Professor Graeme Samuel AC

Professor Graeme Samuel AC is a Professor in Monash University’s Business School. He is also President of Dementia Australia, Chair of Australian Dementia Network Ltd (ADNet), Chair of Dementia Australia Research Foundation, Co-Chair of the National Network of Comprehensive Dementia Centres Steering Group, Chair of Quipex Pty Ltd and Chair of Airlines for Australia and New Zealand.

He was a member of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority’s (APRA) Panel to conduct a Prudential Inquiry into the culture, governance and accountability of Commonwealth Bank of Australia and was Chair of the panel which conducted a Capability Review of APRA. He recently conducted a review for the Commonwealth Government of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct. He also undertook an Independent Review commissioned by the Commonwealth Government of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

He was Chair of the Commonwealth Government’s Panel of Review of Australia’s Independent Medical Research Institutes and advisor to the Commonwealth Department of Health in relation to its review of private health insurance. He was also a member of the Review Panel of Australia’s Wool Selling Systems. In 2014 he completed a project as Independent Reviewer to advise the Victorian Government on economic regulation, governance and the efficient operation of the Victorian urban water sector.

After graduating with a Master of Laws at Monash University, Professor Samuel’s professional career commenced as a Partner of the law firm Phillips Fox & Masel (now DLA Piper) from 1972 to 1980. He then became Executive Director of Hill Samuel Australia Limited and subsequently Macquarie Bank Limited from 1981 to 1986 and co-founder of Grant Samuel & Associates in 1988.

In the early 1990’s, Professor Samuel moved into several roles in public service. The most notable of these was his membership of the National Competition Council from 1995 and Presidency of the Council from 1997 – 2003, followed by his appointment to the position of Chairman of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission in 2003 and subsequent appointment as an Associate Member of the Australian Communications and Media Authority in 2007, both of which positions he held until July 2011.

Professor Samuel has held a number of roles in public life including Chairman of the Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust, Commissioner of the Australian Football League, President of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chairman of Playbox Theatre Company and Opera Australia, Trustee of the Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust and Chairman of the Inner and Eastern Health Care Network.  He served for eight years (from 2011 to 2019) as a member of the ANU Council, and seven years as Chair of the ANU Finance Committee.

He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1998 and in 2010 he was elevated to a Companion of the Order of Australia "for eminent service to public administration through contributions in the area of economic reform and competition law, and to the community through leadership roles with sporting and cultural organisations".