Scotch College

Chairman David Crawford awarded AO

‘For service to business as a director of public companies, to sport, particularly through the review and restructure of national sporting bodies, and to the community through contributions to arts and educational organisations.’

Words: Mr Tim Shearer Photography: Ms Kathryn Cairney

The saying ‘if you have a job that needs doing, then give it to a busy person’ is more than appropriate when it comes to our Chairman David Crawford. The School Community was delighted to learn that David’s extensive service to business, sport and the community had been recognised with his appointment as an Officer of The Order of Australia (AO) in the most recent Queen’s Birthday honors. David was also one of the select group of Australians who was awarded a centenary medal in 2003.

David has had an extensive involvement with Scotch since commencing in Year 7 in 1956. In his final year at Scotch, in 1962, he was a prefect, a member of the 1st XI and 1st XVIII and a Troop Leader in the Scouts. After Scotch, he was a resident at Ormond College and completed commerce and law degrees at The University of Melbourne. He played cricket, football and tennis for these particular Old Scotch Clubs, and served on the OSCA Council for many years, being President of the Association in 1987. He and his father, Frank (’25), together with Mac Wilson (’28) and Rob Wilson (’66), are the only father’s and son’s to have had this distinction.

David has had extensive experience in the areas of risk management and business reorganisations and has acted as a Consultant, Scheme Manager, Receiver Manager and Liquidator to a variety of companies. David also was Australian National Chairman of KPMG, Chartered Accountants from 1998 to 2001. He currently is on the board of BHP Billiton (since 1994), Chairman of Lend Lease Corporation Limited (since May 2003), Chairman of Foster’s Group Limited (since November 2007) and is a former Director of Westpac Banking Corporation (from May 2002 to December 2007) and former Chairman of National Foods Limited.

David also has a close association with sport. He has been on the committee of the Melbourne Cricket Club since 1999 and was appointed Vice-President earlier this year. He is recognised for reviewing and restructuring various sports, including the Australian Football League, soccer in Australia and thoroughbred racing in Victoria. These particular sports are now the beneficiaries of his meticulous review processes, encompassing aspects such as structure, governance and performance. The AFL is in a very strong position domestically, whilst Soccer Australia is now respected internationally, with the Socceroos again reaching the World Cup finals in 2010.

Somehow David also managed to find time to support the community and the arts. He was on the board of the Australian Ballet for 14 years and chairman for 6 years from 2003 until 2008. David served on the Council of The University of Melbourne from 1999 to 2004 and has served his old school with great distinction as a Councilor from 1991 and Chairman since 2007.

The Scotch Family salutes David for the outstanding contribution that he has made to many different people and organizations over many years, and we recognise the wonderful support that his wife Maureen and his family have been to him. We look forward to watching his career progress in the years to come, and thank him for his continued leadership of Scotch. GS