Rabobank Australia announces appointment of Carolyn Colley as new board Chair

Rabobank Australia Limited has announced the appointment of Carolyn Colley as its new Chair, succeeding James Fazzino, who is stepping down after more than six years on the board.

Ms Colley has been a member of the Rabobank Australia Limited board since April 2025 and brings more than 30 years’ executive and non-executive experience in financial services, technology and digital innovation to the position.

Announcing the appointment, effective from August 31, 2026, Rabobank managing board member Wholesale & Rural Els Kamphof said Ms Colley’s extensive leadership experience spanning financial services, technology, product development and innovation made her an ideal successor to Mr Fazzino in board renewal for Rabobank’s growing Australian business.

“Carolyn’s exceptional understanding of the financial services marketplace, and her expertise in technology strategy and digital transformation, makes her ideally placed to lead the board as Rabobank supports our Australian clients’ future growth,” Ms Kamphof said. “Carolyn brings deep experience across audit, risk, financial and product governance in complex regulated environments. Added to this, Carolyn has a strong affinity with, and commitment to, Australia’s food and agri sector.”

Rabobank Australia Chair Carolyn Colley

Ms Colley is currently an independent non-executive director of Count Ltd, the ASX’s Clearing and Settlement boards and Smartgroup Corporation. She is Chair and Treasurer of not-for-profit Liverpool Neighbourhood Connections.

Ms Colley has previously served on the boards of Milford Asset Management, IOOF Trustees and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. She has held senior executive roles at Macquarie Bank, St George Bank and BT Financial Group.

She also co-founded – and was Chief Operating Officer of – Faethm, a global SaaS analytics platform helping companies and governments address the future of work.

Ms Kamphof thanked outgoing Chair James Fazzino for his contribution to the board, where he has served as Chair since 2023 and a director since 2020.

“James’s passion for Australian agriculture and his leadership and business acumen have been invaluable to Rabobank Australia,” she said.

Mr Fazzino said it had been a “privilege to work with the exceptional people of Rabobank in supporting Australian farming families and communities”. “I’m grateful to my fellow board members for their dedication and partnership throughout my time as Chair, and I leave confident the bank is well positioned for the future,” he said.

Ms Colley said she was “honoured and excited to take on the role of Chair of Rabobank Australia”. “This is a great business, backed by the strength of our global parent, and I look forward to working with Caroline Oosterbaan, her executive team, my fellow board members and the wider Rabobank team as we continue to grow our position in the Australian market, strengthen our internal capabilities and deliver great products, services and support to our customers,” she said.

Other members of Rabobank Australia Limited’s board are Christine Feldmanis, Clive Stiff, Geerten Battjes, Angelique Meddeler and Rabobank Australia & New Zealand Regional Manager and CEO Rabobank Australia Limited Caroline Oosterbaan.

Rabobank Australia & New Zealand Group is a part of the international Rabobank Group, the world’s leading specialist in food and agribusiness banking. Rabobank has more than 125 years’ experience providing customised banking and finance solutions to businesses involved in all aspects of food and agribusiness. Rabobank is structured as a cooperative and operates in 35 countries, servicing the needs of more than nine million clients worldwide through a network of more than 1000 offices and branches. Rabobank Australia & New Zealand Group is one of Australasia’s leading agricultural lenders and a significant provider of business and corporate banking and financial services to the region’s food and agribusiness sector. The bank has 87 branches throughout Australia and New Zealand.