David O’Brien – Life Membership

David O’Brien – Life Membership

David has spent more than 27 years in risk at ANZ, following a PhD in mathematical physics, which officially makes him the only person in the room qualified to calculate both tail risk and the trajectory of a rogue asteroid. And possibly in the same sentence.

He is currently Group General Manager in Risk Metrics and Measurement at ANZ, and has been a foundation member of RMA for over 20 years –  a regular attendee at our events and webinars, and someone who’s probably seen more PowerPoint slides than most of us have had hot dinners.

David’s formal contribution began in 2010 as a member of our Events Committee. He went on to serve seven years on the RMA board, including three as President — a period that saw some of the most significant changes in our history.

He led with a steady hand through the disruption of COVID, helping us pivot to a webinar format that has since become central to our engagement model. He also championed the development of our new fee structure, including the introduction of the individual zero-fee offering  – a bold move that helped triple our membership from around 1,000 to over 3,000 today.

David’s ability to size up a situation, draw out competing views, and bring the board to consensus was invaluable. His attention to detail, strategic thinking, and wry sense of humour made board meetings not just productive – but genuinely enjoyable. And let’s be honest –  anyone who can make a fee structure strategy sound exciting deserves more than a round of applause. They deserve a Life Membership.

David, thank you for your long-standing support and leadership at RMA Australia. It is with great pleasure that I confer Life Membership on you today.