2. Team
  3. Cynthia Payne

Cynthia Payne

Managing Director & Founder | Practice Lead - Strategy & Governance

About Cynthia

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With over 30 years of executive leadership and 25 years of board experience, Cynthia is a recognised force in the Australian aged care sector. As the Founder of Anchor Excellence, she has impacted over 45% of the market through high-performance education and solutions.
Cynthia combines clinical expertise (B.App.Sc Nursing) with business acumen (MBA, FAICD) to support the entire ecosystem—from residential to home care. An award-winning business leader and active Board Director, she is passionate about enabling leaders and driving governance excellence.

Cynthia Payne has more than 30 years of executive leadership experience and over 25 years as a Director in both NFP and FP boards. Cynthia founded Anchor Excellence in 2018 and in the past 7 years has impacted over 45% of the Australian aged care market via its programs, solutions and education, including the home for SAGE Study Tours and Impactful-Leaders, an industry-agnostic focus for all organisations looking to develop and enable high performance.

Professional Profile Summary

Qualifications and Expertise

  • Certified Yoga Teacher (Cert IV, 800HrRYT) and Balanced Scorecard Practitioner
  • Seasoned public speaker and Master of Ceremonies (MC)
  • Member, Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD)
  • Fellow, Governance Institute of Australia
  • Long-term member, Australian College of Nursing
  • Fellow, Institute of Managers and Leaders

Board and Advisory Roles

  • Current Board Advisor, Total Construction (2019 – present)
  • Former Non-Executive Director (NED), National Heart Foundation (2017-2021)
  • Current Independent Review Panel Member, Business Excellence Australia

Key Strengths

  • Combines a unique blend of health and wellness expertise with strong corporate governance and leadership skills
  • Proven track record in board advisory and non-executive director roles
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills, evident in her public speaking and MC experience
  • Committed to professional development and continuous learning, demonstrated by her various fellowships and memberships
Leaders Enabling Leaders

Leading Aged Care Consulting and Advisory Services

Anchor Excellence stands at the forefront of aged care consultancy, dedicated to enabling leaders to enhance their capabilities and elevate the quality of life for our elderly.

Backed by a team of more than 20 accomplished Anchor Leaders, we have been instrumental in driving substantial change, positively impacting over 40% of the industry and championing lasting, sustainable transformations.

About Anchor Excellence