High-profile businesswoman and QUT alumna Ann Sherry AO has been appointed QUT’s sixth Chancellor.
Ms Sherry was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001 for providing disadvantaged communities with banking services and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2004 for her work to introduce corporate management policies and practices that address issues of gender, family life, and social justice. She was named Australia's most influential woman in the 2015 Australian Financial Review and Westpac 100 Women of Influence Awards.
Ann Sherry has held a number of executive and non-executive positions at significant corporations and public sector bodies. She is currently a non-executive director of the National Australia Bank, a director of Infrastructure Victoria, non-executive Chair of the Enero Group, UNICEF Australia, the Port of Townsville and Federation Asset Management. 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 career working 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. In 2007, she was appointed as CEO of Carnival Australia and then transitioned into the role of Executive Chair which she held until March 2019.
QUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Sheil AO said Ms Sherry brought diverse experience and strong Queensland connections combining her business acumen with empathy and a thorough understanding of the importance of higher education.
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.
Professor Sheil said Ms Sherry’s work to improve opportunities and remove barriers for women in STEM and with Indigenous Australians are interests that align strongly with QUTs purpose and strategy.
“I look forward to welcoming Ann Sherry back to Queensland and working with her to forge a bright future for the university and for the state.
"I also want to acknowledge the valuable contribution our current Chancellor, Dr Xiaoling Liu has made to QUT and the Council over the past two and half years.”
Ann Sherry AO will be installed as 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 term of office will be five years from 22 August 2022 to 23 August 2027. Deputy Chancellor Mr Peter Howes will be acting Chancellor in the interim.
Media contact:
Madeline Healy, QUT Media, 3138 3083 or m5.healy@qut.edu.au
After hours, 0407 585 901, media@qut.edu.au
CRICOS No.: 00213J
