Graeme Samuel
Encyclopedia
Graeme Julian Samuel AC (born 31 May 1946) is an Australia
n businessman. He is currently works as chairman of the Melbourne
office of investment bank Greenhill Caliburn
, and is a member of the Australian National University
Council. He previously served as the chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
from 1 July 2003 to 31 July 2011.
Samuel was educated at Wesley College, Melbourne
, and studied law at both the University of Melbourne
(LLB
) and Monash University
(LLM). He has had a long career in law, working as a partner in Melbourne law firm Phillips Fox & Masel (now part of DLA Piper
), and in business served as the executive director of Macquarie Bank from 1981 to 1986.
He has also had extensive involvement in senior levels of sports management in Australia. Samuel is a former commissioner of the Australian Football League
(he became a life member of the league in 1995). During his time as AFL commissioner, Samuel was one of the so-called "faceless men" who were vilified by supporters during the attempted merger or relocation of clubs such as Footscray, Fitzroy, Melbourne and Hawthorn.
On 3 May 1995, The Age
highlighted Samuel’s vision for the future of the AFL under the title 'The Samuel Vision' — which included the following major points:
Samuel was also was the chairman of the Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust, which oversees both Melbourne Park
and Olympic Park, Melbourne
.
Notwithstanding his family and educational background, Samuel identifies with the Jewish faith, although he describes himself as an atheist.
On 14 June 2010 he was awarded an Companion of the Order of Australia on the Queens's Birthday Honours list for services to the community, public administration, economic reform and corporate law.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n businessman. He is currently works as chairman of the Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
office of investment bank Greenhill Caliburn
Greenhill & Co.
Greenhill & Co., Inc. is a leading independent investment bank focused on providing financial advice on significant mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, financings and capital raisings to corporations, partnerships, institutions and governments. The firm made $298.6m in sales in 2009, with a...
, and is a member of the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
Council. He previously served as the chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is an independent authority of the Australia government. It was established in 1995 with the amalgamation of the Australian Trade Practices Commission and the Prices Surveillance Authority to administer the Trade Practices Act 1974...
from 1 July 2003 to 31 July 2011.
Samuel was educated at Wesley College, Melbourne
Wesley College, Melbourne
Wesley College, Melbourne is an independent, co-educational, Christian day school in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Established in 1866, the college is a school of the Uniting Church in Australia. Wesley is the largest school in Australia by enrolment, with 3,511 students and 564 full-time staff...
, and studied law at both the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
(LLB
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
) and Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
(LLM). He has had a long career in law, working as a partner in Melbourne law firm Phillips Fox & Masel (now part of DLA Piper
DLA Piper
DLA Piper is a global law firm with 76 offices across 30 countries and more than 4,200 lawyers. As of May 2011, it was the largest law firm in the world by number of attorneys. The firm's global revenues were $1.92 billion in 2009-2010. The firm is composed of two partnerships, DLA Piper...
), and in business served as the executive director of Macquarie Bank from 1981 to 1986.
He has also had extensive involvement in senior levels of sports management in Australia. Samuel is a former commissioner of the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(he became a life member of the league in 1995). During his time as AFL commissioner, Samuel was one of the so-called "faceless men" who were vilified by supporters during the attempted merger or relocation of clubs such as Footscray, Fitzroy, Melbourne and Hawthorn.
On 3 May 1995, The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
highlighted Samuel’s vision for the future of the AFL under the title 'The Samuel Vision' — which included the following major points:
- Port Adelaide’s entry to the AFL is a priority.
- The AFL is being damaged by maintaining 11 clubs in Victoria.
- Fitzroy should consider merging with Brisbane.
- Commission should no longer deal with issues of discipline.
- Waverley Park’s future will depend on how many clubs are in the competition.
- A minimum salary cap should be considered for clubs.
- Western Oval is not necessarily the best place for Footscray.
- Minimum level of contribution to AFL revenue a condition of clubs keeping license.
Samuel was also was the chairman of the Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust, which oversees both Melbourne Park
Melbourne Park
Melbourne Park is a sports venue in the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Since 1988, Melbourne Park has been home of the Australian Open in tennis, which is played annually in January...
and Olympic Park, Melbourne
Olympic Park, Melbourne
The Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct is a series of sports venues and stadia, located in Melbourne, Victoria, in Australia. The precinct is situated around 3 km east of the Melbourne city centre, between the suburbs of East Melbourne and Richmond, and close to the north-eastern bank of...
.
Notwithstanding his family and educational background, Samuel identifies with the Jewish faith, although he describes himself as an atheist.
On 14 June 2010 he was awarded an Companion of the Order of Australia on the Queens's Birthday Honours list for services to the community, public administration, economic reform and corporate law.
External links
- Monash University prominent alumni profile
- Australian Telecommunications Users Group biography
- Terry Lane interviews Graeme Samuel - Big Ideas ABC Radio NationalRadio NationalABC Radio National is an Australia-wide non-commercial radio network run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Radio National broadcasts national programming in areas that include news and current affairs, the arts, social issues, science, drama and comedy...
May 2006