Accomplished academic and corporate leaders to join Bond University Council

Bond University today announced the appointment of three directors to the University’s Council.

The new appointees—Mr Steven Sargent, Professor Kwong Lee Dow AM and Ms Lynda O’Grady—will join the Council on 1 February 2010 further enhancing the global academic and corporate expertise of Bond University’s governing body.

Steven Sargent is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Capital, Asia Pacific and Chief Executive Officer of GE Australia and New Zealand.

Professor Kwong Lee Dow AM is currently the Deputy Chair of Teaching Australia - The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership and was previously the Vice-Chancellor of The University of Melbourne.

Lynda O’Grady is the Managing Director of Advanced Management Services with a career history in senior executive roles for Telstra, Alcatel and Australian Consolidated Press. 

Bond University Chancellor, Dr Helen Nugent AO said, “Council is honoured to welcome these three exceptional academic and business leaders to our Bond University governing body. 

“These appointments reflect Bond University’s charter to continue to nurture executive level connections and community partnerships with the business community throughout Australia,” said Dr Nugent AO. 

Sargent, Dow and O’Grady will join the Chancellor and seven existing board members as long-standing director Professor Dennis Gibson AO, currently Chancellor of RMIT University, retires from Council after five years of service.

“I am grateful to Professor Gibson for his commitment to the Bond University community and the wealth of higher-education expertise that he has brought to our Council.  He will be greatly missed,” said Dr Nugent. 

BACKGROUND
Steve Sargent is a distinguished and long serving senior GE executive, who is President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Capital, Asia Pacific and Chief Executive Officer of GE Australia and New Zealand.  In July 2008, he became the only Australian ever to be appointed as Vice President and Officer of GE.  In addition, he is a member of the Federal Government’s Financial Sector Advisory Council; a member of the Business Council of Australia; and Chairman of the Redlands Foundation, the fundraising arm for SCECGS Redlands School in Sydney. 

Professor Kwong Lee Dow AM is currently Deputy Chair of Teaching Australia – The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership.  In 2004, he retired from The University of Melbourne as Vice Chancellor, having earlier been Deputy Vice Chancellor and prior to that Dean of Education.  He also served in 2006 as Vice Chancellor (Pro Tem) at the University of Ballarat.  Kwong is an experienced senior leader in the higher education sector with significant high level experience in Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong.

Lynda O’Grady is an accomplished senior executive with a strong consulting track record.  She is currently the Managing Director and Principal Consultant of Advanced Management Services, while serving on the Boards of Screen Queensland and Questacom. Previously, she was a senior executive with Telstra, Alcatel and Australian Consolidated Press.  An accountant by profession, who holds a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours from the University of Queensland, Lynda has significant expertise in information technology.