Former University of Wollongong (UOW) chancellor Michael Still has told the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) that he did not connect discussions with incoming vice-chancellor John Dewar to conflict-of-interest concerns involving the consulting firm KordaMentha.
The ICAC inquiry revealed that a review of UOW operations conducted by KordaMentha evolved into consultancy contracts worth approximately $3.8 million. Much of the investigation focused on whether Professor Dewar's participation in discussions about the review, while still a partner at KordaMentha, gave the firm an unfair advantage.
Mr Still repeatedly rejected this proposition, despite being presented with legal advice cautioning that the vice-chancellor appointment process and any future consulting work should remain separate. He also denied claims that Professor Dewar suggested a broader, university-wide diagnostic review, stating he had proposed the idea months before Dewar's involvement.
Counsel assisting the commission, Emma Bathurst, argued that if university legal advisers had known about Professor Dewar's input on the review's scope, they would have found it "highly problematic."
The inquiry further heard that Mr Still introduced KordaMentha to the university, stayed involved in discussions about its work, and supported proposals that were later presented to the UOW council.
Commissioner Paul Lakatos questioned Mr Still during the ICAC proceedings regarding the handling of consultancy contracts and potential conflicts of interest.
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