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David Gonski

This Month

Adara founder Audette Exel.

Why this firm’s deal makers work for free

Ten years ago, Audette Exel persuaded some of the country’s top operators to donate their fees to charity. After raising $30 million, she is ready to expand.

There are many good reasons to reduce our reliance on oil.

Oil dependence is a security risk

Readers’ letters on the Liberals, super tax, Victorian gas policy, oil reserves and Middle East peace.

Fiona Hick has been appointed to the board of investment bank Barrenjoey.

Former Fortescue executive Fiona Hick to join Barrenjoey board

Despite early scepticism, the Barclays-backed investment bank has recut the local market, winning key mandates and building one of the largest research teams.

David Gonski says directors need strong professional support and mentoring: “I sometimes wonder who directors talk to when they are in a hole.”

How failed architect David Gonski became the chairman of everything

David Gonski has won the Lifetime Achievement Award winner in the inaugural Financial Review BOSS Director Awards.

May

Gonski rejects one-year term idea for directors

Receiving a Lifetime Achievement award at the BOSS Director Awards, David Gonski took the opportunity to do what he has always done: push for change.

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Meet the winners of the Financial Review BOSS Director Awards

The inaugural awards celebrate outstanding leadership in enhancing value for investors and strengthening governance.

April

Former AGNSW director Michael Brand and his deputy turned replacement Maud Page, pictured together in 2017.

Senior staff depart Art Gallery of NSW amid tension at the top

The chief operating officer and chief of staff have both left the institution following a change of directors.

Former US treasury secretary Janet Yellen.

Yellen and Hockey ride out Trump tariffs at Cafe Sydney

The former US treasury secretary was spotted lunching in Sydney as tariff news roiled global markets.

February

Roughly a third of students across all subjects and year levels are failing to meet NAPLAN proficiency.

How not to waste Gonski school funding

Additional federal money may unfortunately extend and expand inefficient and ineffective practices rather than lift the quality of teaching.

December 2024

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Dutton coy on nuke details; Qantas farewells Goyder; UK schooner row

Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.

Incoming Art Gallery Of NSW Trust president Michael Rose (left) and predecessor David Gonski.

The two things David Gonski will miss as he exits gallery role

The company director ranks getting consensus on the Archibald Prize as one of his toughest gigs, as he hands over the Art Gallery of NSW chairmanship after 16 years.

October 2024

Treasurer Jim Chalmers will introduce merger law reforms to parliament on Thursday.

Government has listened to concerns on merger law reform

The targeted and balanced merger bill will see most mergers approved faster, with more time to consider the contentious ones.

September 2024

Philip Lowe

Philip Lowe is Barrenjoey’s new inside man

The former RBA governor has joined the board of the bank he once lashed out at, putting them in a penalty box.

Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar from Atlassian.

Big business called an emergency. The hotel obliged.

No sooner had Business Council of Australia CEO Bran Black declared a national emergency than loud sirens began ringing 

August 2024

This year’s NAPLAN results make dismal reading as one in three students fail to reach national achievement benchmarks.

One in three pupils fails to meet baseline literacy, numeracy

The latest NAPLAN results also reveal a stubborn gap between test results of rich and poor children, highlighting the failure of schools to overcome disadvantage.

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July 2024

Time running out to fix school funding sticking point

Here we are, 12 years later, with at least one school generation having finished their education, and there’s still no needs-based Gonski funding for disadvantaged students.

June 2024

‘First draft fairy:’ How corporate lawyers are using game-changing AI

Legal eagles inside some of Australia’s best-known companies are training themselves to stay competitive in the AI era.

Laura Jones with her Archibald Prize-winning portrait of writer Tim Winton.

Portrait of ‘reluctant sitter’ Tim Winton wins Archibald Prize

Sydney artist Laura Jones has won the $100,000 award for her painting of the writer, who says he looks like he has “the weight of the world on his shoulders”.

December 2023

‘Like Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory’: higher education’s bad year

2023 started well enough but as we hobble to the end of the year vice chancellors are asking: “what the heck just happened”.

October 2023

David Gonski.

Gonski and Schott: Chalmers adds firepower to competition review

Highly regarded C-suite alumni Kerry Schott and David Gonski have been appointed to the expert panel advising Treasurer Jim Chalmers on competition.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/person/david-michael-gonski-2pd