Bond University today announced that Dr Helen Nugent AO is the Chancellor Elect of Bond University. Dr Nugent will commence as the Chancellor on 22 May 2009.
“Carrying on the Bond tradition of identifying globally recognised business and community leaders, the Bond University Council has appointed a suitably eminent successor to Chancellor Trevor C Rowe AO DUniv,” said Bond University Vice Chancellor Professor Robert Stable.
“Dr Nugent’s wealth of commercial and academic expertise will complement Chancellor Rowe’s accomplishments over the last six years,” Professor Stable continued. “We thank him for his enormous contribution to making Bond University one of Australia’s leading universities.”
Dr Nugent is currently Company Director of Macquarie Bank, Origin Energy and Freehills, and the Chairman of Funds SA and Swiss Re Life & Health (Australia). In 2004, Dr Nugent was awarded Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) for services to business, particularly banking, in the areas of corporate governance, the arts and the community.
Dr Nugent’s appointment replaces incumbent Bond University Chancellor Rowe at the conclusion of his second and maximum term of Office under the Bond University Constitution.
“The Bond University Council is delighted to have attracted a Chancellor of Dr Nugent’s commercial and community standing,” said Chancellor Rowe.
“We look forward to the commencement of her term of Office,” he continued. “Bond University is Australia’s only private, not-for-profit, independent university. As an institution, we are Australian in character yet international in perspective. It has been a great privilege for me to serve as Chancellor for the past six years, working in close partnership with Bond University’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Robert Stable,” concluded Chancellor Rowe.
Prior to her prominent career as a Company Director before 1999, Dr Nugent was Director of Strategy at Westpac Banking Corporation and a Partner at McKinsey & Company. Dr Nugent was also a Professor in Management and Director of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program at the Australian Graduate School of Management at the University of New South Wales.
Dr Nugent has a prolific academic history. In 1978, she was awarded a Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Queensland. In 1982, she achieved a Master of Business Administration with Distinction from the Harvard Business School and in 1971, a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours, also from the University of Queensland. Dr Nugent was a Tutor and Senior Tutor at the University of Queensland from 1971 to 1980.
In addition, Dr Nugent has also had a number of University associations throughout her career including:
- President of the Harvard Business School Association of Victoria from 1988 to 1990;
- Director of the Harvard Business School Association of Victoria from 1984 to 1990;
- Member of Council, Monash University from 1987 to 1992 (Member of Finance Committee and Director of University Foundation);
- Member of the Advisory Council of the Australian Business School and prior to that, the AGSM, at the University of NSW, from 2004 to present; and
- Member of the Bradley Review into Higher Education, established by the Rudd Government, 2008.
Dr Nugent said “I am indeed honoured to be appointed the next Chancellor of Bond University. Chancellor Trevor Rowe has achieved so much over the past six years as a result of his strong engagement with business and government. His focus on excellence has provided a solid platform for the University’s future and I look forward to taking up the position of Chancellor during such a high point in Bond University’s history.”
“Chancellor Rowe’s contribution to Australian education has been inspiring,” Dr Nugent continued, “and I am committed to continuing his success.”