Job applicants got interview questions in advance, commission told
A former University of Wollongong administrator repeatedly helped friends and colleagues find lucrative jobs by reviewing their CVs and providing them with interview questions and answers, a corruption hearing has alleged.
Monday’s Independent Anti-Corruption Commission investigation heard that the university’s chief administrative officer, Alyssa White, gave jobs to high school friends and other associates on at least 10 occasions.
“The evidence is expected to show that Ms White created a variety of positions, including highly paid roles, that she intended to be filled by friends and colleagues,” said the barrister assisting Emma Bathurst in her opening statement into the corruption watchdog’s Operation Scandi investigation.
The three-week trial also is investigating whether White, university president Michael Still or other staff members improperly awarded tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of consulting work to a firm called Aspirall Consulting.
Additionally, it will be investigated whether staff managed a conflict of interest related to the hiring of Professor John Dewar (who was paid $1 million a year in the role) as interim vice-chancellor and the University’s simultaneous engagement with consultancy KordaMentha, of which he was also a business partner.
The investigation also heard allegations that White sought to create a new role in January 2025 that would give him the title of vice president (strategy and administration) and a salary of $388,000, $50,000 more than he was earning at the time.
When it came to allegations of improper recruitment, the barrister assisting Emma Bathurst alleged that White had established a social relationship with her assistant colleague at the University of Sydney, Lucinda Wright, and that the pair had met for drinks, exchanged gifts and discussed personal matters.
White allegedly helped Wright find a job at the University of Wollongong in 2023 after preparing interview questions (which he shared with Wright in advance) and editing his cover letter and CV. White also appeared on the interview panel but did not disclose any personal relationships outside of work.
The commission heard numerous other examples of former University of Sydney colleagues being offered jobs.
“Ms White did not disclose her previous friendship or the extent of her relationship with many, if not all, of these individuals,” Bathurst told the inquiry.
The university recorded a deficit of $95 million in 2024.
The corruption inquiry heard White started his term in 2023 and tendered his resignation on Saturday.
The inquest’s opening statement detailed how former colleague Brendan Hooke got a job at the University of Wollongong and how White texted him and said: “I’m so glad this was sorted out before Chrissy.” [Christmas]. “Now I can plan for the year knowing we have all guns blazing.”
Bathurst said: “This message is revealing and is just one of many pieces of evidence that demonstrate Ms White’s aim to bring together the University’s Department of Governance with her friends and partners.”
White is also alleged to have employed other friends who were not working in management, including his former Elderslie High School classmate Matthew Dawkins. The inquest heard he sent her a link to a job advert for a senior academic administration specialist on Facebook Messenger.
He previously worked in various electrician-related positions. He had no experience in university administration. Many other candidates with more experience in this field were not interviewed.
He told Dawkins: “I want to make it clear that we didn’t know each other when you started, or you knew me because I worked in orientation here. Fix that a little bit because that’s how I’m going to introduce you to the team.” He was eventually given a job as policy coordinator.
White also allegedly encouraged Kayla Powell, whom he knew from high school, to apply for the job. White also did yoga and played netball with her.
“The two also corresponded about the most appropriate days and times for an interview, which referees Ms. Powell should use, and how Ms. Powell should prepare for the interview, including Ms. White presenting Ms. Powell with suggested interview questions,” the inquest said.
Lucinda Wright took the witness stand on Monday afternoon and said she had developed a relationship outside of work with her superior, Alyssa White, while she was working at the University of Sydney.
“We definitely developed a friendship,” he said.
He was quizzed about how he helped White write a cover letter for the job in Wollongong.
Asked by Commissioner Paul Lakatos SC whether he considered the interview questions fair to other applicants for the position, Wright replied: “I don’t think I can answer that question.”
He said White gave him some questions that would be “helpful for preparation.”
He was then shown emails consisting of “draft Questions” and draft answers. He said that it was advantageous, “there may have been a risk”.
The hearing will continue tomorrow.
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