2009 Annual Alumni Dinner

The Annual Alumni Dinner is Melbourne Business School’s (MBS) flagship event for its global community. It is a highlight of the School’s social calendar and regularly attracts over 600 leaders of business, government and community sectors who travel from across Australia, and beyond. For decades the dinner has brought together alumni, friends and guests of the School.

In 2009, MBS is delighted to welcome keynote speaker Sir Rod Eddington, Chairman (Aust & NZ) of J.P. Morgan, Non-Executive Director, News Corporation and former Chief Executive Officer of British Airways to address this year’s theme ’Australia - the lucky country?’ 
 
Sir Rod will assess what he sees as Australia's strengths and weaknesses and discuss why he believes the nation has fared better than others during the global financial crisis. 
 
Has it been the quality of our people, institutions and education which has helped avoid the worst of the crisis, or have we simply been, once more, the ‘lucky country’? 

Educated as an engineer at the University of Western Australia and then Oxford University as WA’s 1974 Rhodes Scholar, he has demonstrated his acumen and expertise on the national, regional, and international stages.  Sir Rod’s career began in transport and aviation in 1979 when he joined the Swire Group and Cathay Pacific and went on to be CEO of Cathay Pacific, Ansett and British Airways, before retiring in late 2005 to return to Australia.

In 2005, Sir Rod was awarded a Knighthood by the British Government for services to civil aviation.  In December 2006, he completed a study for the British Government on the links between transport and the economy, before conducting in 2008 a similar investigation and report for the Victorian Government, the "East-West Link Needs Assessment" transport study.

Today, numerous companies benefit from his time and talents.  In addition to maintaining non-executive directorships with News Corporation, Rio Tinto plc, CLP (China Light & Power) Holdings and John Swire & Sons Pty Ltd, Sir Rod also serves as Chairman of Infrastructure Australia and Chairman of Victorian Major Events Company. 

It is particularly apt that Sir Rod is our keynote speaker as the dinner will also acknowledge and celebrate 20 years of the Rupert Murdoch Fellowships at MBS. Established in 1989 by News Limited to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of The Australian newspaper, the Fellowships support Australians with outstanding business and leadership potential to flourish in an exceptional educational environment. Many Rupert Murdoch Fellows have gone on to become leaders of industry throughout the world.

Previous speakers at the Annual Alumni Dinner include:

• Mr Richard Goyder, CEO, Wesfarmers;
• Mr Chip Goodyear, former CEO, BHP Billiton Limited;
• Rev Tim Costello, CEO, World Vision;
• Ms Dawn Robertson, former Managing Director, Myer Grace Bros;
• Mr Sol Trujillo, former CEO, Telstra; and
• General Peter Cosgrove AC MC, Former Chief of the Australian Defence Force.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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