Why one university staff member was pretty confident about getting a $389,000 job
As University of Wollongong leaders discussed the creation of a new job to oversee the vice-chancellor’s office, one member of staff appeared confident of getting the $389,000-a-year job.
Chief executive officer Alyssa White allegedly told head of people and culture Alison Bourke: “That’ll be me” on January 25 last year.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption is investigating allegations that White subverted proper recruitment practices by sending interview questions in advance to friends and colleagues. It is also examining whether private consultants were improperly contracted to do work for the agency, among other allegations.
At Tuesday’s inquest, Bourke told how he was “shocked for a number of reasons” by White’s certainty. They expanded the perspective of creating a new executive position (the university announced a $95 million deficit in 2024) to the lack of a competitive process and legal risks for the institution.
“I said there are many considerations at play here, including the optics of creating a senior role, the extent to which any potential change triggers the obligation to consult, and so we need to consider this issue carefully,” he told White, according to notes of the conversation released at the hearing.
Bourke began taking notes of their conversations because he was aware of complaints from external whistleblowers about conflict of interest concerns regarding the recruitment of White’s friend from Eldserslie High School, Matthew Dawkins. These complaints were forwarded to ICAC.
According to his notes, Bourke discussed his business plan with White and expressed concerns about optics; White said Chancellor Michael Still and new vice chancellor Max Lu “insisted it was him.”
White tendered his resignation last Monday, two days before the corruption hearing began.
The notes stated that in a meeting with Still on January 31, 2025, Bourke outlined “legal, industrial and cultural issues and risks”. Still, he said they should be “happy to work with some level of risk” and not allow “timidity”.
Other released “file notes” show how two unnamed staff members warned him to “be careful”; “there is a history of those who raise concerns being viewed negatively or dismissed.”
Earlier in the day, the hearing heard chancellor Still had a history of being taken to Sydney Dance Society events, invited to the zoo, dinner and the launch of a book of poetry written by the head of a consultancy firm, and later signed contracts with two universities.
He resigned pending the outcome of the investigation.
Aspirall CEO Tanya Diesel said at the hearing Tuesday that she first met Still at work in 2004 and maintained what she called a professional relationship.
“Good morning, would you like to join the zoo trip to see the giraffes?” Messages from Diesel to Still.
After being shown numerous texts discussing social interactions, he said the two were business partners, not friends.
“He’s not my friend,” he said.
At one point the inquiry’s commissioner, Paul Lakatos SC, asked him how he defined friendship.
“He’s someone I look to for emotional support… They’re people I go on picnics and vacations with,” Diesel said.
He told the inquiry he received an invitation from the university to attend a farewell event at NSW Parliament House for the outgoing chancellor in early 2024, and months later Diesel was invited to meet White to discuss “a potential program of work for the university”.
Following that meeting, Diesel’s firm was paid $56,000 to conduct focus groups to determine the university’s “aspirations, challenges, and competencies of the next vice chancellor.”
Diesel said staff felt hopeless when describing the investigation in these focus groups.
“They were disappointed in the university’s ability to attract a strong, valuable, intelligent vice-chancellor. They didn’t seem to have their own responsibility to change the leadership or culture at the university,” he said.
The hearing had previously heard allegations that Aspirall was not selected for these roles using the university’s prescribed procurement policies and that the consultancy projects were funded using the university council’s $2 million discretionary fund.
Aspirall subsequently signed a contract to run a workshop for university council members and administrative staff. The hearing heard $74,450 was paid for it.
There was also the possibility of a $163,000 contract to handle another project, but that never materialized.
Diesel told the inquiry that he was never asked to make a conflict of interest declaration when awarding contracts.
He disagreed that there was a conflict of interest.
During questioning by Still’s attorney, Amelia Avery-Williams, he was asked about his first meeting with White, and she said he acknowledged “pitching” his firm to be hired by the university.
The investigation continues.
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