Institute of Advanced Studies

2011 Vincent Fairfax Oration -
Corporate Ethics: Are They Just in the Eye of the Beholder?

By Dr Michael Chaney AO

Michael Chaney graduated with Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Western Australia in 1972 and 1980 respectively. He completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 1992 and has also been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from The University of Western Australia.

After obtaining his Science degree, Mr Chaney worked for eight years as a petroleum geologist in Australia and the USA.  He joined the Australian Industry Development Corporation in 1980 as a corporate finance executive and became Manager for Western Australia in 1981. He joined Wesfarmers in 1983 as Company Secretary and Administration Manager, became Finance Director in 1984 and was appointed Managing Director in July 1992. He retired from that position in July 2005.

Mr Chaney is Chairman of the National Australia Bank Limited, Woodside Petroleum Limited and Gresham Partners Holdings Limited. He is Chancellor of the University of Western Australia, a member of the JPMorgan International Council and a Director of the Centre for Independent Studies. He lives in Perth and has four adult children. Mr Chaney was appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia in 2004 for services to business and the community.

2011 Vincent Fairfax Oration

The Vincent Fairfax Oration was established as way of engaging leaders from different sectors of society in discussion, debate and on-going conversations about ethics and leadership. The Oration focuses on ethics and leadership as they apply to topics of relevance to Australian society.

This is the inaugural Vincent Fairfax Oration, presented by The University of Western Australia in cooperation with the Centre for Ethical Leadership, Melbourne Business School at the University of Melbourne.

Sir Vincent Fairfax

Sir Vincent Fairfax served his country at war and peace, and was a leading member of the Australian business community, occupying leadership roles in many community organisations. Sir Vincent believed that senior leadership roles brought responsibility in one’s business life and to the broader community and that ethical leadership should not be left to chance but be developed.

Consistent with Sir Vincent’s beliefs, the Vincent Fairfax Ethics in Leadership Foundation supports the Vincent Fairfax Fellowship™.

27 June 2011