BA (Hons) 1982, HonDLitt (UNSW) 2017
Dr Jennifer Westacott AO has served as Chief Executive of the Business Council of Australia since 2011. She completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in 1982 at UNSW and later received an Honorary Doctor of Letters, in 2017. She is an Adjunct Professor at UNSW’s City Futures Research Centre and a member of the UNSW Council.
Jennifer built her career in the public service and was a senior partner at KPMG. She has advised major corporations on climate change and sustainability and advised governments across Australia on significant reform priorities. As CEO of the Business Council she championed a number of significant changes including social reforms to protect the rights of LGBTQIA+, an increase to Newstart allowance and safer working conditions. In 2018, Dr Westacott was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to private and public sector administration. She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the inaugural Chair of the Board of Studio Schools of Australia, and a patron of Mental Health Australia.
