Jim McDowell
Background
Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Jim McDowell completed a law degree with honours at the University of Warwick (England) in 1977. He worked in legal, commercial and marketing roles with aerospace company Bombardier Shorts for the next 18 years.
Aerospace
In 1996 McDowell left Bombardier Shorts and joined British Aerospace in their Singapore office. Three years later, following the merger of British Aerospace and Marconi Electronic Systems, he was appointed Regional Managing Director of BAE Systems for Asia,
In March 2001 he was appointed as Chief Executive of BAE Systems Australia. Under his leadership, the company expanded to become Australia’s largest defence firm, with more than 6,500 employees and annual sales of approximately AUD $1.7 billion.
He oversaw a significant expansion of BAE’s Australian operations and established the company’s headquarters in Adelaide, South Australia and ran operations from Adelaide until September 2011 when he was tasked to lead BAE Saudi Arabia. [1]
McDowell led operations in Saudi Arabian from September 2011 to December 2013 and led a workforce of more than 5000 with revenue of more than AUD $5 billion a year. [2]
He left BAE Systems Saudi Arabia in 2014 to return to Adelaide to devote the rest of his career to public service and education in the Australian Federal and State sectors and brings more than 35 years’ experience on the world stage in some of the most competitive industry sectors, aerospace and defence technologies.
Supporting Education Opportunities
In addition to his global experience in the private sector, McDowell has a background of supporting initiatives that help more people experience the transformational power of education and achievement.
He is a long-time supporter of continuing education and has a track record of encouraging lifelong learning through his various public roles.
He has acted in a number of roles, including as a member of the Defence Reserves Support Committee SA, a member of the Northern Economic Leaders Champions Group and as Chairman of the Australian Apprenticeships for the 21st Century Panel in 2011 that reported directly to the Minister for Education.
Chancellor
On 1 January 2016, McDowell brought his diverse and top level experience of business, education and strategic governance to the University of South Australia when he replaced Dr Ian Gould as Chancellor of the University.
Prior to his appointment as Chancellor of the University of South Australia in December 2015, McDowell had served on its Council (from 2007) and on its Business School Advisory Board (from 2010).
Governance Roles
McDowell possesses in-depth experience in corporate governance, currently serving as Chair on a range of boards including the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation [3] and Total Construction Pty Ltd.
He is a non-executive director of both Codan Ltd and Austal Ltd,[4] and across his high profile career has lived and worked in the United Kingdom, the USA, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
McDowell is also Chairman of the Air Warfare Destroyer Principals Council, and is a member of the First Principle Review of the Australian Department of Defence.
In 2015, McDowell was a member of the Expert Advisory Panel on the Future Submarine Competitive Evaluation Process, formed by the Australian Government. McDowell's contract was valued at $275,000 for 50 days' work and included travel expenses. Concern was expressed regarding the remuneration for the advisory panel members by independent senator Nick Xenophon.
References
- ↑ "BAE Systems Announces Leadership Change in Australia". www.baesystems.com. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
- ↑ UniSA. "Defence industry high-flyer UniSA’s new Chancellor". www.unisa.edu.au. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
- ↑ "New appointments at ANSTO". www.ansto.gov.au. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
- ↑ "Austal - Investors - Biography". investor.austal.com. Retrieved 2016-04-09.