Charles Williams, deputy chairman of the Australian Securities Commission, is a businessman turned bureaucrat. He does not seem to sit easily in either world.

Alan Shaw, national companies counsel at the Australian Stock Exchange, says Williams is "approachable and affable", and has a special empathy with staff. Shaw used to work with Williams at the former National Companies and Securities Commission. Williams is the most senior NCSC officer to join the ASC since the Federal Government took responsibility for national regulation of companies and securities.