David Murray AO

Bachelor of Business, 1977; Doctorate of Business (Honoris Causa), 2008

David Murray joined the Commonwealth Bank of Australia in 1966, was appointed Chief Executive Officer in June 1992, and retired from this position in 2005.

In Murray's 13 years as Chief Executive, The Commonwealth Bank transformed from a partly privatised government-owned bank to an integrated financial services company, generating in the process total shareholder returns (including gross dividend reinvestment) at a compound annual growth rate of over 24 per cent.

In 2006, Murray commenced a term as the inaugural Chairman of the Board of Guardians of the Australian Government Future Fund, a position he held until 2012. The Fund's objective is to invest budget surpluses to meet the long term pension liabilities of government employees and take the pressure off the budget from aging of the population.

UTS taught me the value of specialisation and continual learning as the best foundations for engaging work and leadership development.

Murray is a member of the Oliver Wyman Senior Advisory Board and a Consultant to Tenix Pty Ltd. He has previously served as a member of the Finance Sector Advisory Council and the APEC Business Advisory Council, and was the inaugural Chair of the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds.

In December 2014, he concluded a one-year period heading the panel of the Federal Government’s Financial System Inquiry, a comprehensive review delivering recommendations to improve the efficiency, resilience and fairness of Australia’s financial system.

Murray holds a Bachelor of Business from the NSW Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from Macquarie University. He has been awarded honorary doctorates by UTS and Macquarie University.

In 2001, he was awarded the Centenary Medal for service to Australian Society in banking and corporate governance and in 2007 he was made an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) for his service to the finance sector both domestically and globally and service to the community.

Murray was born in New South Wales and lives with his family in Sydney.

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.