Old boy gives Sydney Uni $20m for new centre

SYDNEY University is to get a world-first project management education centre courtesy of old boy John Gill's record $20m donation.

John Grill and Michael Spence

SYDNEY University is to get a world-first project management education centre, with businessman John Grill agreeing to a record $20 million donation after 18 months' planning.

Mr Grill made the announcement yesterday after stepping down as chief executive of engineering services company WorleyParsons.

Mr Grill took science and engineering degrees at Sydney and was awarded an honorary doctorate in engineering in 2010. His gift was the second philanthropic coup for Sydney in as many years. Last year it realised $19.8m from the sale of a donated Picasso.

"I thought (a project management centre) would have the most value for the industries I have spent so much time in, and Australia generally," Mr Grill said yesterday.

"There is a great need in Australia and around the world for project leadership."

He cited a global study by industry firm Independent Project Analysis of 300 "megaprojects", 65 per cent of which failed to meet objectives.

Australian projects also had high failure rates in meeting schedule, cost and quality targets, Mr Grill said.

"Unfortunately, we don't have nearly enough leaders of projects in Australia," he said.

"Initially the group we will target are people mid-career. The aim will be to try to accelerate their careers in project leadership, to move them to the top jobs faster than is currently happening."

The centre would be a partnership between the faculty of engineering and information technologies and the business school.

"Australia is thinking hard about what a post-mining future might look like," business school dean Geoff Garrett said. "Project leadership is an area where (it) could be a global leader."

The Picasso proceeds took last year's philanthropic haul at Sydney to $79m. Mr Grill's contribution will boost this year's to between $75m and $80m.