Business leader is new Deputy Chancellor

Mr Ross Adler AO, Deputy Chancellor of the University of Adelaide
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Friday, 9 March 2007

South Australian business leader and arts patron Mr Ross Adler AO is the new Deputy Chancellor of the University of Adelaide.

Mr Adler succeeds wine industry leader Mr Brian Croser AO, whose term as a University Council member expired this week. Mr Croser was appointed to Council in 1998 and served as Deputy Chancellor for almost eight years.

"Brian Croser has contributed greatly to the University of Adelaide during his time on Council, and I thank him for his invaluable work over the past nine years," said the Chancellor, the Hon. John von Doussa QC.

"We are very lucky to have someone of the calibre of Ross Adler to take on the role of Deputy Chancellor, and I welcome him to the position.

"Ross is no stranger to the University's Council, having been a member of Council since 1998. He has played a key role in University governance ever since.

"His broad experience at the highest levels of business has already been of enormous benefit to the University, and he remains committed to helping the University succeed in all of its strategic aims. He is an asset to the University community."

Mr Adler has had an extremely successful career in business.

He was the Managing Director of Santos Limited for 16 years until his retirement in September 2000. In 2001 he acquired Amtrade International Pty Ltd and was appointed Chairman and CEO. He is currently Chairman of the Port Adelaide Maritime Corporation.

Mr Adler has held senior positions with Brown and Dureau Ltd and Australian Paper Manufacturers Ltd (now Amcor Ltd), was a Director and Chairman of the MFP Development Corporation and the MFP International Advisory Board, a Director of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia from 1991-2004, and was Chairman of Austrade (the Australian Trade Commission) from 2001-2006.

He was a Director of Telstra Corporation Ltd and from 1995-2000, was a former Presiding Member of the Selection Committee of the Australian Wheat Board and a former Chair and member of the Queensland Sugar Corporation Selection Committee.

Mr Adler was also a Member of the Business Council of Australia for nearly 20 years, a Member of the Board of the Australian Institute of Petroleum, a Member of the Corporations and Securities Panel, and a Member of the Board of Governors of the National Institute of Labour Studies.

Mr Adler has played a vital role in South Australia's arts community.

He was Chairman of the Board of the Art Gallery of South Australia for 10 years. He has also served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Adelaide Festival of Arts and is now Chairman of the Board of Governors. He has served as Chair of the Arts and Cultural Development Taskforce SA, as a member of the Board of Governors of the State Theatre Company, and as Deputy Chairman of the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

Mr Adler has served the University of Adelaide as Chair of the Graduate School of Management's Advisory Committee, and was Vice-Patron of the Alumni Association. He is the current Chair of the University's Finance Committee.

Mr Adler is a graduate of the University of Melbourne (Bachelor of Commerce), Columbia University (Master of Business Administration) in the United States, and the University of Adelaide (Master of Business Administration).

In 1999 he was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for service to business and commerce, to the promotion of the arts in South Australia, and to the community; and in 2001 he was awarded a Centenary Medal for outstanding service to Australia's international trade.

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