UOW Chancellor Opposed Competitive Recruitment for Executive Role: ICAC Inquiry

The state's corruption watchdog has heard University of Wollongong's (UOW) chancellor opposed advertising a proposed executive role earmarked for the woman at the centre of allegations about biased recruiting.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) inquiry has been told UOW chief governance officer Alyssa White helped friends with their job applications and leaked interview questions.

Today it was told about plans for Ms White's position to be retitled to vice-president, strategy and executive affairs.

Remuneration for the role would be worth more than $388,000 a year, representing an increase of about $50,000 on her existing package.

The inquiry heard Chancellor Michael Still told the university's senior human resources executive "definitely not" when she raised the prospect of a competitive recruitment process for the position.

Chief people and culture officer Alison Bourke, whose concerns later formed part of a serious wrongdoing complaint and ICAC referral, got her chance to give evidence on day seven of the inquiry.

She told the inquiry she began taking contemporaneous file notes after becoming concerned about the proposal.

Her notes record Mr Still telling her "process prevents the right decision".

Ms Bourke said she was "shocked" by the situation.

"I knew the importance of restoring trust and transparency across the workforce.

"So I would have thought, like what we did with the vice-chancellor's process, that we would run a competitive, transparent process."

The inquiry heard Ms Bourke then briefed vice-chancellor John Dewar on the proposal, and he said he had not seen the paper and considered it a "very, very bad idea".

Ms Bourke will continue giving evidence tomorrow.

Poetry, art and the search for a VC

Earlier, a poetry collection launch, an art exhibition opening and a 20-year professional relationship framed the evidence of consultant Tanya Diesel, whose firm Aspiral won a contract at UOW.

The consultations occurred during a period of significant upheaval at the university, which was undertaking major workforce reductions and restructuring.

Ms Diesel told the inquiry she had known Mr Still since their time at Lendlease more than two decades ago.

The inquiry heard he later acted as a referee for Aspiral and regularly connected the firm with potential opportunities.

The business relationship involved coffee and meal catch-ups, she also invited Mr Still to the opening of her father's art exhibition at her home with other clients in attendance.

Counsel assisting the commissioner, Emma Bathurst, took Ms Diesel to an exchange following a parliamentary reception in 2024, where she texted Mr Still, "Here comes a renewed strategy for UOW," prompting the response, "I'm hoping you can help."

Not long afterwards, Ms Diesel was introduced to former chief governance officer Alyssa White, and discussions began that would lead to Aspiral's involvement in vice-chancellor recruitment work.

After being taken through messages praising Mr Still's "impeccable and deeply thoughtful leadership", Ms Diesel accepted unconscious influence "could be so", but rejected the term "unconscious bias", preferring to describe the risk as "positive transference".

Asked whether she accepted Mr Still's views influenced her work, Ms Diesel replied, "Yes."

Ms Diesel accepted Aspiral would have "listened and adjusted" after discussions with Mr Still and Ms White, describing that as the purpose of a draft document.

She rejected suggestions, however, that Mr Still dictated the final content of Aspiral's work.

She also confirmed neither she nor Aspiral were asked to make a conflict-of-interest declaration and none was provided.

In the final exchange, Ms Bathurst suggested there was at least a perceived conflict of interest arising from Mr Still's longstanding relationship with Ms Diesel and his desire for Aspiral to assist with the vice-chancellor recruitment process and broader university strategy.

Ms Diesel rejected that proposition.

Aspiral was paid about $49,000 for the first round of work and $74,450 for the second.

The ICAC inquiry continues.