Overview
- This week former chancellor Michael Still gave evidence to ICAC and denied he sought to secure the $388,000 vice‑president role for Alyssa White or improperly influence procurement.
- Documents shown at the hearing include texts and papers in which then chief governance officer Alyssa White drafted a position description, described the role as “my role,” and later resigned two days before the public hearings.
- ICAC exhibits show Still approved two small contracts for Aspirall Consulting by email and text and that those payments came from a $2 million council discretionary fund rather than through open tender as UOW policy requires for contracts over $20,000.
- The commission is examining whether interim vice‑chancellor John Dewar, then a KordaMentha partner, gave the firm a draft scope that resembled the university’s RFP and whether that contributed to about $3.8 million of later KordaMentha work.
- The inquiry is focused on whether these actions reflect individual misconduct or systemic governance failures at a university under financial strain after major revenue losses and workforce cuts in 2024–25, and more witnesses including Alyssa White are expected to be called.