Sean M Johnson FGIA MAICD LLB MBA GCertEd

Sean M Johnson is a

distinguished governance expert, corporate advisor, and lawyer with over three decades of experience in corporate governance, risk management, and strategic advisory services. Based in Townsville, Queensland, Sean serves as CEO and Managing Director of Lakefield Drive, where he provides fractional Company Secretary services, risk advisory, and corporate governance solutions to complex not-for-profit organisations and member-based entities.

Professional Background

Sean's extensive career includes pivotal leadership roles such as Partner at Gadens Lawyers, where he specialised in corporate governance and regulatory compliance. His diverse experience spans the financial advisory sector, higher education, and public sector organisations, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of governance challenges across multiple industries.

His academic credentials are equally impressive, with global studies in innovation at the University of California, Berkeley, and complex systems research in the United Kingdom. This international perspective enriches his approach to governance and strategic advisory work.

Expertise and Specialisation

Sean specialises in corporate governance and institutional economics, with particular expertise in:

• Board performance evaluation and governance reviews
• Risk management frameworks and compliance
• Company secretarial services for complex organisations
• Strategic governance solutions for innovative organisations
• Academic governance and regulatory compliance

Academic Contributions

A JCU alumnus, Sean has maintained strong ties to academia, having developed the Masters in Dispute and Conflict Resolution programme for the JCU Law School. he is a Senior Research Fellow in the College of Business, Law and Governance. He has held multiple roles within universities in Australia and the UK, including positions at the University of Melbourne, bringing practical governance expertise to educational institutions.

Current Practice

Through Lakefield Drive, Sean provides tailored strategic governance solutions to organisations seeking to harness their innovative potential while navigating complex regulatory landscapes. His client portfolio includes NQ Primary Health Network and various self-regulating peak bodies in the health sector.

Sean is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and serves on the Queensland State Council, demonstrating his commitment to advancing governance standards across the profession. He is also a consulting lawyer with Donnie Harris Law, maintaining his legal practice alongside his governance advisory work.

Publications and Thought Leadership

Sean is the author of *The Modern Association Playbook: Reimagining Strategy, Governance, and Value Creation* and *Ecosystem Economics for Modern Associations*, both published in 2025. These works establish him as a leading voice in association governance and platform economics, providing practical frameworks for modern membership organisations navigating digital transformation and evolving stakeholder expectations.