Deputy Chancellor receives top honour

Tuesday, 12 June 2007

The University of Adelaide's Deputy Chancellor, Mr Ross Adler, has been awarded the Order of Australia Companion in the General Division, the highest honour in yesterday's Queen's Birthday Honours.

Mr Adler, already an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), became Deputy Chancellor in March this year. He has been a member of the University Council since 1998 and has played a key role in University governance during this time. He is also the current Chair of the University's Finance Committee.

Mr Adler's latest honour was awarded for service to business and commerce, particularly through the promotion of international trade and as a contributor to company and commercialisation development in Australia, to the community through administrative roles with educational institutions, and as a supporter of the arts.

Mr Adler has had an extremely successful career in business and has played a vital role in South Australia's arts community. After 16 years as the Managing Director of Santos Limited until his retirement in September 2000, in 2001 he acquired Amtrade International Pty Ltd and was appointed Chairman and CEO.

He is currently also Chairman of the Port Adelaide Maritime Corporation and Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Adelaide Festival of Arts.

Mr Adler has held senior positions with Brown and Dureau Ltd and Australian Paper Manufacturers Ltd (now Amcor Ltd), was a Director and Chairman of the MFP Development Corporation and the MFP International Advisory Board, a Director of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia from 1991-2004, and was Chairman of Austrade (the Australian Trade Commission) from 2001-2006.

He was a Director of Telstra Corporation Ltd and from 1995-2000, was a former Presiding Member of the Selection Committee of the Australian Wheat Board and a former Chair and member of the Queensland Sugar Corporation Selection Committee.

Mr Adler was also a Member of the Business Council of Australia for nearly 20 years, a Member of the Board of the Australian Institute of Petroleum, a Member of the Corporations and Securities Panel, and a Member of the Board of Governors of the National Institute of Labour Studies.

He was Chairman of the Board of the Art Gallery of South Australia for 10 years. He has served as Chair of the Arts and Cultural Development Taskforce SA, as a member of the Board of Governors of the State Theatre Company, and as Deputy Chairman of the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

Mr Adler has served the University of Adelaide as Chair of the Graduate School of Management's Advisory Committee, and was Vice-Patron of the Alumni Association.

Mr Adler is a graduate of the University of Melbourne (Bachelor of Commerce), Columbia University (Master of Business Administration) in the United States, and the University of Adelaide (Master of Business Administration).

In 1999 he was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for service to business and commerce, to the promotion of the arts in South Australia, and to the community; and in 2001 he was awarded a Centenary Medal for outstanding service to Australia's international trade.

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