Brian Leedman

BEc, 1994; MBA, 2001

Seven biotech ventures. Relentless entrepreneur.

What is your fondest memory from your time during your MBA?  

My fondest memory was being called into Professor Geoff Soutar’s office prior to commencing my twelfth unit, Strategic Management and being told that the GSM was introducing the 12-unit MBA and that this could be my final unit even though I had enrolled in the 16-unit MBA. Despite recommending that I complete the newly termed Advanced MBA I was keen to graduate and move onto my next career chapter. Don’t misunderstand me, I enjoyed my time at the GSM but working full-time at Westpac as a Senior Marketing Manager and studying at night was very hard. On reflection, I appreciate this accomplishment more so now than I did at the time.

What is your greatest accomplishment in your career?

Following graduation I became the Head of Marketing at Ernst & Young in WA, a role that I credit to having completed the MBA. Five years later I joined an ASX, NASDAQ and Frankfurt exchange listed biotech company pSivida Limited and over the next ten years became Vice President and travelled the world extensively. I went on to found or co-found seven ASX listed healthcare/biotech companies including ResApp Health that I sold to Pfizer, the only time thus far an Australian company has been acquired by the pharmaceutical giant. This I consider my greatest achievement – thus far.

What does being a UWA MBA graduate mean to you today?

I am incredibly proud of my UWA MBA degree and encouraged my son to study Commerce at UWA where he now a second-year student. I am still involved through the Graduate Management Association where I served as President and bestowed the Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award. I also remain connected through giving occasional Masterclass lectures to current MBA students that I thoroughly enjoy.

Katharine Giles

MBBS, 2002; MBA 2007

Investor life sciences. Leader cancer imaging.

What is your fondest memory from your time during your MBA?

Definitely the friendships I built during the program. Balancing work, study and life was challenging, and the support of that community made a huge difference. Another defining moment was a guest lecture where I met Rob Newman, who would later become my employer and a lifelong mentor. It was a reminder that the MBA experience extends far beyond the classroom and can truly shape your career.

What is your greatest accomplishment in your career?

My greatest accomplishment has been helping translate world-class science from The University of Western Australia into a clinical product that is now guiding cancer surgery. Through OncoRes Medical, we are turning cutting-edge research into technology that supports surgeons and improves outcomes for patients. It has also been incredibly rewarding to build an exceptional team here in Western Australia (many of whom are UWA graduates) who are passionate about bringing transformative innovation to patients and clinicians.

Being a UWA MBA graduate means being part of a community that continues to shape my career. I would not have achieved what I have without my degrees from UWA. Today that relationship has grown into a strong partnership, from the original technology being developed at UWA, to research grants and collaboration, the talented staff we employ, and recent investment from the University. It’s a partnership I hope will help change the way cancer surgery is performed around the world.

Dr Susan Gay Saunders

MBA '77

Solar energy pioneer. Built world-class renewable technology.

What is your fondest memory from your time during your MBA?  

1. Dr Geoff Souter teaching me statistics and marketing

2. Riding through the birth of my second son, at end of 2nd semester 1974.

At the 6:30pm lecture the following conversation occurred.  (As told to me.)

Lecturer: “Where is Sue.”
Class reply: “We think she is having her baby.”
Lecturer: “Did she hand in her assignment?”

3. Learning Accounting, Business Strategy and Commercial Law. 

What is your greatest accomplishment in your career?

Being a solar energy pioneer. First running the Solar Energy Research Institute of WA (SERIWA) and then later (1981) forming my own business, Suntron Energy Company Pty Ltd.

The company was a systems integrator for remote area power supply systems and through extensive research, developed and sold world class solar water pumping systems using Australian made helical rotor pumps and our own specially designed and manufactured high efficiency submersible DC motors powered by tracking solar photovoltaic arrays.  This period spanned eighteen years.

The technology developed was sold to the multi-national pump company with whom we had partnered and is still in production. 

What does being a UWA MBA graduate mean to you today? 

Doing the MBA 50 years ago some 10 years after graduating from a science degree in physics and mathematics, had the effect of broadening my education and opened doors to management positions that would not have been available had I stayed as a technically focussed person.  In effect, the MBA changed my life.

I think that today, as an 80 year old person, the continuing education throughout my life has made me even more hungry for knowledge.  I did not start my PhD until 62 years old.

Today, continuing to run my business Bardak Ventures Pty Ltd as a low key venture, is exciting and challenging.  I describe myself as a “Quantum Retiree”.  It depends how you measure or how you look at it.  Starting work at 10:30am each day, the assessment might be “she must be retired!”.  But if you see me conducting a video session regarding some in-depth crypto funds management principle, then you would say “she is non-retired!”.  It all depends on how you look at it.

My view is that the idea of retirement these days, in the stable modern society that I enjoy, is outdated.  Older people have a great deal to offer and should do so. 

Charlie Gunningham

MBA, 1999

Startup pioneer. Visionary entrepreneur .

What is your fondest memory from your time during your MBA?

Two things stick out – the amazing people I met, fellow students, drawn from so many different backgrounds; doing late night sessions to complete a group assignment, or going down south to chill out and get away at weekends. Celebrating wins, laughing together, working together… graduating, and still keeping in touch 25 years later. Only this week I was in Singapore and met up with Ben Lim, who was on the course with me.

What is your greatest accomplishment in your career?

Probably setting up aussiehome.com, and then building it up to be a successful, profitable business, and one that another org would pay a 7-figure sum to acquire. Proud of our pioneering map-based technology, the amazing staff that worked with us, and the incredible experiences it gave us all. But really, I’m glad for it all really – the UWA MBA gave me the confidence to try something new (like a humble tech startup back in 1999),… and everything that has happened since (REIWA, Business News, fed and state gov, and current positions and boards) would not have resulted but for the UWA MBA. You can draw a line back to that. It was a turning point.

What does being a UWA MBA graduate mean to you today?

A lot. I still go to GMA events, and UWA events. I’m still involved, and will be more so now I’ve joined Venture UWA as their entrepreneur in residence. I hope to help as many of the next gen of UWA entrepreneurs as I can. UWA is the pinnacle, the cream of the crop. I never looked at the other unis to be honest, and was very pleased with my UWA MBA experience. Amazing networking, still to this day, as a result – the friends and contacts I have made across the WA business community. I feel like I owe UWA a lot..

Bourby Webster

MBA, 2006

Founder Perth Symphony Orchestra. Champion of creative thinking.

What is your fondest memory from your time during your MBA?

I would have to be my straaaategy lectures with Prof. Gary Stockport. Whether it’s the “Five Whys” or the way he pronounced ’straaaaategy’, I loved every minute of seeing what makes a company tick and how to make strategic decision.

What is your greatest accomplishment in your career?

Being able to leave Perth Symphony Orchestra as a sustainable company, having built a major arts company from scratch that brings thousands of Western Australians together to share experiences and celebrate incredible WA talent.

I am hugely proud of my MBA. It has weight and has opened doors for me. It also continues to be useful. I use learnings daily. Finally, the network I made is still strong over 20 years later. My fellow students became my friends and my biggest ambassadors.

Matthew Pavlich

BSc, 2010; MBA, 2017

Former Fremantle Captain. Current Swans CEO.

What is your fondest memory from your time during your MBA?

There entire court was a highlight, which I enjoyed a lot more than my Science undergrad. Graduation was a highlight after all the years of hard work and dedication to studying. To enjoy that celebration with my wife Lauren, who supported me through that commitment, alongside my AFL career was a nice moment, alongside a number of my colleagues who I went through the MBA with.

What is your greatest accomplishment in your career?

It is yet to come I hope! I'm not sure there is one defining moment for me in my uni, business, media or my football careers, but I have loved the people I've met, learnt and worked alongside and the continued balance of challenge and success that has always been present in my professional life both on and off the field.

What does being a UWA MBA graduate mean to you today?

I am very proud of completing the MBA at UWA (as well as my BSc) and believe it was crucial for the balance it gave my AFL playing career. It has also been critical in my business pursuits and my recent role at the Swans, which I am thoroughly enjoying.

Michael Chaney

BSc, 1972; MBA, 1980; LLD, 2002

Leading the rise of one of Australia’s giants.

What is your fondest memory from your time during your MBA?

Studying under Professor Andre Morkel and witnessing his great judgement with respect to corporate strategy and HR issues.

What is your greatest accomplishment in your career?

Being part of a team which grew Wesfarmers from a $28m farmers' cooperative to an $85bn company in the top ten of the ASX.

What does being a UWA MBA graduate mean to you today?

The UWA MBA gave me the knowledge, insights and ways of thinking that set me up for a successful career in the corporate world.