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Brisbane Olympics president Andrew Levis is a good buy, Games accounts show

Brisbane Olympics president Andrew Liveris could command much more than he is paid to plan the 2032 Games.

Brisbane 3032 Olympic Committee chair Andrew Livoris. Picture: Evan Morgan
Brisbane 3032 Olympic Committee chair Andrew Livoris. Picture: Evan Morgan

Brisbane Olympics president Andrew Liveris has proved a bargain buy to head the 2032 Games’ preparations, with official accounts showing he is paid $165,000 annually.

The former Dow Chemical boss sits on the boards of some of the world’s biggest companies and would command appreci­ably more were he not personally invested in the Olympics job.

Darwin-born Mr Liveris attended the University of Queensland before making his name in corporate America, where he rose through the ranks at Dow to become its CEO and chair.

On top of the approved yearly fee to helm the Organising Committee of the Games, he received a further $51,058, OCOG’s inaugural 2021-23 report shows.

This would take in the extended reporting period.

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Total expenses for the Brisbane2032 set-up were $6.6m, including $1.6m in establishment costs and staff recruitment.

Wages for the small start-up team, comprising 13.5 full-time equivalent positions, was $2.5m while board allowances and costs came in at $1.4m.

Five meetings of the 22-strong board were held.

In June, OCOG received an advance of $15m from the International Olympic Committee on international broadcast fees for the 2023 Games.

In his president’s statement, Mr Liveris said: “We have spent much of the year educating ourselves, our Games delivery partners and the Queensland community on what it means to host an Olympic and Paralympic Games, the planning process and Games life cycle, and how we can work together to maximise the opportunities that they present.”

Brisbane 2032 Olympic Organising Committee CEO Cindy Hook.
Brisbane 2032 Olympic Organising Committee CEO Cindy Hook.

CEO Cindy Hook, paid $333,000 during the reporting period, said legacy planning was baked into the program and it was imperative the local community “sees the economic and social benefits both before and well after the Games”.

She continued: “Critical to our long-term success will be ensuring our planning remains centred around sport.”

Mr Liveris, 69, also holds directorships at Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil producer Aramco and US technology firm IBM, and chairs the board of electric carmaker Lucid Motors.

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/brisbane-olympics-president-andrew-levis-is-a-good-buy-games-accounts-show/news-story/cb39ec8a539ef78a7f4d8cb12ba7f817