Another leadership role in the sector is up for grabs, as University of Wollongong Chancellor Michael Still fell on his sword on Friday, amidst ICAC investigations.
Mr Still will appear before the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) this week.
“In order to best serve the interests of the University, its staff and students, and to ensure that leadership renewal can occur without interruption, I have decided that I should resign from council effective immediately so that the next Chancellor can be sought,” Mr Still said.
The inquiry has heard a range of evidence over the past two weeks, relating to the appointment of Interim Vice-Chancellor John Dewar; consultancy work awarded to Mr Dewar’s firm KordaMentha and a consulting firm called Aspirall; and the role of former Chief Governance Officer and University Secretary Alyssa White.
Ms White resigned from her role at UoW two days before the Operation Scandi corruption hearings began.
UoW HR executive Alison Bourke told the inquiry last week that Mr Still had opposed advertising the new role for Ms White, despite the salary amounting to almost $400,000 per year.
Ms Bourke said she had advocated for the role to be advertised and subject to a competitive recruitment process and that she had felt she had a target on her back after resisting Ms White being directly appointed, circumventing the competitive process.
Among other lines of inquiry within Operation Scandi, ICAC is also investigating the manner in which KordaMentha was awarded work at around the time that Professor Dewar, a KordaMentha partner, was appointed Interim Vice-Chancellor, and also the context in which the Aspirall consultancy was awarded work.
Hearings resume this morning.