Wollongong chancellor steps down amid corruption investigation

University of Wollongong (UOW) chancellor Michael Still has stood aside pending an investigation by the New South Wales (NSW) corruption watchdog.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is investigating Still, along with chief governance officer Alyssa White and other UOW staff and contractors, over the awarding of contracts to two consultancies.

The agency is also investigating whether Still or any other UOW figures failed to manage the “conflict of interest” in the recruitment of academic administrator John Dewar as interim vice-chancellor at Wollongong. Dewar is a partner with consultants KordaMentha, which – following his appointment – received a A$2.9 million (£1.5 million) contract to advise on a Wollongong restructure.

UOW’s council said it respected Still’s decision, which had been made in the interests of the university community. Council member Greg West has been appointed acting chancellor.

In December, Still told a NSW parliamentary committee that there had been “no conflict” in the engagement of KordaMentha, because Dewar had “stepped back from any employment” there.

The company had been hired through a strictly conducted tender process and Dewar “was not allowed to have any engagement” with the consultants.

Still said he did not know whether Dewar had benefited from the contract, as he remained a business partner at KordaMentha. The chancellor also had “no idea” why the university’s public disclosure of the value its contracts with consultants Nous had changed twice over the course of six months, from under A$257,000 to A$1.03 million and then to over A$150,000.

The committee heard that the council’s finance and infrastructure committee, which Still chairs, had obtained delegation to spend up to A$2 million on the approval of Still and a deputy chancellor. And Still said he was “very surprised” to hear that he had racked up expenses of A$294,000 over 18 months, including A$62,000 on an installation ceremony – the first such event conducted at the university for 49 years.

“I spend absolutely as little as I can,” Still told the committee. “I drive my own car. I pay my own expenses.”

Meanwhile, a Senate estimates committee has heard that an inquiry by former public servant Vivienne Thom made five “adverse findings” that Australian National University (ANU) council members may have broken the university’s code of conduct. The university told the committee that it was not taking action as the members in question had left the council.

Thom had been commissioned to inquire into claims from Liz Allen, a former staff-elected member of the council, that she had been bullied to the verge of suicide. The university said a redacted version of the report had been given to Allen and the ombudsman, but would not be released publicly.

The committee heard that the university’s response to a question on notice about the investigation, approved by then chancellor Julie Bishop, had described Allen’s testimony as “false and defamatory” even though the university was still investigating the allegations.

The university is also not releasing a report into claims that former ANU vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell appointed a media photographer with no university qualifications as a full professor, against the recommendations of the university’s promotions committee.

The report, by former Deakin University vice-chancellor Jane den Hollander, was given to council members on 2 June – around a month after media reported that Bell had been cleared, and well after Bishop had sent Bell a copy of the report. “All of this is pretty unusual,” acting chancellor Andrew Metcalfe told the committee. “The council is now considering the material that’s been provided to it.”

Another report on ANU governance, by former Australian public service commissioner Lynelle Briggs, is also not being released. Mary Russell, CEO of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, said publication of any part of the Briggs report would “prejudice” regulatory action against the university.

john.ross@timeshighereducation.com