Overview
- Michael Still announced his immediate resignation on Friday, removing the chancellor who had been scheduled to give evidence at the NSW ICAC public hearing next week.
- John Dewar told the commission he wanted his interim vice‑chancellor role to provide a benefit to his firm KordaMentha and admitted he forwarded UOW strategy and HR materials that gave the firm a modest advantage.
- UOW chief financial officer Matt Wright conceded he reviewed and returned internal financial and staffing figures to Dewar while KordaMentha was preparing its bid and said he did not realise at the time that the material could aid the tender.
- KordaMentha was engaged to review the university shortly after Dewar's appointment and that work expanded into contracts reported at about $3.8 million, including oversight of a restructure that led to hundreds of job losses.
- The ICAC's Operation Scandi public hearing is continuing and is also probing appointments linked to Aspirall and alleged subversion of recruitment by a former governance chief, with possible contract reviews, leadership changes, and governance reforms to follow.