Questions about how power was exercised at the University of Wollongong have taken centre stage at the opening of an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) inquiry.
The corruption watchdog is examining allegations of favouritism, conflicts of interest and failures in governance oversight.
The ICAC inquiry was today told a senior University of Wollongong (UOW) staff member subverted the institution’s recruitment processes to hire friends and former colleagues.
Counsel assisting the commissioner Emma Bathurst used her opening address to explain the investigation of three allegations.
They involved recruitment practices, contracts awarded to Aspirall Consulting International, and the management of conflicts of interest surrounding former interim vice-chancellor John Dewar and consulting firm KordaMentha.
Emma Bathurst during the opening day of ICAC’s Operation Scandi inquiry into governance at the University of Wollongong. (ABC News)
Recruitment network examined
It will be alleged that between 2023 and 2024, recruitment processes were manipulated to benefit associates of former chief governance officer Alyssa White.
Ms Bathurst said evidence was expected to show that shortly after taking up her role, Ms White “was the driver of the recruitment of various of her close friends and former associates” into governance positions at UOW.
The inquiry heard those recruits included a number of former colleagues from the University of Sydney, where Ms White had previously worked in governance roles.
Ms Bathurst told the inquiry there was “nothing problematic in and of itself” about recommending former colleagues for employment.
But she said the evidence was expected to show Ms White’s conduct “went well beyond that”.
The inquiry heard allegations that positions were created with specific candidates in mind, and that some received “preferential assistance” including help with position descriptions, resumes, cover letters and interview preparation.
The University of Wollongong is the subject of an ICAC inquiry examining recruitment practices, consultancy contracts and conflicts of interest. (ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale)
Ms Bathurst said the evidence was also expected to show Ms White frequently failed to comply with the university’s conflict of interest policy while serving on selection panels.
She said the inquiry heard university procedures required panel members to disclose close friendships and other conflicts of interest.
“In short,” Ms Bathurst told the inquiry, “the evidence is expected to show that the university’s recruitment processes were repeatedly subverted to benefit friends or associates of Ms White.“
“The number of occasions on which this occurred, at least 10 times, gives rise to concerns about whether the conduct was systemic.”
In one example, Ms Bathurst pointed to a message allegedly sent by Ms White after a number of appointments had been finalised.
She said Ms White wrote: “I’m so glad it was all sorted before Chrissy. Now I can plan for the new year knowing we have all guns blazing. Stacey and Jo have also signed”.
“This message is revealing and is just one of the many pieces of evidence which reveal Ms White’s objective: to stack the university’s governance and policy division with her friends and associates,”
Ms Bathurst said.
The inquiry is also examining consultancy work awarded to Aspirall Consulting International.
ICAC will investigate whether procurement processes were followed and whether chancellor Michael Still properly managed conflicts of interest relating to the engagements.
Consultancy contracts questioned
A third allegation concerns the appointment of Professor Dewar as interim vice-chancellor while he maintained an ongoing relationship with KordaMentha.
The inquiry heard KordaMentha was ultimately selected to undertake an enterprise-wide review of the university, with ICAC examining the procurement process and how potential conflicts of interest were managed.
Ms Bathurst said the enterprise-wide review tender was “initially … costed at approximately $300,000”.
The inquiry heard that after KordaMentha was engaged, “its mandate expanded” through the Future University of Wollongong Transformation Program.
“The total amount the university spent on KordaMentha during this time exceeded $3.7 million, including $835,090 from the council discretionary fund,”
Ms Bathurst said.
Ms Bathurst said the inquiry would also consider broader corruption prevention issues, and whether university governance systems were adequate to prevent a similar situation occurring in future.
The first week of hearings is expected to focus heavily on the recruitment allegations, with several current and former governance staff scheduled to give evidence.
Evidence from former chief governance officer Alyssa White, former chancellor Michael Still and former interim vice-chancellor John Dewar is expected to be heard later in the inquiry.
While none are listed on the witness schedule released for the opening week of hearings, Ms Bathurst identified all three as key figures in allegations the commission would examine.
The inquiry is continuing and set to run for three weeks.
