Audette Exel

Audette Exel AO (born 14 January 1963) is a New Zealand-born businesswomen and philanthropist, best known for founding the Adara Group which has offices in Australia, the United States, Uganda, Nepal and Bermuda. In 2013, she was awarded an honorary Order of Australia for her philanthropic work.

Audette Exel
...
Born14 January 1963
NationalityNew Zealand
OccupationFounder of Adara Group
Websitewww.adaragroup.org

Biography

Early life and career

Exel was born in New Zealand in 1963, to Mary and David Exel. She earned a law degree from the University of Melbourne.[1]

Exel began her career with Allen, Allen and Hemsley in Sydney, Australia from 1985 to 1986, before joining the English firm of Linklaters & Paines in their Hong Kong office.[2] She transitioned to a career in banking law in Bermuda, later running a Bermudan bank, becoming Chairman of the Bermuda Stock Exchange, and joining the board of the Bermuda Monetary Authority.[1][2]

The Adara Group

At the age of 35, Exel established the Isis Group (now Adara Group), which consists of two Sydney-based corporate advisory businesses and an international development organization called Adara Development (formerly the Isis Foundation).[2][3] Since 1998, the businesses have channelled their profits into Adara Development.[4] The Adara Group is focused on improving health and education for people living in poverty in Nepal and Uganda.[4][5][6]

In September 2021, Exel was appointed to the board of Westpac.[7]

Honours

In 2012, Exel was named the Telstra NSW Business Woman of the Year.[8] In 2013, she was awarded an honorary Order of Australia for “service to humanity through the establishment of the Adara Group to provide specialist care to women and children in Uganda and Nepal.”[8]

In 2014, Exel was recognized by Forbes as one of 48 "Heroes of Philanthropy" in the Asia-Pacific region.[9] In 2016, she was named Australia's "Leading Philanthropist" by Philanthropy Australia.[8]

References
  1. National Foundation for Australian Women and The University of Melbourne (12 February 2019). "Exel, Audette". Australian Women's Register. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  2. Drummond, Matthew (11 January 2013). "Take the money and fund a good cause". Australian Financial Review. Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  3. Leser, David (9 March 2017). "Charity: how far do you go? What I did when I met a homeless backpacker". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  4. McDonald, Sarah (3 June 2015). "Matthew Grounds, David Gonski and fellow bankers join up to work for free". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  5. Caneva, Lina (22 December 2016). "Top Philanthropic Gifts of 2016". Pro Bono Australia. Archived from the original on 23 December 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  6. "Philanthropist Audette Exel makes money to make change". Stuff. 10 April 2015. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  7. "Appointment of Audette Exel AO to the Westpac Board". www.westpac.com.au. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  8. "Australia's Top Philanthropist Announced | PBA". Pro Bono Australia. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  9. Koppisch, John. "48 Heroes Of Philanthropy". Forbes. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
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