Foster's Group Ltd. announced today that the group has appointed Christine Nixon, a former Victorian chief police commissioner, as a non executive director. Ms. Nixon will join the board immediately. Premier John Brumby said that he saw this appointment as a positive step towards gender equality.

Foster's expects that the leadership experience and strong community focus of Ms. Nixon would benefit the company.

Ms. Nixon retired in February 2009 after serving the Victorian police as a commissioner. She was working as chairperson of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority since her retirement from the Victorian police. Ms. Nixon said that she is very excited by this new opportunity.

"I look forward to drawing on my management experience and understanding of community issues to make a meaningful contribution as a Foster's Director," said Nixon.

However, Premier John Brumby is also very excited by the appointment of Ms. Nixon in the board of Foster's Group. He sees this as a positive step towards gender equality, a parameter where Australia is way behind the rest of the world.