Ann Sherry AO
Ann is one of Australia's leading business executives with a career that spans government, banking and tourism. She is an active philanthropist with a focus on improving opportunities and removing barriers for women in STEM and sport, and supporting opportunities for Indigenous Australians.
Ann is the Chair of Queensland Airports Limited, Super Members Council of Australia and Circa Contemporary Circus. She is a Non-executive Director of National Australia Bank, Co-Chair of the Climate Leaders Coalition and a Member of Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. Ann has also held a number of other executive and non-executive positions at significant corporations and public sector bodies.
She began her working life as a radiographer, before moving to work in public sector roles in the UK and Australia, progressing to First Assistant Secretary of the Office of the Status of Women between 1992 to 1994. She moved into the banking industry and between 1994 and 2007 held executive management positions within the Westpac Group in Australia and New Zealand (NZ), including CEO Bank of Melbourne and CEO Westpac NZ.
The Australian Government awarded Ann the Centenary Medal in 2001 and in 2004 she was awarded an Order of Australia. In 2015 Ann was named as the overall winner of the Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence Award.
Ms Sherry has a Graduate Diploma in Industrial Relations and Labour from QUT, 1980, a Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Queensland, 1977 and has been awarded Honorary Doctorates from the University of Sydney, University of Queensland and Macquarie University and was an Adjunct Professor, National Institute for Governance, University of Canberra, 2000 - 2003.
Ann Sherry, AO is QUT's sixth chancellor, following Dr Xiaoling Liu (2019-2022), Tim Fairfax AC (2012-2019), Major General Peter Arnison AC (2004-2012), Dr Cherrell Hirst AO (1994-2004) and Victor Pullar AO (1989-1994).
The Chancellor term of office is five years - 22 August 2022 to 23 August 2027.