Bond University Trustee Jack Cowin, who fosters links between the University and his birth country Canada, has been made a Member of the Order of Australia in the King’s Birthday Honours.
The honour was bestowed for significant service to business, and to philanthropic support.
Mr Cowin supports the Cowin Scholarship Program and each year a group of Bond University students are selected to study for a semester at Western University where Mr Cowin is an alumnus and former Chancellor.
Mr Cowin also supports exchanges of Bond and Western University academics.
Mr Cowin arrived in Australia in 1968 seeking business opportunities and sensed the country was ripe for North American-style fast food restaurants.
With the support of 30 Canadians who invested $10,000 each, Cowin opened a KFC franchise in Perth in 1969.
In the decades since he built the Hungry Jack's chain and is also chairman and a major shareholder in Domino's Pizza.