Jim Gill appointed Curtin Uni chancellor

Former Water Corporation chief executive Jim Gill will take over the chancellor position at Curtin University early next year from Coogee Chemicals executive chairman Gordon Martin.

The announcement is below:

Curtin University of Technology has appointed former WA Water Corporation Chief Executive Officer Dr Jim Gill as Chancellor.

His appointment will be effective from early next year.

Dr Gill succeeds Gordon Martin, Executive Chairman of Coogee Chemicals, who has been Chancellor since 2006.

Curtin Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jeanette Hacket, welcomed Dr Gill's appointment and recognised the contributions of Mr Martin as Chancellor.

"The University's Council unanimously endorsed the appointment of Dr Gill as our new Chancellor at its meeting this week," she said.

"Dr Gill will bring enormous knowledge and experience to our Council and we look forward to working with him.

"The University has also greatly benefited from Mr Martin's term as Chancellor. He has contributed significantly to the development of Curtin's new strategic plan and vision to become a top 20 university in Asia by 2020."

Dr Gill was the Water Corporation's inaugural CEO from 1996 till he retired in December 2008.

A major focus during his tenure was a program to greatly increase the State's water source capacity and promote efficient water usage to adapt to significantly drying climate. He also introduced seawater desalination to Australia and this has now been adopted by four other states.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) with First Class Honours from The University of Western Australia in 1968 and obtained a PhD (in the field of computer-aided design) from Cambridge University, England, in 1972. Dr Gill also attained a Master Degree in Public Administration from Harvard University, USA, in 1983.

He started with the WA Main Roads Department in 1972. From 1988-1995 Dr Gill was WA's Commissioner of Railways.

Most recently he received the International Water Association's Grand Award in Vienna last September in recognition of WA's leadership in adapting to drying climate. He was also made an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) in this year's Australia Day honours list.