University of Wollongong chancellor quits days ahead of ICAC appearance
Updated ,first published
The University of Wollongong’s former interim vice-chancellor told the corruption watchdog he “couldn’t remember” at least 19 times on Friday; The university’s president, Michael Still, announced his sudden resignation days before appearing before the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Dewar’s appointment and how the university managed a conflict of interest with KordaMentha, the consultancy firm in which he was a partner and which won business at the university, is a key part of the corruption watchdog’s investigation into the university.
Another issue is whether Still or other staff members improperly awarded the job to a consulting firm called Aspirall Consulting, and whether chief administrative officer and secretary Alyssa White, who herself resigned two days before the public hearing began, or any other UOW staff member “intentionally subverted hiring processes” to benefit White’s friends.
Earlier on Friday, Still, who will find himself in the crosshairs of the ICAC next week, announced he was stepping down from his post.
“In order to serve the best interests of the university, its staff and students, and to ensure that the renewal of leadership occurs without interruption, I have determined that I must resign from the council, effective immediately,” Still said.
On Friday, Dewar could not remember why he sent the documents to his personal address and then to his colleagues at KordaMentha (barred under the secondary employment provision); whether he attended certain meetings; or whether he wrote an email sent from his address under constant questioning from the lawyer assisting Emma Bathurst.
He had “completely forgotten” that Dewar had given feedback on the KordaMentha tender to the university, which was also banned under the secondary employment clause designed to prevent his role as vice-chancellor giving an advantage to KordaMentha, until Bathurst produced emails showing exactly this.
After admitting he had made changes to the document, Dewar said: “I think they were more cosmetic than anything else”.
He claimed that he ignored the clauses and assisted KordaMentha in its bid.
“This is not a very generous approach, the help I gave was minimal,” he replied.
On Thursday, Dewar said the university had pressured him to take the role, while Still said it was “very likely” his consulting firm would win the job.
KordaMentha won the job in July 2024.
