliance across Australia & New Zealand, including developing IR strategies and negotiating industrial instruments, managing organisational restructures, investigating workplace complaints, and responding to external claims/investigations, including litigation.• Developed and implemented systems to ensure compliance with applicable workplace laws, including industrial instruments, and for the appropriate and lawful management of staff.• Successfully negotiated and implemented an enterprise agreement achieving structural change in wage structures and work methods, particularly in the unionised warehouse environment, to drive increased productivity and modern work practices.• Managed the HR aspects of the closure of the Bay Swiss brand in Australia, including the dismissal of a significant workforce, without any claims being made or disputes arising.• Received inaugural ‘Most Valuable Professional’ Award for the Group.

Company Directors Course

Bachelor Of Laws (Hons), Law

Bachelor Of Commerce, Accounting, Industrial Relations And Human Resource Management

Certificate Iv Training And Assessment