Alyssa White, the former chief governance officer at the University of Wollongong (UOW), appeared before the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on July 8, 2026, amid allegations of biased recruitment practices at the university.

White told the ICAC inquiry that she accepted the governance role to assist her alma mater, which had provided her with a commerce degree, a management cadetship, and the start of her career. She described UOW's governance systems as less "mature" compared to those at Sydney University, where she previously held a senior governance position and had reservations about leaving.

The inquiry heard accusations that White manipulated recruitment processes to favor "close friends and former associates," with some candidates receiving "preferential assistance" such as help with position descriptions, resumes, cover letters, and interview preparation. Concerns were also raised about White's involvement in creating a new $400,000-a-year executive position that she anticipated filling.

White noted that upon her arrival, she encountered highly manual processes and that "Wollongong had very good bones … there had been a period of time where nothing had been done in waiting for my arrival." Four days after signing her contract, she proposed a staffing restructure to then-deputy-vice-chancellor Sean Brawley.

During her testimony, White was asked to categorize individuals connected to her and her role in their employment at UOW.

Notable Quotes

  • White described encountering "highly manual processes when she arrived" and governance systems less mature than Sydney's.
  • She recalled a conversation: "He'd said to me, 'if you had that much money, how would you spend it?'"
  • White said upon leaving Sydney, she told colleagues, "if they wanted to work with her at Wollongong they should."
  • She also remarked, "I'd said, somewhat in jest, somewhat not in jest … if anyone wants a job working in the governance division of the University of Wollongong, you know where I'll be."
  • During questioning, it was noted, "You wanted to give Ms Wright confidence in the interview process, correct?"

White's testimony follows weeks of evidence scrutinizing her recruitment decisions, governance reforms, and the proposed executive role.

Sources