Board of Advisors

The University of Western Australia would like to acknowledge the following Members of the Board of Advisors, whose vision and commitment, have performed a vital role in the establishment of The University Club of Western Australia.

Chair of the Board

Tony Howarth AO

Members of the Board

Gaye McMath
Robert Farrelly
Shelda Debowski
Colin Campbell-Fraser
John Jory
June Jones AM 
Karen Brown
Geoff Hay
Mark Paganin
Heather Zampatti
Tracey Horton
Deirdre de Souza

Gaye McMath
Gaye McMath is Executive Director, Finance and Resources at The University of Western Australia and is responsible for Financial Services, Facilities Management, Human Resources, Information Services Technology and Venues Management, and Currie Hall (Hall of Residence).

Prior to her appointment, she held the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor (Resource Management) and Chief Financial Officer at Murdoch University. She was also a director on various University related companies associated with education, research and commercialisation of intellectual property and aged care.

Ms McMath was previously employed by BHP Billiton for 23 years in a wide range of senior financial, strategic planning and commercial management positions and was a BHP Billiton nominated director on various domestic and international boards.

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Melbourne and a Masters of Business Administration from Melbourne Business School. She is a Fellow of CPA Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Gaye is currently a Director of the Silver Chain Nursing Association, Home Building Society Ltd and the Western Australian Treasury Corporation.

Robert Farrelly
Director, Human Resources
Directorate

Shelda Debowski
Shelda holds a PhD from UWA in organisational learning and development, as well as a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Education and professional library qualifications.

Shelda Debowski holds the position of Director, Organisational and Staff Development Services at the University of Western Australia. As the Director she supports all members of the University. Shelda has a long history in universities, having previously worked as a business academic at Murdoch University and as a lecturer in library and information science at Edith Cowan University. While working at Murdoch University, she was extensively involved in research management at school, faculty and university level. Shelda has found the move across to organisational and staff development to be particularly interesting, given the need to meld “theory with practice”.

She has published widely in the field of learning and development including a recent book titled Knowledge management: A strategic management perspective through Wiley Press. Shelda also sits on the UWA University Extension Advisory Board, and is an active member of a number of professional societies. She was recently elected as the President of the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia Inc. (HERDSA), a national body which encourages the development of university staff and academic strategies.

Colin Campbell-Fraser
A graduate of UWA, Colin acquired extensive knowledge and experience in communications and marketing in both the private and public sectors.

As a senior journalist with an afternoon daily metropolitan newspaper he covered a wide range of interests including: environment, industrial relations and politics. From 1985 he accepted appointments with the State Government as media and policy adviser to various Ministers and Premiers. In 1993 he joined ABC Radio in Perth as a producer of morning current affairs.

Since joining UWA in 1996, as Director of Public Affairs, Colin has been actively involved in the University’s social and community life as a member of various committees.  He is a Member of UWA's Council of Convocation and a Board Member of the UWA Sport and Recreation Association.

As a committee member and President of University House (Inc.) he assisted in the development and the transition of Club members to the new University Club of WA.

John Jory
E/Prof John Jory
Senior Honorary Research Fellow
Classics and Ancient History

Dr June Jones AM
June Jones has a life time of dedication to education in Western Australia, in the government and private sectors, teaching at school and tertiary levels, establishing some of the first courses and services for principals and teachers responsible for children with specific learning disabilities. June has also served on many state curriculum boards.

Principal of St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls in Mosman Park for 18 years, Mrs Jones was recently honoured with the establishment of The June Jones Teaching and Learning Centre in recognition of her extraordinary contribution to the school.

In the Australian honour awards, Dr Jones was appointed as a member in the general Division of the Order of Australia, “for services to education in Western Australia particularly in relation to curriculum development and educational theory and practices at the secondary level, and to teacher education at the tertiary level.”

Dr Jones has a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Psychology and English from UWA and a Postgraduate degree in Clinical and Educational Psychology. In March 2007 she received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Education from the University of Western Australia.

She retired from the Senate in early 2006, having been a member since 1993. She is involved with national and state educational committees and continues her commitment to UWA as a Hackett Patron, and with membership of the UWA Development committee, the Press Advisory Board, the Centenary Planning Committee, the University Club Advisory Board and by chairing the Committee for the Centenary Trust for Women.

Karen Brown
Karen Brown has a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Diploma of Education from the University of Western Australia.

Karen Brown was appointed West Australian Editor of The Australian in February 2004. Prior to joining The Australian, Karen was the Deputy Editor (News and Staff Development) of The West Australian. During her 14 years at the local newspaper, Karen reported for the Inside Cover column, covered the Royal Commission into WA Inc and was the north-west bureau correspondent based in Karratha.

Karen returned to Perth at the height of the Mabo debate to cover Aboriginal Affairs. She then edited the education liftout, ED Magazine and the Saturday supplement Big Weekend before returning to the newsroom as the Deputy Chief of Staff. She was appointed Chief of Staff in 2001 and Deputy Editor in 2003 and served on the Australian Press Council.

Mark Paganin
Mark is a partner of the Australian law firm Clayton Utz, where he practises in corporate advisory and mergers and acquisitions. He is an Alumnus of The University of Western Australia having completed Law and Commerce degrees and was awarded a Full Blue by the University for achievements in sport. Mark has completed a three month executive management program at Harvard Business School and is a member of the Federal Government’s Takeovers Panel. He is Chairman of the W.A. Council of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (Finsia).

Heather Zampatti
Heather has more than 20 years experience in investment advice, providing investors with professional portfolio management. As Head of Wealth Management, Australia for Bell Potter Securities, Heather combines her strengths as an adviser with a leadership role to help Bell Potter achieve its goal of establishing itself as the nation’s most respected provider of wealth management advice and service. Heather is director of the Australian Institute of Management (WA) and Osteoporosis Australia. She lectures for the Australian Stock Exchange and the Securities Institute of Australia and gives many public seminars. Heather is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and has a Diploma of Financial Planning in addition to a Bachelor of Science from UWA.

Tracey Horton
With a career spanning the United States and Australia and roles with internationally-focused organisations, Dean of The University of Western Australia Business School, Tracey Horton has more than two decades experience in the fields of senior management, leadership and as an economist and business strategy advisor. Currently Chair of D'Orsogna, Board member of Edge Employment Solutions and Trustee of the West Australian Museum and a Governor of its Foundation, Tracey is a graduate of UWA who began her career in Sydney with the Reserve Bank of Australia.

Tracey completed her MBA at Stanford University in California, USA where she graduated as an Arjay Miller scholar, ranked in the top graduating students of her year. She spent several years based in San Francisco working for the international management consulting firm, Bain and Company, where she provided strategic and management advice to many international clients in the technology, retail and utility sectors, including Pacific Gas & Electric, Microsoft and Nike.

Tracey returned to Perth in 2000, as a Director at Poynton and Partners and GEM Consulting where her clients included Woodside, Alinta and Iluka Resources. She joined The University of Western Australia in early 2005. At the UWA Business School Tracey has developed closer relationships with business and government including building a strong Board and Fundraising Committee, overseeing the design and construction of a $45 million Business School building, establishing a successful fundraising campaign to invest in the future of the Business School and positioning the School to take advantage of new opportunities and growth.

Deirdre De Souza

Associate Director, Development
Office of Development