Chancellor honoured with AO

University of Queensland Chancellor Mr John Story has become an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Mr Story had been recognised “for distinguished service to business and commerce through a range of corporate governance roles as an industry leader and mentor in the public and private sectors, to the law and to professional organisations”.

Mr Story has been UQ Chancellor since February 2009, and has served as a member of the University’s Senate since May 2006.

He has strong ties to UQ. His paternal grandfather, John Douglas (“JD”) Story, was UQ's first full-time Vice-Chancellor, serving in an honorary capacity, and Mr Story continued the affiliation by studying at UQ.

As well as the honorary positions of Chancellor and Senator, Mr Story has been an Adjunct Professor, and while he was a partner of legal firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth he initiated supportive links between the legal firm and UQ's TC Beirne School of Law.

UQ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj said Mr Story matched his distinguished service to business and commerce with his generous and enduring commitment to UQ.

"By volunteering inestimable hours of service to the UQ community, he has helped UQ evolve from the proud Queensland institution his grandfather led, into a $1.7 billion enterprise that contributes to global knowledge and wellbeing," Professor Høj said.

"John and his wife Georgina are model philanthropists and are exceptionally supportive of UQ students, including our mooting aces from the TC Beirne Law School.

"They are also leading contributors to Queensland artistic and cultural institutions such as the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

"So, for any number of reasons, John is thoroughly deserving of an  AO."

Mr Story was awarded the Gold Medal by the Queensland division of the Australian Division of the Australian Institute of Company Directors in 2012 and was made a life Fellow of the institute in 2013.

He has served as chairman of Suncorp Group Ltd, Tabcorp Holdings Ltd, Echo Entertainment Group Ltd, the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Corrs Chambers Westgarth.

Mr Story has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from UQ.

A number of UQ community members received Queen's Birthday honours. The full list is here. 

Contact: communications@uq.edu.au, ph +61 7 3365 1120.