Prominent Australian business leader Dr Diane Smith-Gander AO was elected by the University’s Senate as Chancellor of the University of Western Australia for a three-year term commencing 1 January 2025.

Dr Smith-Gander has been associated with UWA for more than 50 years. She is an Adjunct Professor of Corporate Governance at the University, and was chair of the UWA Business School Board. The University awarded her an Honorary Doctorate in Economics in 2015. Outside the University she is Chair of Zip Co Limited, Perenti Limited, and HBF Health Limited.

A UWA alumna, Dr Smith-Gander is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Governance Institute of Australia, and a past Chair of the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia. Her distinguished career includes advocacy for gender equity, and she is past president of Chief Executive Women.

In recognition of her contributions to business and gender equality, Dr Smith-Gander was made an Officer in the Order of Australia in 2019 and was awarded the Business Award in the West Australian of the Year in 2018.