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Max Purcell
Partner, Corporate Governance & Remuneration
My passion lies in helping companies navigate the evolving landscape of corporate governance, remuneration, and stewardship with clarity, integrity, and purpose. I’m driven by the belief that good governance is not a regulatory hurdle but a strategic tool — one that creates stronger organisations, more informed decision‑making, and sustainable long‑term value for all stakeholders.
What motivates me most is bridging the perspectives of issuers and investors: bringing empathy, transparency, and grounded commercial understanding to conversations that shape how companies are run and how value is created.
As a Partner at OpenEngagement, I work closely with Boards and management to develop governance frameworks, remuneration strategies, and engagement approaches that reflect both market expectations and each organisation’s unique purpose and strategy. I enjoy working across markets and cultures, helping clients navigate the complexity of shifting stakeholder priorities, regulatory reforms, and growing scrutiny around ESG and sustainability. With a decade of experience working across both APAC and EMEA regions, I have a core understanding of the essential stakeholder priorities that are placed on issuers.
Before joining OpenEngagement, I spent several years at Sodali & Co in senior governance roles across EMEA and APAC. During those years, I advised a broad range of listed companies on remuneration design, governance reviews, board evaluations, disclosure quality, shareholder engagement, and compliance with corporate governance codes across multiple jurisdictions. I also led teams, built new advisory offerings, and partnered with Boards during critical moments in their governance and reporting cycles.
More recently, I broadened my perspective by working in investment stewardship at Vanguard, gaining practical insight into how major institutional investors assess governance practices, remuneration frameworks, ESG disclosures, and voting decisions. This experience strengthened my belief that the most effective governance outcomes come from genuine, well‑informed dialogue between companies and their investors.
Outside of work, I’m energised by travel, sport, and time outdoors — whether that’s sailing, hiking, or trying to improve my golf swing.
For more information, please feel free to send an email to max@openengagement.au
or call me on +61 432 544 952.
Brendan Henry
Founder/Director
Every share register I view is different, and each shareholder experience at each company is different. In establishing an alternative shareholder engagement company, I am extremely aware of this and so my aim is not to simply provide a formulaic approach to our sector, but to listen and understand and provide solutions on this basis.
In partnering with OpenDirector, I believe we can provide a more informed and data-driven approach. This can only lead to better outcomes for clients.
I love the opportunity to contribute (even if in a very small way) to the success of issuers, who are at the very core of our capital markets, and the privilege we are given to interact with their shareholders.
To become a shareholder is an aspirational decision, which comes with responsibilities other investments do not. This interaction and feedback loop where all parties are invested and want to see the best outcome is what excites me and motivates me to ensure that our clients have the very best experience.
For more information, please feel free to send an email to brendan@openengagement.au
or call me on +61 402 856 353.
Jeff Jackson
Partner, Corporate Governance
Corporate governance is a fundamentally important aspect for every issuer. During my time as a proxy advisor and working on investment stewardship, I have recognized that corporate governance is not a spectator sport. How issuers interact and communicate with their shareholders, proxy advisors, and other market stakeholders, especially ahead of shareholder meetings, can be a difference maker, especially in shareholder meeting outcomes.
I joined OpenEngagement because issuers and shareholders deserve the opportunity to communicate their views on corporate governance. This could allow shareholders to make informed decisions whether in voting or for issuers to address concerns or update stakeholders about their corporate governance practices.
Similarly, as corporate governance practices evolve, so do investor and market stakeholder expectations. I am very interested in being aware of how expectations or requirements within corporate governance are also evolving.
I look forward to connecting issuers with their investors and stakeholders about corporate governance. My ideal result is for issuers to maintain strong corporate practices or improve their corporate governance practices to benefit all interested parties.
For more information, please feel free to send an email to jeff@openengagement.au
or call me on +61 438 188 227.