11 April 2017

Media release | Maureen Dougherty and Greg Medcraft join Centre Board

The United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney is pleased to announce the appointment of Maureen Dougherty and Greg Medcraft to its Board of Directors. Ms Dougherty and Mr Medcraft will replace outgoing board members the Hon. John Brumby, AO and Joe Skrzynski, AO.

Ms Dougherty is president of Boeing Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific. She is also chairperson of The American Chamber of Commerce in Australia and a member of the Business Council of Australia. She earned her Master’s degree in engineering from the University of Washington, where she studied as a Boeing Company Systems Engineering Fellow. She received her undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Pennsylvania State University.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with the USSC since 2014 and it’s a real honour to now take on a formal role with its Board and help guide this critically-important institution dedicated to the US-Australia relationship,” Ms Dougherty said.

Mr Medcraft was appointed ASIC Chairman on 13 May 2011 for a five-year term. His term was extended for a further 18 months from 13 May 2016. He joined as ASIC Commissioner in February 2009. Prior to ASIC, Mr Medcraft was CEO and Executive Director at the Australian Securitisation Forum (ASF). He spent nearly 30 years in investment banking at Société Générale in Australia, Asia, Europe and the Americas. More recently, he was the Managing Director and Global Head of Securitisation, based in New York. Mr Medcraft was recently appointed as a director of the Salzburg Global Seminar – the first Australian to be appointed to the board.

"The United States Studies Centre plays an important role in deepening the understanding of the United States in Australia and strengthening the relationship between both countries, through research, teaching and outreach to the community. I am delighted to be appointed to its board and look forward to contributing to its work," Mr Medcraft said.

Chairman of the USSC Board, Mark Baillie, said Ms Dougherty and Mr Medcraft's rich set of accomplishments and insights would bring added depth to the Centre's Board. He also thanked Mr Brumby and Mr Skrzynski for their considerable service as directors.

"Both John and Joe have been invaluable to the Centre as it has grown to become the pre-eminent voice on Australia-US relations in the past few years. The Board thanks them for their service and wishes them well in all future endeavours," Mr Baillie said.

Centre CEO Simon Jackman congratulated Ms Dougherty and Mr Medcraft on their appointment.

"Maureen and Greg's professional experiences will be of benefit in conveying the importance of the Australian-US economic relationship to Australian business leaders. This greatly supports the Centre's mission of engagement," Professor Jackman said.