Mr David Gonski AC
Chancellor of the University of New South Wales
Mr David Gonski AC was elected by the University of New South Wales Council as its Chancellor of the University in 2005. He has since been reappointed until July 2023.
David graduated in Commerce and Law from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in 1975 and 1976 respectively. He is trained as a solicitor and was a partner at Freehills (now called Herbert Smith Freehills).
David is Chairman of the UNSW Foundation and President of the Art Gallery of NSW Trust. He is Non-Executive Chairman of Barrenjoey Capital Partners Group Holdings Pty Limited, a Director of the Sydney Airport Corporation Board, a Director of the Lowy Institute for International Policy, a non-executive Member of LeapFrog Investment’s Global Leadership Council, Chair of the Accelerating R&D in NSW Advisory Committee, a Patron of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation and Raise Foundation and a Founding Panel Member of Adara Partners.
He was Chairman of the Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools and of the Review of Funding for Schooling. In addition, he was a member of the Takeovers Panel, the Committee of Inquiry into Charitable Related Organizations and of the Nugent Committee, which examined the major arts organisations in Australia.
David was previously Chairman of ANZ Banking Group, Chairman of ASX Ltd, Coca-Cola Amatil, the Guardians of the Future Fund, Sydney Theatre Company, the Australia Council for the Arts, National Institute of Dramatic Arts, the Trustees of Sydney Grammar School and the National E-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA) and was a Director of Singapore Airlines, the Westfield Group and Infrastructure NSW.
University Profile
Established in 1949 with a unique focus on the scientific, technological and professional disciplines, UNSW Sydney is a leading Australian university committed to making a difference through pioneering research and preparing the next generation of talented global citizens for career success.
UNSW has a proud tradition of sustained innovation, focusing on areas critical to its future – from climate change and renewable energies to lifesaving medical treatments and breakthrough technologies. In the social sciences, UNSW research informs policy and expert commentary in key issues facing society ranging from human rights and constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians to public health and population ageing.
UNSW offers an extensive range of undergraduate, postgraduate and research programs and attracts talented students from across Australia and around the world. With 60,000-plus students from around the world, UNSW is one of Australia’s most cosmopolitan universities.
UNSW is a founding member of the Group of Eight, a coalition of Australia’s leading research-intensive universities, and the prestigious Universitas 21 international network.
The main UNSW campus is located on a 38-hectare site at Kensington, seven kilometres from the centre of Sydney. Other major campuses are Art & Design in Paddington and UNSW Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy.
To find out more, visit the UNSW website www.unsw.edu.au
Governance
The University of New South Wales Council
The governing authority of the University is the Council, established under the University of New South Wales Act 1989 (NSW). The Council:
acts for and on behalf of the University in the exercise of the University’s functions, and
has the control and management of the affairs and concerns of the University, and
may act in all matters concerning the University in such manner as appears to the Council to be best calculated to promote the object and interests of the University.
Membership of the UNSW’s Council is as follows:
Ex-Officio Members
Mr David Gonski AC – Chancellor (to 13 October 2023)
Professor Ian Jacobs – President and Vice-Chancellor (to 31 January 2025)
Professor David Cohen – President of Academic Board (to 30 June 2021)
Appointed Members – Ministerial
Ms Jennifer Westacott AO (to 31 December 2023)
Dr Raji Ambikairajah (to 30 June 2024)
Appointed Members – Council
Dr Jennifer Alexander (to 30 June 2022)
Ms Maxine Brenner (to 30 June 2024)
Mr Matthew Grounds AM (to 30 June 2022)
Mr Mark Johnson (to 30 June 2022)
Mr Warwick Negus (to 30 June 2024)
Elected Members
Professor Kristy Muir – Academic Staff (to 30 June 2022)
Professor Louise Lutze-Mann – Academic Staff (to 30 June 2022)
Mr James Rogers – Professional Staff (to 30 June 2022)
Mr Jack Campbell – Undergraduate Student (to June 2022)
Mr Constantine Tsounis – Postgraduate Student (to June 2022)
Other Governing Bodies
Other Governing bodies within the University include:
Academic Board
Chair – Professor David Cohen
Audit Committee
Chair – Mr Mark Johnson
Finance and Strategy Committee
Chair – Mr Warwick Negus
Investment Sub-Committee (Finance and Strategy Sub-Committee)
Chair – Mr Rob Barry
Honorary Degrees Committee
Chair – Mr David Gonski AC, Chancellor
Remuneration and People Committee
Chair – Mr David Gonski AC, Chancellor
Risk Committee
Chair – Ms Maxine Brenner