MBS honours John Ralph AC with the Distinguished Alumni Award
Nov, 2007
John Ralph’s association with Melbourne Business School began in 1964 when he completed a management course at Mt Eliza. He later served on the MBS board from the mid-1970s until the early ‘80s, and again in 1989 up until his retirement in June this year.
In the early ‘80s John Ralph chaired the Commonwealth Government’s Report into Management Education, which led to the establishment of MBS.
Throughout his career he has served on the Boards of some of this country’s leading companies, including: Chairman of Commonwealth Bank Australia, Pacific Dunlop and the Foster’s Group; Deputy Chairman of Telstra Corporation, BHP-Billiton and CRA, director of Pioneer International and Coal & Allied Industries Ltd.
He was also member of the small working party that designed the structure and modus operandi of the Business Council of Australia and was its President from 1992-1994.
His outstanding contribution to the country was recognised in 2000 when he was appointed to Australia’s highest civilian honour, Companion in the Order of Australia, having been made an Officer in the Order of Australia in 1988.
In awarding this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award, the School is honouring a man of integrity and achievement; a man who has generously and inconspicuously provided support for many different kinds of community affairs and interests, particularly for young people, and a man whose vision laid the intellectual foundation for Melbourne Business School.
Presenting the award at the 2007 Annual Alumni Dinner, Alumni President Vu Tien Vy described John Ralph as someone who “epitomises what we, as alumni, aim for in business and society. He is truly an inspiration.”
- Award presentation and John Ralph’s speech via the Annual Dinner webcast
- John Ralph’s thank you speech
The Melbourne Business School Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honour that MBS can bestow on an alumnus. Each year the award is presented to an individual (or individuals) demonstrating the ultimate in professional achievement, service to society or service to the School, its students and alumni.
