Pioneering lawyer becomes whistleblowing service’s head of client advisory

Your Call has appointed Sally McDow as head of client advisory and has tasked her to lead the service’s recently launched whistleblowing governance training and consulting practice.

The appointment of McDow, who will lead the national offering from the company’s Brisbane base, comes after the expanded whistleblower protections in the Australian Corporations Act 2001 came into effect at the start of the year.

The firm said that McDow’s new leadership role is significant since it was McDow who first tested the Corporations Act protections for whistleblowers in a Federal Court case, which was settled in 2017. That case helped share the drafting of the Treasury Laws Amendment Bill 2019. McDow provided insights and input on whistleblowing reform to the federal government, universities, think tanks, and institutions, Your Call said.

McDow is an expert in managing culture, reputation, whistleblowing, and risk and compliance. She has worked in various sectors in Australia, North America, and Europe. Your Call said that McDow has also worked on international regulatory investigations connected to Sarbanes Oxley, as well as bribery, corruption, and anti-money laundering matters.

“Her experience in risk and compliance is unparalleled and her character is one of immense integrity,” said Nathan Luker, co-founder and chief executive at Your Call. “Her own experience of bravely challenging serious corporate compliance failures complements her in-depth knowledge of the new legislation surrounding whistleblowing, making her the perfect candidate to advise our clients.”

McDow said that she was excited to join a firm she called a “pioneer” in the whistleblowing industry in Australia.

“What sets it apart is its team of experienced disclosure officers – who are licenced investigators with broad experience across law enforcement, human resources and compliance areas – and a robust framework that lends itself to protecting the whistleblower, insulating the organisation, and creating long-term cultural change for the better in Australian workplaces,” said McDow.

She also predicted a busy year in the space.

“2020 will require Australian companies to examine and manage their whistleblowing policies with greater scrutiny than ever before,” said McDow. “And those who play their cards right now will not only benefit from a significant reduction in commercial and reputational risk but also an enduring ‘speak up’ culture.”