Low-key BHP and ANZ director Christine O’Reilly and Macquarie Group and Djerriwarrh Investments director Rebecca McGrath have topped this year’s BOSS lists of most powerful and influential directors.

But men continue to hold the most powerful chairman roles in the country, including CBA’s Paul O’Malley, BHP’s Ken MacKenzie, CSL’s Brian McNamee and NAB’s Phil Chronican while the incoming chairman of listed insurance broker AUB, Peter Harmer, also on the CBA and nib boards, has risen to the top of the chairman power ranks.