Ann Sherry AO
QUT's Chancellor Ann Sherry, AO is one of Australia's leading business executives with a career that spans Government, Banking and Cruise Tourism. She is an active philanthropist with a passion for improving opportunities and removing barriers for women in STEM and sport, and supporting opportunities for Indigenous Australians.
Ann is an Adviser, the former Chairman and was Chief Executive Officer of Carnival Australia for a decade. Carnival Australia is the largest cruise ship operator in the Australia/Pacific region. Ann has also held a number of other executive and non-executive positions at significant corporations and public sector bodies. She is currently a non-executive director of the National Australia Bank, non-executive Chair of the Enero Group, UNICEF Australia, the Port of Townsville, Federation Asset Management and the Chair of Queensland Airports Limited. She also holds current non-executive or advisory roles with Cape York Partnerships, Australia and New Zealand School of Government, The Climate Ready Initiative, and the Museum of Contemporary Art.
She began her working life as a Radiographer, before moving to work in public sector roles in the UK and Australia, progressing to First Assistant Secretary of the Office of the Status of Women between 1992 to 1994. She moved into the banking industry and between 1994 and 2007 held executive management positions within the Westpac Group in Australia and New Zealand (NZ), including CEO Bank of Melbourne and CEO Westpac NZ.
The Australian Government awarded Ann the Centenary Medal in 2001 and in 2004 she was awarded an Order of Australia. In 2015 Ann was named as the overall winner of the Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence Award.
Ms Sherry has a Graduate Diploma in Industrial Relations and Labour from QUT, 1980, a Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Queensland, 1977 and has been awarded Honorary Doctorates from the University of Sydney, University of Queensland and Macquarie University and was an Adjunct Professor, National Institute for Governance, University of Canberra, 2000 – 2003.
Ann Sherry, AO is QUT’s sixth chancellor, following Dr Xiaoling Liu (2019-2022), Tim Fairfax AC (2012-2019), Major General Peter Arnison AC (2004-2012), Dr Cherrell Hirst AO (1994-2004) and Victor Pullar AO (1989-1994).
The Chancellor term of office is five years - 22 August 2022 to 23 August 2027.