Dr John Yu Fellowship

Professor Clinton Free
Clinton Free is a Professor in the Discipline of Accounting, Governance and Regulation at the University of Sydney Business School.

He researches and teaches in the areas of white-collar crime, corporate governance and leadership, and management accounting and auditing. He has been awarded a large number of competitive research grants including an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellowship, an ARC Linkage Grant and a major grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council in Canada.

Professor Free has published very widely in leading international academic journals and presented at, as well as organized, a variety of international conferences. He sits on eight editorial boards of several leading journals including Accounting, Organizations & Society, Contemporary Accounting Research and Management Accounting Research.

Professor Free has consulted to a variety of organisations in both the private and public sectors and has been involved with executive education for almost two decades. He has also won several teaching awards for teaching both undergraduate and post-graduate courses. He holds Commerce and Law degrees from UNSW and a doctorate from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar and has served on faculties and taught MBA courses at Oxford University (UK), Queen's School of Business (Canada), Cornell University (USA) as well as UNSW Sydney. Clinton was formerly the Deputy Dean and Head of School of the University of Sydney Business School, Academic Director and Director of the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) and the Deputy Director of the Centre for Law, Markets and Regulation.

Dr. Tim Soutphommasane
Dr. Tim Soutphommasane is a political theorist and philosopher whose work has profoundly influenced public debates on multiculturalism, national identity, and racial equality in Australia and beyond. With a Doctorate from the University of Oxford, he has served in academia, contributed to national policy, and written extensively on what it means to be a citizen in a diverse society.

Before his appointment as Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner, Dr. Soutphommasane held academic positions at the University of Sydney and Monash University, where he inspired a new generation of thinkers and leaders. His journey from a migrant background in France to a leading public intellectual in Australia embodies the inclusive and dynamic nature of the societies he advocates for.

The Hon. Anoulack Chanthivong MP
The Hon. Anoulack Chanthivong MP is the Member for Macquarie Fields in the NSW Parliament and a senior minister in the Minns Government. Elected to Parliament in 2015, he currently serves as Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Minister for Building, and Minister for Corrections.

Born in Laos, Anoulack came to Australia with his parents and brothers at the age of six and grew up in Raby in Sydney’s south-west. He attended local public schools and spent his weekends and afternoons helping in his family’s small grocery business. He later studied commerce and economics at the University of Sydney and the London School of Economics, before working as an economist for 13 years.

His journey from a migrant family in one of Australia’s most culturally diverse regions to local government, Parliament and the NSW Cabinet gives him a distinctive perspective on diversity, opportunity and leadership. Before entering Parliament, he served on Campbelltown City Council, including as Mayor, and throughout his public career has spoken about the strength that diverse communities, backgrounds and perspectives bring to Australian society and its institutions.

Paula Kruger
Paula Kruger is a seasoned journalist and media professional with extensive experience in radio and television broadcasting. She has held prominent roles at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), including as a presenter and producer for ABC Radio Sydney and ABC News. Paula's career also includes significant international experience, having worked as a journalist and producer for the BBC in London. Her expertise spans news reporting, content creation, and media production, reflecting a deep commitment to delivering high-quality journalism.

Cilla Robinson
Cilla Robinson is a highly respected Partner at King & Wood Mallesons, bringing nearly 20 years of expertise in industrial relations and employment law. Formerly a Partner in the Workplace Relations, Employment, and Safety Group at Clayton Utz, Cilla has built a reputation as a trusted advisor on all aspects of employment law, including complex industrial relations strategies, workplace safety, and compliance matters. Cilla is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion and her dedication to fostering inclusive workplaces and supporting community partnerships underscores her commitment to creating meaningful change both within the legal profession and beyond.

Ken Woo
Ken Woo is a respected financial services leader who spent 35 years at PwC Australia, including 25 years as a partner specialising in funds management and superannuation. As PwC’s national asset management tax leader, he advised global and domestic fund managers on policy reform, regulation, and growth strategies across the Asia–Pacific region. Beyond technical excellence, he is a passionate advocate for innovation, cultural diversity, and inclusive leadership, encouraging the adoption of bold ideas such as robo-advice, ETFs, and investor-centric reforms. A prolific thought leader, Ken has written and spoken widely on leadership, advocating for resilience, curiosity, and lifting others through empathetic, values-driven leadership.

Ranil Boteju
Ranil Boteju is Chief AI Officer at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, where he leads the bank’s enterprise-wide AI agenda and the responsible scaling of artificial intelligence across customer, operational and technology applications. He brings more than 25 years of global experience in data, analytics, AI and technology transformation across major financial institutions and telecommunications companies. Before returning to CommBank in 2026, Ranil was Group Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Lloyds Banking Group in the UK, leading its data and AI transformation. His previous senior roles have included positions at HSBC, Standard Chartered, Vodafone and Commonwealth Bank. Ranil is particularly recognised for translating emerging technologies into large-scale business impact, with a strong focus on customer experience, organisational transformation and the responsible deployment of AI.

Kelly Williams
Kelly Williams is a Bundjalung woman from Northern NSW and is the ABC’s Director First Nations Strategy. She has worked at the ABC for over 36-years and is passionate about creating pathways to senior management and editorial roles for Indigenous and diverse employees. Kelly has co-ordinated the ABC’s last three Reconciliation Action Plans, the ABC’s 2023-2026 Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Plan and leads the strategic partnerships between the ABC and First Nations Media Australia and First Languages Australia.

Max Lu
Professor Max Lu is the Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Wollongong. A distinguished chemical engineer and materials scientist, he has authored over 600 peer-reviewed articles and is recognised among the world’s most highly cited researchers. Born in China, Lu built a global academic career with senior roles in Australia, the UK, and Asia, including as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Surrey. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and the Royal Academy of Engineering (UK). A passionate advocate for international education and research collaboration, Lu has played a prominent role in shaping higher education policy and innovation strategy in Australia and abroad. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to education, science, and international engagement.