Bond University Appoints New Chancellor
Dr Helen Nugent AO selected as eminent successor to Chancellor Trevor C Rowe AM.
2 March 2009
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 AM,” 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, Swiss Re Life & Health (Australia) and Hudson 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.”
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About Bond University:
Bond University is Australia’s leading private and independent university. Our mission is to
produce uniquely identifiable graduates who are leaders and thinkers, imbued with initiative, the
spirit of free enterprise and a continuing quest for intellectual inquiry, challenge and opportunity.
Bond University is a not-for-profit organisation which actively seeks to develop knowledge, both
within the Bond community and with the wider community we serve, through our educational,
professional and vocational programs. As a small institution, Bond is justifiably proud of its
educational ecosystem which provides excellent graduate outcomes and instils a passion for life
long learning.
Maintaining the lowest staff to student ratio of any Australian university, Bond provides an
innovative and personalised educational experience. We introduce our students to world class
opportunities through our alumni, business and government network to ensure that Bond
University students have the greatest chance to reach their potential.
Bond University is currently celebrating its 20th Anniversary.
Media contact:
Vivienne Dye
Public Relations Manager
Bond University
Phone: 07 5595 1116 or 0420 927 941
Email: vdye@bond.edu.au
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