Good morning, everyone. My name is Greg Cooper, and I am the Chair of Perpetual Limited. With the clock striking 10:00 a.m. and confirmation from company secretaries that a formal quorum has been successfully established, the official proceedings of the 2026 Annual General Meeting are underway. Standing before a gathering of investors, proxy holders, and corporate guests, Chair Cooper formally declared the annual meeting open, extending a warm and inclusive welcome to all participants tuning in either inside the physical venue or through the company’s digital broadcast platform.
In keeping with established corporate protocol and a deep commitment to cultural respect, the opening moments of the gathering were dedicated to honoring Australia’s Indigenous heritage. Chair Cooper delivered a thoughtful Acknowledgement of Country, formally recognizing the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the traditional custodians of the land upon which the meeting was hosted. He acknowledged their enduring connection to the local land, surrounding waters, and the broader community, paying respectful tribute to Australia’s first peoples, alongside their elders both past and present. Extending this spirit of inclusivity, the welcome was broadened to embrace any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander individuals participating in the session. Furthermore, recognition was extended to the traditional owners and custodians of the diverse lands where shareholders, stakeholders, and virtual attendees were situated, spanning regions both across Australia and around the globe.
The hybrid nature of the 2026 Annual General Meeting reflects Perpetual Limited’s ongoing commitment to accessibility, allowing a wide cross-section of the investor base to engage directly with the leadership team. Chair Cooper took a moment to explicitly welcome shareholders, proxy holders, and guests participating both in person at the venue and remotely online. A special note of welcome was directed toward new shareholders who have recently invested in the firm, highlighting the company’s expanding and evolving investor community. Mr. Cooper indicated that shortly after completing the preliminary administrative formalities, he would provide a comprehensive overview of the operational framework established for the hybrid meeting, detailing the specific procedures governing electronic and physical voting, as well as the mechanisms designated for submitting shareholder questions.
Before transitioning to the core operational instructions and the formal business agenda of the day, Chair Cooper addressed essential health, safety, and logistical protocols for those present at the physical venue. Emphasizing the paramount importance of safety, he advised attendees that in the unlikely event of any emergency, everyone should listen attentively to instructions issued by the hotel management and strictly follow the directions provided by the venue’s professional staff and security personnel.
With the foundational administrative and safety announcements concluded, the proceedings moved toward introducing the key governance figures responsible for steering Perpetual Limited. Chair Cooper used the opportunity to introduce the members of the Board of Directors, the executive management team, and the company’s external auditor, who were seated prominently at the front of the room. This introduction sets the stage for the accountability and dialogue that typically define corporate annual general meetings, allowing shareholders visibility into the leadership oversight team as the company navigates its strategic objectives for the year ahead.
