David Michael Gonski,
BComm, LLB, AC, is an outstanding Australian public figure and
businessman. The Sydney Morning Herald has described him as "one of
the country's best-connected businessmen" and dubbed him "Mr
Networks" for being "arguably Sydney's most networked
man".
David Gonski was born in
1953 in Cape Town, South Africa. His family migrated to Australia in
1961. He attended Sydney Grammar School and graduated with the degrees of
Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws (with the University Medal)
from the University of New South Wales. He practised as a solicitor with
the firm of Freehills from 1977 to 1986, becoming their youngest ever
partner at age 25, before leaving to co-found an investment bank. While
at Freehills, he taught Intellectual Property for the Faculty of Law at
the University of New South Wales.
The world of business and
finance derived great benefit from his high profile and innovative
leadership. Current positions include chairman both of Coca-Cola
Amatil Ltd and of Investec Bank (Australia) Limited, Director Singapore
Airlines Ltd and Consultant as well as Chair of the Advisory Board of
Transfield Holdings Pty Ltd. He has served on 40 boards and
recently was appointed by the Commonwealth Government as Chairman, Future
Fund Board of Guardians.
David
Gonski's horizons extend into the cultural and educational
spheres. Here too he has exerted a profound impact through
chairmanship and membership of Boards and Foundations devoted to
furthering the work of the Australia Council for the Arts, the Art
Gallery of NSW, the State Library of NSW, the Sydney Theatre Company and
the National Institute of Dramatic Art.
These attainments were
appropriately recognised when David Gonski was appointed an Officer of
the Order of Australia in 2002.
It is fitting that the
Rotary Club of Sydney should honour David Gonski with the 2012 Vocational
Service Award, particularly because embedded in his life as a family man
and public figure are ideals central to the Rotary movement.
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