WiseTech continues Earn & Learn student mentor program as allegations mount against Richard White

WiseTech is pushing ahead with plans to encourage 100 students to join its Earn & Learn mentoring program as its founder and CEO Richard White battles sensational allegations.

Richard White, centre, with Earn & Learn program graduates. The program pays students the equivalent of $300,000 while studying and working at WiseTech.

WiseTech is pushing ahead with plans to encourage 100 students to join its Earn & Learn mentoring program, even as its billionaire founder and chief executive Richard White battles a string of sensational allegations.

The ASX-listed software giant is calling for applications to the much-praised program, which pays students the equivalent of $300,000 while studying and working at WiseTech, promising to “unlock your future” and “become a software developer straight out of school”.

The company is doubling last year’s intake, with applications closing on November 30.

WiseTech’s shares fell almost 20 per cent on Monday morning following more allegations involving Mr White’s personal life, prompting the board to issue a statement saying it was taking “external advice”.

Chairman Richard Dammery has been speaking with Mr White privately, urging him to take a leave of absence to give him time to sort out his personal life – but Mr White said last week that he wasn’t planning on going anywhere.

This is despite him stepping down from public duties as part of his role as a director of the Tech Council of Australia to ensure there were “no distractions from the important work the TCA is delivering”.

Mr White is alleged to have sought a sexual relationship with Sydney beauty entrepreneur Linda Rogan in exchange for investing in her company – allegations made in the Federal Court that are yet to be tested.

A second woman, Sydney-based Jenna Riches, came forward last week, telling The Australian that what started as a professional mentoring relationship with Mr White turned intimate. Mr White has declined to respond and this allegation is not the subject of legal proceedings.

WiseTech founder Richard White and wellness entrepreneur Linda Rogan. Picture: NewsWire

On Monday, there were further allegations in the media, prompting WiseTech’s board to issue a statement to the ASX. The company’s share price dived almost 20 per cent on Monday morning, before paring back some of those losses to trade 11.1 per cent lower at 12:30pm.

“The board is currently reviewing the full range of matters raised in today’s media reports and is actively seeking further information and taking external advice,” the company told the ASX.

“The board will continue to meet regularly to consider and monitor the situation, and keep the market updated in line with its continuous disclosure obligations.

“It is conscious of the potential impacts on the company and will carefully evaluate all relevant factors in its assessment.”

Mr White said last week that he had no intention of going anywhere, regarding his role at WiseTech.

“I remain fully committed and laser-focused on delivering WiseTech’s strategy,” Mr White said last Thursday.

“I have spent the last 30 years building WiseTech from the basement of my home into what today is a leading developer and provider of software solutions to the logistics execution industry globally. My commitment and focus over this period have been unwavering and continues to be so.

“I am driven and focused on the business and its growth and excited about the opportunities that WiseTech has, to continue to create value for our shareholders and customers.”

This includes his desire to encourage more workers into the tech sector and help Australia combat a chronic skills shortage.

Mr White said the Earn & Learn program offers an accelerated career progression and boosts diversity.

“Our core selection criteria is ability and talent,” Mr White said in August.

“But when you do that at a broad scale, like we’re doing here, you actually get quite a diverse mix. We have much higher female intake into this program than the universities are getting to into their programs. We’re essentially pretty much blind to this because we select on talent … and what comes in is by its nature very diverse.”

A Tech Council spokeswoman confirmed that Mr White had stepped down from public duties at the industry body.

“Richard White has made the decision to step aside from public commitments with the TCA while a personal matter is being resolved in court. This step is being taken to ensure that there are no distractions from the important work the TCA is delivering,” the spokeswoman said.

Originally published as WiseTech continues Earn & Learn student mentor program as allegations mount against Richard White