The amazing career of Zita Peach - from refugee to ASX Chair
Feb 12, 2021
Zita’s story begins in Eastern Europe where she was born to parents of Hungarian heritage who found themselves living in the Serbian part of Yugoslavia. Based on a tip from a colleague that authorities were planning to confiscate the family’s passports, they fled to Austria in search of asylum. Following detainment and processing to confirm their refugee status, Zita and her family migrated to northeast Victoria, before eventually calling Melbourne home.
Zita’s curiosity led her to study Geology at university, but the advice of a professor sent her down a path of BioMed and a specialisation in immunology.
Today she is a Non-Executive Director for multiple ASX companies, including Pacific Smiles Group Limited (Chair), Monash IVF Group, Starpharma Holdings, and Visioneering Technologies. She is also on the Board of The Hudson Institute for Medical Research, a not-for-profit institute and on the Advisory Board for Luina Group.
Her Board career started out by representing industry bodies for the organisations and companies she was involved in, which sparked a real enjoyment for serving on committees. Zita was the first to nominate herself to attend functions and discovered early the importance of actively seeking Board opportunities and networking in the Board community. She got to know industry colleges, politicians, venture capitalists, bankers and head-hunters, and found herself transitioning from CSL Limited to Fresenius Kabi while accepting two Board positions with ASX listed companies.
Hear from Zita on the differences between being a NED and a Chair and why everyone needs a mentor. Zita is chairing the next WOBSX syndicate, a director-led, peer support program to assist women achieve ASX Board roles.
LinkedIn Zita Peach Claire Braund (host)