Australian resident director and public officer services
The Australian director your company must have.
Under section 201A of the Corporations Act, every proprietary company must have at least one director who ordinarily lives in Australia, for as long as the company exists. For foreign-owned companies, I fill that seat, and I take it seriously, because the duties that come with it are real.
When I sign as your director, I have read what I am signing.
Renee Minchin, Directors VaultWhen clients call
The requirement doesn't end once you're incorporated.
You're setting up in Australia
Your lawyer is incorporating the subsidiary and needs a resident director named before the company can be registered.
Your local director is leaving
A director has resigned or is moving overseas, and the company is about to fall short of the residency rule.
You want someone who'll engage
You'd rather have a director who reads the board papers and asks questions than a name on an ASIC form.
What I provide
Two roles, one accountable person.
Corporations Act s201A
Resident director
An Australian resident with a Director ID, meeting s201A from the day of appointment for as long as you need.
- Consent to act and Director ID provided at appointment
- Board papers read and resolutions reviewed before signing
- Clear terms on what I need from you to meet my duties
Australian Taxation Office
Public officer
The ATO contact your company must have, handled by the same person, so there's one point of contact in Australia.
- Appointed and notified to the ATO
- Receives and passes on ATO correspondence promptly
- Works alongside your existing tax adviser
Incorporation, company secretarial and legal work stay with your lawyer or accountant. I fill the director and public officer roles and don't touch their scope.
How it works
From first call to appointment.
A 20-minute risk call
I take you through my risk framework: how your company is structured, what it does in Australia and where its compliance obligations sit. We both come away knowing the risk involved and what the appointment requires.
A fixed annual fee, in writing
You get a written scope and a fixed annual fee based on that risk assessment. No hourly billing, and no surprises later.
Appointment
Once identity checks are complete, I provide my consent and Director ID to your lawyer or accountant, and the appointment is lodged with ASIC.
Your director
Renee Minchin
Founder, Directors Vault
I run the finance and compliance functions for ASX-listed groups, and I've sat on the boards of substantial companies. I'm fully aware of the personal duties a directorship carries, and I treat your business, finance and compliance considerations as if they were my own.
When I sign as your director, I have read what I am signing.
Experience
- ASX-listed CFO since 2015
- Non-executive director of substantial companies
- Audit committee attendee
Qualifications and registrations
- Chartered Company Secretary, Governance Institute of AustraliaGraduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance
- CGMA, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
- Registered ASIC agent
- Registered BAS agent
For lawyers and accountants
Your client needs a director. Your scope stays yours.
See how I work alongside advisers, and how to introduce a client.
Questions
What clients usually ask.
Does a foreign-owned company need an Australian resident director?
Yes. Section 201A of the Corporations Act requires every proprietary company to have at least one director who ordinarily resides in Australia. Public companies need at least two. The requirement applies for as long as the company exists, not only at incorporation, and it applies even when the company is wholly owned overseas.
What happens if our resident director resigns or leaves Australia?
The company falls short of section 201A and is in breach of the Corporations Act until a new resident director is appointed. Changes to directors must be notified to ASIC within 28 days. If your local director is leaving, it's worth arranging a replacement before the gap opens.
Is a nominee director different from a resident director?
"Nominee director" is a common name for a director provided by a service like mine, but there's no lesser legal category. A nominee director carries the same duties and personal liability as any other director, which is why I assess the risk before I accept an appointment.
Do directors need a Director ID?
Yes. Every director of an Australian company needs a Director ID from Australian Business Registry Services (ABRS). At the moment, a new director must have applied for one before they're appointed.
That changes from 1 July 2027, when companies must give ASIC their directors' IDs on registration, on every new appointment and at each annual review. In practice, a director will need the ID issued and in hand before appointment, not just applied for. I already hold mine, so my appointment isn't held up.
Do foreign directors need a Director ID?
Yes. If your company also has directors who live overseas, each of them needs a Director ID too. Directors without Australian identity documents generally can't apply online. They apply to ABRS on a paper form, with certified copies of identity documents such as a passport and a national ID or driver's licence, certified by a notary public or an Australian embassy or consulate.
Paper applications can take around four weeks to process, so start early, especially once IDs must be in hand from July 2027.
What does the public officer do?
The public officer is the company's contact person with the ATO and is responsible for tax matters on the company's behalf. Companies carrying on business in Australia must appoint one who ordinarily lives here.
What will you need from us?
Identity verification for the company and the people who own and control it, a clear picture of the business through the risk call, and regular financial information once I'm appointed. A director has to be able to see the company's position, including its solvency, to meet their duties.
What will it cost?
A fixed annual fee, quoted in writing after the risk call. The fee depends on the size, activity and risk of the company, so I'd rather understand it first than give you a number that doesn't fit.
Will you replace our lawyer or accountant?
No. I fill the director and public officer roles only. Incorporation, company secretarial, legal and tax work stay with the advisers you already have.
This page is general information only and isn't legal or tax advice. Talk to your own advisers about your company's obligations.
Get in touch
Book a 20-minute call.
Referred by your lawyer or accountant? Mention them when you get in touch.