Business leader is new Deputy Chancellor

Appointments

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 last month. 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 and has held various senior positions with a number of major corporations. He was the Managing Director of Santos Limited for 16 years until his retirement in 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.

He was a Director of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia from 1991-2004, was a Director of Telstra Corporation Ltd from 1995-2000, and was Chairman of Austrade (the Australian Trade Commission) from 2001-2006. He was also a Member of the Business Council of Australia for nearly 20 years.

Mr Adler has played a vital role in South Australia's arts community, with roles including Chairman of the Board of the Art Gallery of South Australia, a member of the Board of Governors of the Adelaide Festival of Arts, and now Chairman of the Board of Governors, Chair of the Arts and Cultural Development Taskforce SA, a member of the Board of Governors of the State Theatre Company, and Deputy Chairman of the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

He 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 universities of Melbourne (Bachelor of Commerce), Columbia (Master of Business Administration) and 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.

Story by David Ellis