Simon McKeon

Simon McKeon AOFAICD
McKeon in 2011
Chancellor ofMonash University
Incumbent
Assumed office January 2016
Preceded by	Alan Finkel
Chairman of theCSIRO
In office 28 June 2010 – 14 October 2015
Preceded by	John Stocker
Succeeded by	David Thodey
Personal details
Born	Simon Vincent McKeon (1955-12-19)19 December 1955 Dandenong,Victoria, Australia
Spouse(s)	Amanda Breidahl (1979–2011) Heather Forbes (2011–present)
Children	4 sons
Education	Bachelor of Commerce Bachelor of Laws
Alma mater	University of Melbourne
Occupation	Lawyer, businessman, philanthropist, sportsman

Simon Vincent McKeonAOFAICD(born 19 December 1955) is an Australian lawyer, businessman,philanthropist,and sportsman. He has been chancellor ofMonash University,and non-executive director ofRio Tinto,Spotless Group,andNational Australia Bank.He is retained byMacquarie BankMelbourne as a consultant and is a fellow of theAustralian Institute of Company Directors(FAICD). On 25 January 2011 he was named the 2011Australian of the Year.

Business

After completing a Bachelor of Commerce in 1976 and Bachelor of Laws in 1978, both at theUniversity of Melbourne,Simon McKeon practised law in Sydney withBlake Dawson Waldronbefore taking up a post with theMacquarie Bank,where he became theExecutive Chairman(Melbourne Office).He was Founding President of the statutory dispute resolution body for Australian public company takeovers, theAustralian Takeovers Panelfrom 1999– 2010. He was also the Chairman of software specialistMYOB LTD2006–2009.McKeon was chairman ofCSIROfrom June 2010 until 2015, replacingDr John Stocker.McKeon was appointed to the AMP Limited Board on 27 March 2013 and subsequently appointed Chairman of AMP on 8 May 2014, replacing Peter Mason. On 26 April 2016 he announced his intention to resign from the AMP board at the conclusion of the AGM in May.McKeon is a fellow of theAustralian Institute of Company Directors,and is a member of the AICD Chairman's Forum and is the inaugural President of the Australian banking industry's Review Panel for the Banking and Financing oath.He volunteered as a counsellor for heroin addicts at the First Step Clinic inSt Kilda.

Destruction of Juukan Gorge sacred site

McKeon was one of the Directors ofRio Tintoin May 2020 when the mining company deliberately destroyed theAustralian Aboriginal sacred siteatJuukan Gorge- the only inland site in Australia to show signs of continuous human occupation for over 46,000 years.

Following his role in the controversy and its aftermath, McKeon was promoted from Independent Director to Senior Independent Director, with an accompanying $80,000 pay rise.

Academia

In October 2015, it was announced that McKeon would succeed DrAlan Finkelas Chancellor ofMonash Universityin January 2016. He has been a part-time lecturer with Melbourne University'sMasters of Applied FinanceandMasters of Lawscourses and has been a member of the Advisory Board of the University's Centre for Energy and Resources Law. He served on the Campaign Board of the University of Melbourne from 2013 until 2015.

In October 2015, McKeon was conferred an honorary Doctorate of Public Health by La Trobe University.

Honours

On 25 January 2011, McKeon was named the 2011Australian of the Year.

On 11 June 2012, McKeon was named anOfficer of the Order of Australia(AO) for "distinguished service to business and commerce through leadership and advisory roles, and to the community as a supporter of national and international charitable, educational and sporting organisations."

In 2014, McKeon, along withHarry Messel,was awarded theAustralian Academy of Science'sAcademy Medal,which recognises scientific contributions other than research.