David Michael Gonski, AC (born 1953) is an Australian public figure and businessman. The Sydney Morning Herald has described him as "one of the country's best-connected businessmen".[1]
David Gonski was born in 1953 in Cape Town, South Africa. His family migrated to Australia in 1961. He attended Sydney Grammar School and graduated with the degrees of Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws from the University of New South Wales. He practised as a solicitor with the firm of Freehills from 1977 to 1986, becoming their youngest ever partner at age 25, before leaving to co-found an investment bank.
Current positions held include:
Business:
- Chair, Investec Bank (Australia) Ltd
- Chair, Coca-Cola Amatil
- Director, Westfield Group
- Director, ING Group
- Director, Singapore Airlines
- Chair, Australian Stock Exchange.
Other:
- Chancellor, University of New South Wales, from 2005[2]. David Gonski is the first person to hold the position of Chancellor at UNSW who is also an alumnus of the University.
- Chair, Board of Trustees, Sydney Grammar School, from 2003
- President of the Board of Trustees, Art Gallery of New South Wales, from 1997
- Chair, National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA).
- Chair, National e-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA)
Previous positions held include:
- Chair, Australia Council for the Arts, 2002-2006.[3]
- Director, John Fairfax Holdings, 1993-2005.
- Director, ANZ 2001-2007.
Gonski was appointed as a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2007.[4] In 2002 Gonski had been appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for service to the community through Australian visual and performing arts organisations, through the development of government policy, and through the promotion of corporate sponsorship for the arts and for charitable organisations.[5] He received the Centenary Medal in 2003.
Gonski was a close friend and advisor to the late media baron Kerry Packer. Together with Lloyd Williams he is executor of Packer's estate. While he provided advice to Packer, Gonski was also a director of the Packer's media competitor Fairfax.[6]
References
- ^ "The Top 100 2008: Sydney's Most Influential People",The Sydney Magazine, Issue 69, January 2009, p 62.
- ^ - UNSW Home - Chancellor Exhibition, University of New South Wales
- ^ Queen's Birthday Honours to 524 Australians, transcript, 11 June 2007, The World Today, ABC Radio, abc.net.au
- ^ It's an Honour - Companion of the Order of Australia
- ^ It's an Honour - Officer of the Order of Australia
- ^ "David Gonski retires as a director of the company". Press Release (John Fairfax Holdings Limited). 2005-04-08. http://www.fxj.com.au/announcements/apr05/221109.pdf. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
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