CITATION
Award of Doctor of Laws honoris causa
Mr David Miles AM
Chancellor,
Mr David Miles AM is a lawyer whose distinguished career has spanned three key areas of interest – the law, business and the community.
Following 10 years as Managing Partner of the Melbourne law firm Maddocks, Mr Miles was appointed Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of the national law firm, Corrs Chambers Westgarth. In this capacity he successfully restructured the partnership, bringing together 120 partners in five major Australian offices to fully integrate the firm to deliver the highest quality legal services. He also established two specialist consultancies within the firm – Corr Solutions and Corrs Schneider.
He has been the Independent Chair of the Board of Uniseed Management Pty Ltd since its inception. Uniseed was the first specialist pre-seed commercialisation fund for university technology in Australia and began as a joint venture between The University of Queensland and the University of Melbourne in 2000 and now includes the University of New South Wales.
During the 10 years it has operated, Uniseed has drawn down approximately $11 million of the University’s approved investment of $18 million and in return has received approximately $15 million in research grants, licence fees, royalties and quantum benefit. Uniseed companies in which UQ also has a share through UniQuest Pty Ltd have received more than $260 million in grants and other investments during this time.
Mr Miles has provided considerable input and leadership during these 10 years and has also contributed significantly to innovation and commercialisation of IP generally at a national level through his activities as Chair of Innovation Australia and a Member of the Prime Minister’s Science Engineering and innovation Council, among other contributions.
Throughout his career, Mr Miles has also been very active in community affairs, particularly where they relate to the law. He has held a number of important posts, including President, Law Institute of Victoria and President, Law Council of Australia. He is also an Honorary Life Member of the Law Institute of Victoria and a Member of the Law Council Australia and the International Bar Association.
Mr Miles was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2007 Queen’s Birthday Honours “for service to the community through support for Australian innovation and research, to public policy development in the areas of trade, taxation and international relations, and to the legal profession”.
Chancellor, in recognition of his distinguished career and service to The University of Queensland, I present to you Dr David Miles AM, Bachelor of Laws from the University of Melbourne, for the award of Doctor of Laws honoris causa bestowed by the Senate of The University of Queensland.
