Local universities attract top talent

Western Australia’s main public universities have some of the state’s most influential people serving on their governing councils and among their senior staff.

Top of the ranking is the University of WA, which two years ago lured former student Michael Chaney to become its chancellor.

As the oldest and wealthiest university in the state, UWA has impressive alumni, which has helped it attract strong corporate and community support.

Mr Chaney is the former managing director of Wesfarmers and the current chairman of National Australia Bank, president of the Business Council of Australia and chairman-designate of Woodside Petroleum.

Prominent people serving with him on the senate include company directors David Griffiths and Tony Howarth, chamber of commerce and industry of WA chief executive John Langoulant and Economic Regulation Authority chairman Lyndon Rowe.

The powerful business connections at UWA are also illustrated by the board members of its business school.

Chaired by Azure Capital managing director Mark Barnaba, the board includes Mr Howarth as well as Azure chairman John Poynton, Alinta chairman John Akehurst, Wesfarmers chief executive Richard Goyder, Woodside chief executive Don Voelte, and former Australian of the Year and scientist, Fiona Wood.

UWA’s vice-chancellor Professor Alan Robson has made significant contributions outside the university.

His external roles include being a member of the CSIRO board, the Premier’s Science Council and the WA Institute for Medical Research, which is closely associated with the university.

Curtin University’s council is chaired by Gordon Martin, who is the chairman and majority owner of successful chemicals business Coogee Chemicals.

Mr Martin has widened his business interests by establishing Coogee Resources, which earlier this year raised an estimated $300 million from investors to pursue development of an oil project in the Timor Sea.

His appointment reflects Curtin’s strategic focus on the energy and resources sectors. This is manifested by the establishment of the WA Energy Research Alliance and the Chemistry and Resources Precinct at locations near the Curtin campus.

Both initiatives seek to bring together university and CSIRO researchers with industry financial support.

Curtin’s council has been given an injection of new blood over the past year, with new members including Woodside’s chief operating officer Keith Spence, Apex Minerals (and former LionOre Australia) chief executive Mark Ashley, BHP Billiton vice-president government affairs Ian Fletcher, and former Doodland Associated executive Chris Bennett.

The senate at Murdoch University is chaired by former BankWest managing director Terry Budge, whose other positions include being chairman of LandCorp.

Its senate includes former Western Power managing director and current MG Kailis chairman Tony Iannello.