Ms McDow will head up the company’s recently launched whistleblowing governance training and consulting practice and also lead the national offering from the company’s new Brisbane office.

Ms McDow’s appointment coincides with the expanded whistleblower protections that took effect in the Corporations Act on 1 January 2020, Your Call noted in a statement.

“Significantly, it was McDow who was the first person in Australia to test the Corporations Act protections for whistleblowers in a Federal Court case settled in 2017,” it said.

“It was her case with a major energy service provider that helped shape the drafting of the Treasury Laws amendment Bill 2019 and she has subsequently provided input and insights on whistleblowing legislative reform to the federal government, universities, think tanks and institutions.”

Ms McDow has 20 years’ experience in managing culture, reputation, whistleblowing, and risk and compliance issues across multiple sectors in Australia, North America and Europe, Your Call said, adding that she has worked on international regulatory investigations relating to Sarbanes-Oxley, bribery and corruption, and anti-money laundering.

Speaking about the appointment, Your Call CEO and co-founder Nathan Luker said he was “delighted” to welcome Ms McDow to the organisation’s leadership team.

“Her experience in risk and compliance is unparalleled and her character is one of immense integrity. 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,” he said.

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Ms McDow added that she was “thrilled” to join Your Call.

“Your Call pioneered the whistleblowing service 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,” she said.

“2020 will require Australian companies to examine and manage their whistleblowing policies with greater scrutiny than ever before. 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.”