Alumnus Geoff Allen AM appointed Member of the Order of Australia
Feb, 2009
Geoffrey David Allen AM, MBA 1969, Founder and Director of the Allen Consulting Group and Founder and Chairman of the Centre for Corporate Affairs was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2009 Australia Day Honours List.
Appointments to the Order of Australia confer the highest recognition for outstanding achievement and service. Geoffrey David Allen AM was recognised for service to business, particularly in the area of corporate public affairs, through a range of executive roles with professional organisations, and to the community.
The honour follows on from his 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award presented at the 2008 MBS Annual Alumni Dinner.
In making the Distinguished Alumni Award announcement, the President of the MBS Alumni Association, Vu Tien Vy, told guests that the Award is presented each year for professional and community achievement as well as contribution to Melbourne Business School. It was officially presented to Geoff by last year’s award winner John Ralph AC, who completed a management course at Mt. Eliza in 1964. The inaugural winner in 2006 was Margaret Jackson, MBA 1982.
The award recognizes the service Geoff Allen has given to his country, his government and his School.
On completion of his Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree at the University of Melbourne, Geoff began his career as a Federal Public Servant. Following the MBA, he was variously Private Secretary to the Minister for Labour & National Service, Senior Adviser to the Federal Treasurer and Senior Adviser to the Federal Leader of the Opposition.
From 1978-83 he was the Executive Director, Australian Industry Development Association (AIDA) and between 1983 and 1988 he was the Co-founder and Foundation Executive Director of the Business Council of Australia. He designed the structure and modus operandi of that body which was formed to give the business community a greater voice in public policy debates about the direction of Australian Society. From 1983-88 he played a major role in the tripartite (government-business-union) reform program under the Hawke Government and, through policy research at AIDA and MBS, he pioneered ‘research based advocacy’ in Australia.
In 1988 and 1990 respectively, he founded two important organizations: the Allen Consulting Group, specializing in economics and public policy, and the Centre for Corporate Public Affairs.
Geoff Allen AM has consulted on a range of major public affairs issues including corporate social responsibility, business-indigenous relations, the litigious society and business-community partnerships. He has undertaken several major projects for the Prime Minister and advised on business strategy and public policy at the highest levels of business and government. He has been the guest of the governments of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand for study and speaking tours, and a board member of the Brussels-based European Centre for Public Affairs.
Over the past ten years he has chaired the Australian Government’s Trade Policy Advisory Councils for which he received the Centenary Medal for services to International Trade Policy. He is currently Chairman of both the Australian Statistics Advisory Council and of the Centre for Corporate Public Affairs. He is also a Board member of the Victorian College of the Arts, the Centre for Social Impact and the European Centre for Public Affairs.
Geoff has served as a director of three public companies, Pasminco Ltd., Ausdoc Ltd. and Southern Cross Broadcasting (Australia) Ltd. and has been Vice President of the Melbourne Theatre Company Society, board member and Patron of the Children’s Protection Society and board member of the Potter Museum of Contemporary Art.
He has just been appointed Chairman of CEDA, the Committee for Economic Development of Australia.
Geoff Allen AM has made important contributions to Melbourne Business School.
He has been a Senior Research Fellow and Adjunct Professor and developed and taught the subjects ‘Social and Political Environment of Business’ and ‘Business-Government Relations’, pioneering these in Australia. His contribution to MBS demonstrates the symbiotic relationship between the Town and the Gown which has underpinned the success of the School.
He was President of the MBS Alumni Association for five years, has been a member of the MBS Board for eight years and is currently its Deputy Chairman.
The MBS community congratulates Geoffrey David Allen AM.
