ICAC will investigate the employment of John Dewar as the University of Wollongong’s interim vice-chancellor. Photo: UOW.
The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will hold a three-week public inquiry into allegations concerning staff at the University of Wollongong.
ICAC announced on Tuesday (2 June) that the inquiry — Operation Scandi — will start on 22 June.
“It will investigate whether the university’s chief governance officer and secretary Alyssa White, or any other UOW staff, partially exercised their official functions by intentionally subverting recruitment processes for governance roles, to benefit persons associated with Alyssa White,” the announcement said.
“It will also examine whether, since 2024, Chancellor Michael Still, Alyssa White, or any other university staff or contractors, partially and/or dishonestly exercised their official functions by improperly awarding or influencing the award of work to Aspirall Consulting International Pty Ltd.”
Aspirall is a strategy consulting firm that works with the boards and executive teams of listed, private, multinational and government entities.
“Finally, the Commission will investigate whether Michael Still, or any other staff or contractor, partially exercised their official functions by failing to manage the conflict of interest relating to the employment of John Dewar as interim vice-chancellor and the engagement of KordaMentha Pty Ltd,” the ICAC statement said.
Mr Still came under fire at a NSW Government inquiry over his appointment of Mr Dewar, who is a business partner at KordaMentha, a business consultancy firm later appointed to conduct operational reviews of the university.
The firm was paid $3 million for the service, which led to more than 100 job cuts.
“The general scope and purpose of this public inquiry is to gather evidence relevant to the allegations being investigated for the purpose of determining the matters referred to in sections 8 and 9 of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988,” the statement said.
The university issued a brief statement in response to the announcement, saying it would not comment further while the hearings are under way.
“The University of Wollongong notes today’s announcement from the NSW ICAC that it will conduct a public inquiry between 22 June and 10 July 2026 into allegations concerning the University of Wollongong,” it read.
“The university has been co-operating fully with the NSW ICAC throughout its investigation and while the university was prohibited from disclosing the investigation prior to today, we want to acknowledge the gravity of these allegations.
“The university understands the public interest in this matter, but will not be making any comment about the investigation while the hearings are under way.”
Commissioner Helen Murrell SC will preside over the public inquiry, which will be held at ICAC headquarters in Sydney.
