Ann Sherry AO installed as Queensland University of Technology’s sixth chancellor

A Queensland University of Technology alumni, high profile businesswoman and born and bred Queenslander was officially installed as the university’s sixth chancellor on Wednesday.

High-profile businesswoman and QUT alumna Ann Sherry AO who has been appointed QUT’s sixth Chancellor. Picture: Zak Simmonds

A born and bred Queenslander specialising in breaking down barriers for women and

Indigenous Australians was officially installed as the Queensland University of Technology’s sixth chancellor on Wednesday.

Ann Sherry – who has been in the top job since August after being elected to the position in May – was also previously Westpac New Zealand’s chief executive from 2002-2007, Carnival Australia chief executive from 2007-2015, and Infrastructure Victoria’s director from 2015-2022.

The chancellor has also been a UNICEF Australia chair since 2017, was the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia’s director from 2016-2022, and Rugby Australia’s director from 2012-2019.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk described Ms Sherry as “one of Australia’s leading business women”.

“Her success can be traced in part to the time she spent as a student at QUT – graduating in 1980 with a Diploma in Industrial Relations and Labour,” she said.
“In the early 90s, she served as First Assistant Secretary of the Office of the Status of Women in Canberra.”

Governor the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young (left) at the appointment to QUT chancellor of Ann Sherry (right). Picture: Zak Simmonds

Ms Sherry, 68, said the key word for her appointment would be ‘optimism’.

“The coming Olympic and Paralympic Games have placed us on the global stage for the next 10 years,” she said.

“Many of the athletes who will compete in 2032 are still at school, some of them will come through our doors and we will have the opportunity to nurture and prepare them not only for competition, but for their lives after sport.”

Ms Sherry believes QUT is shaking up the mainstream university system.

“QUT in particular is already on an exciting trajectory to transform itself with its students and its community,” she said.

“Bringing into the fold people who have not previously been involved in higher education – women in STEM, Indigenous Australians, and people who are the first in their communities to attend university.”

She said only two per cent of Australians held a university qualification in 1971, and most of those were men. By 1991, this had only improved to eight per cent.

Queensland University of Technology alumni Ann Sherry, AO, has been appointed as the university’s sixth Chancellor. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“My mother was one of the few women graduates of that time, even though she was just as qualified as my father – they were both pharmacists. She was very much the exception in her day,” Ms Sherry said.

Today, women aged between 25-44 are now more likely – 51 per cent to be exact – to have a university qualification than not. Fifty years ago, this was one per cent.

“I’m optimistic we can make the university experience in Australia truly universally available to all, and not restricted in any way by the factors that have screened out talent in the past – irrelevant things like race, gender, economic status, religion, disability or parentage,” Ms Sherry said.

Queensland Governor Dr Jeannette Young said Ms Sherry brought a wealth of experience in the public and private sectors.
“(She has) an absolutely formidable track record, particularly in removing barriers and improving opportunities for women and Indigenous Australians,” she said.

Originally published as Ann Sherry AO installed as Queensland University of Technology’s sixth chancellor