Tim Besley (public servant)

Morrish Alexander "Tim" Besley AC (born 14 March 1927) is an Australian engineer, businessman and former senior public servant. He was Chairman of the Commonwealth Bank between 1988 and 1999, and oversaw the company's privatisation.

Tim Besley

AC
Secretary of the Department of Business and Consumer Affairs
In office
8 November 1976 – 14 March 1982
Personal details
Born
Morrish Alexander Besley

(1927-03-14) 14 March 1927[1]
New Plymouth, New Zealand
Nationality Australian
Alma materUniversity of Auckland
Macquarie University
OccupationPublic servant, businessman, engineer

Life and career

In 1950, Besley migrated to Australia from New Zealand[1] for work as a Civil Engineer on the Snowy Mountains Scheme.[2]

Besley joined the Commonwealth Public Service in 1967, soon moving into the Department of External Territories.[2] Between 1973 and 1976 he was employed in the Treasury Department,[2] before being appointed to head the Department of Business and Consumer Affairs in 1976.[3] During his Secretary appointment he commenced a law degree at Macquarie University.[2]

Between 1988 and 1999, Besley was Chairman of the Commonwealth Bank Board, overseeing the privatisation of the bank.[4] From 1990 to 2001 he was Chairman of Leighton Holdings.[5]

In 2000, Besley was appointed the Chairman of an Independent Inquiry into Telecommunications Services.[6] The inquiry found services generally satisfactory, but identified that progress needed to be made in rural and remote areas before privatisation of Telstra could be considered.[7][8]

Awards

Besley was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2001 for service to Australian society in civil engineering and corporate governance.[9] He was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia in January 2002 for service to the community through the promotion of economic and social development, the advancement of science, innovation and education, and for distinction at the forefront of government and corporate responsibilities.[10]

References
  1. AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF TECHNOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING, ATSE 1975-2005 THE FIRST 30 YEARS. Retrieved 18 April 2015
  2. Engineers Australia, Ambassadors, archived from the original on 22 July 2012
  3. CA 1951: Department of Business and Consumer Affairs, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 18 February 2015
  4. Commonwealth Bank, Past leaders, Commonwealth Bank, archived from the original on 5 March 2013
  5. Leighton Holdings, Corporate History Table, Leighton Holdings, archived from the original on 18 February 2015
  6. "Communications inquiry head taciturn". Australian Broadcasting Commission. 20 March 2000. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015.
  7. Grattan, Michelle (27 May 2002). "Telstra sell-off divides Nats over level of rural services". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 20 September 2011.
  8. "Besley report outlines inadequacy of rural telecommunications". 12 October 2000. Archived from the original on 15 January 2005.
  9. "Search Australian Honours: BESLEY, Morrish Alexander, Centenary Medal", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 18 February 2015
  10. "Search Australian Honours: BESLEY, Morrish Alexander, Companion of the Order of Australia", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 18 February 2015
Government offices
Preceded by
Alan Carmody		 Secretary of the Department of Business and Consumer Affairs
1976 – 1982		 Succeeded by
Tom Hayes
Business positions
Preceded by
Brian Massy-Greene		 Chairman of the Commonwealth Bank Board
1988 – 1999		 Succeeded by
John Ralph
Preceded by
Stewart Wallis		 Chairman of Leighton Holdings
1990 – 2001		 Succeeded by
John Morschel
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