Qantas chair-elect John Mullen to join board early

The news: John Mullen will commence as Qantas' chair-elect and non-executive director on 22 April, earlier than the expected date of 1 July.

The context: Current chair, Richard Goyder is expected to resign ahead of the airline's annual general meeting in October and Mullen will assume the role of chair, subject to a shareholder vote.

Goyder is also the chair of oil company Woodside, which is under attack for its lack of climate ambition and its refusal to acknowledge a finite future for fossil fuels. Investors are ramping up the pressure but Goyder has been fighting back.

On Tuesday, in a bid to fend off criticism through a note to shareholders, Goyder said the board was "absolutely focused on Woodside’s long-term future and strategy to thrive through the energy transition".