Haileybury Council Chair, Gregory Whitwell, is an Old Haileyburian who believes in lifelong learning and embracing multiple perspectives in the world of education.
Professor Gregory Whitwell graduated from Haileybury in 1973 and, more than 50 years later, he maintains strong connections to his former school. He credits his years at Haileybury and the teachers who supported him for helping to shape his career as a senior leader in prestigious Australian universities.
Before his retirement in 2022, Professor Whitwell was Dean of the University of Sydney Business School and Chair of CEMS — a global alliance of leading business schools, multinational companies and NGOs. Prior to that he was Deputy Dean and Director of the Graduate School, Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Melbourne and then Senior Deputy Dean at UNSW Business School.
Professor Whitwell now brings his decades of leadership and his rich understanding of the power of education and innovative teaching to his role as Haileybury Council Chair.
“My years at Haileybury were among the happiest years of my life. What stands out for me is the friends I made. The School also opened my eyes to new ideas and taught me about the importance of a well-rounded education.
“I had teachers who absolutely inspired me, whom I looked up to and who had a deep impact on me. I felt supported but also stretched and challenged. Haileybury sent me down a path that led me to my university career. I feel an enormous debt to this school.”
After graduating, Professor Whitwell completed a Bachelor of Economics at Monash University and then a PhD at the University of Melbourne. His particular interest was economic history and he discovered a passion for teaching, beginning his career as a university lecturer.
“I enjoyed working with students, changing their perspectives, opening them to new ideas and ways of understanding,” says Professor Whitwell.
Throughout his career, Professor Whitwell has championed the power of breaking down silos and sharing perspectives to problem-solve.
“The world is full of complex problems, often there’s no right or wrong answer and addressing these problems requires multiple perspectives. I get excited when I hear someone with a different perspective to me and I like being challenged,” he says.
In his role as Haileybury Council Chair, Professor Whitwell brings a deep commitment to education and an understanding of the challenges facing the education sector in Australia.
“I’ve had a lifetime of leadership roles in education and in large, complex organisations, so I understand advocacy issues, the politics of higher education, how to manage different stakeholders and how to bring about change when needed,” says Professor Whitwell.
Outside his commitment to Haileybury, Professor Whitwell is a proud grandfather to one-year-old Edmund. The arrival of his first grandchild has also inspired Professor Whitwell’s passion to continue to have an impact on the world of education.
“I think a lot about the kind of world Edmund will live in and what kind of person he will become,” says Professor Whitwell.
“I think if I share one piece of advice with my grandson when he is older it will be that whenever you make decisions about what you are going to do next, make sure you give yourself options. Always open up to other possibilities so you can move in different directions throughout your life.”