G100 CFO Awards to recognise Australia’s Finance Leaders!

Amid surging regulatory demands and rapidly evolving industry, Australia’s most influential Chief Financial Officers will be honoured at the inaugural Group of 100’s CFO Awards, celebrating the pivotal role finance leaders now play in steering corporate strategy and resilience. 

The awards, a collaboration between the Group of 100 and executive search firm Johnson Partners, will honour excellence across 10 categories, including CFO of the Year (ASX), CFO of the Year (PE), Deputy CFO, Finance Team of the Year, Deal of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, and Rising Star (Under 30).

Stephen Woodhill, CEO of the Group of 100, highlighted the unprecedented evolution of the CFO role.

“CFOs are the quiet leaders of corporate Australia, carrying responsibilities that reach far beyond finance,” Woodhill said. “These awards recognise just how central they are to company strategy and resilience.”

Woodhill noted that CFOs now oversee a spectrum of responsibilities, from corporate culture to climate risk, managing nearly 100 mandatory reports a year, covering not only financial performance but also environmental, social, and governance (ESG) obligations such as emissions, modern slavery, and biodiversity.

Analysis by the Group of 100 and Johnson Partners reveals that in just five years, the average reporting burden has increased from 65 to almost 90 reports annually, with ESG disclosures moving from the periphery to the centre of corporate reporting.

“There has been a fundamental shift in how finance leaders communicate with the market,” Woodhill added. “Climate change reporting, in particular, has become more complex. Investors and regulators now demand transparency on emissions, supply chains, and biodiversity like never before.”

Jason Johnson, Founder and CEO of Johnson Partners, emphasised the growing strategic importance of the CFO role.

“CFOs are instrumental in shaping their organisations’ ability to thrive in a rapidly evolving economic and regulatory environment,” Johnson said.

Sung Ho Lee, Partner and Head of the CFO Practice at Johnson Partners, highlighted digital transformation as one of the most striking shifts for CFOs.

“Five years ago, technology was a limited focus. Today, AI drives advanced analytics to enhance forecasting, performance management, and operational decision-making. Cybersecurity and data privacy have also become top priorities,” Lee said.

The judging panel brings together leading figures from across the corporate sector, including: Yasmin Allen AM, Sarah Rennie, Alison Kitchen, Crispin Murray, Colin Storrie, Georgina Johnson, Inder Singh, Stephen Woodhill, Jason Johnson, and Sung Ho Lee.

Nominations open Monday 22nd September – Closing October 31st 2025. The Award ceremony will be held on Thursday 19th March 2026. For more information, visit https://awards.group100.com.au.