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Jim McDowell is an Irish lawyer and defense sector businessman who lives and works in South Australia. As of 2016 he is the Chancellor of the University of South Australia, Chair of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and holds directorships and board positions with a number of private and public companies. He is a former CEO of BAE Systems Australia.
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Career
McDowell worked in legal, commercial and marketing roles with aerospace company Bombardier Shorts for 18 years after graduating from the University of Warwick in 1977.
In 1996 McDowell left Bombardier Shorts and joined British Aerospace in their Singapore office. Three years later, following the merger of British Aerospace and Marconi Electronic Systems, he was appointed Regional Managing Director of BAE Systems for Asia. In March 2001 he was appointed as Chief Executive of BAE Systems Australia. Under his leadership, the company expanded to become Australia's largest defense firm, with more than 6,500 employees and annual sales of approximately AUD $1.7 billion. He oversaw a significant expansion of BAE's Australian operations and established the company's headquarters in Adelaide, South Australia. He ran operations from Adelaide until September 2011 when he was tasked to lead BAE Saudi Arabia. McDowell worked there until December 2013, where he led a workforce of more than 5000 people and revenue of over AUD $5 billion a year.
In 2014 McDowell left BAE Systems Saudi Arabia and returned to Adelaide, marking a career shift from the private to the public sector. During a total of 35 years in the defense, aerospace and technology sector he lived and worked in the United Kingdom, the United States, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Chancellor of the University of South Australia
On 1 January 2016, McDowell replaced Dr Ian Gould as Chancellor of the University of South Australia. McDowell had previously served on its Council from 2007 and on its Business School Advisory Board from 2010. McDowell had previously acted in a number of roles relevant to education. These include membership of the Defence Reserves Support Committee SA, membership of the Northern Economic Leaders Champions Group and a position as Chairman of the Australian Apprenticeships for the 21st Century Panel in 2011 which reported directly to the Minister for Education.
Governance Roles
McDowell serves as Chair on a range of boards including the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and was first appointed Deputy Chair in March 2014. He is also Chair of private company Total Construction Pty Ltd, and non-executive director of public companies Codan Ltd and Austal Ltd.
McDowell is also Chairman of the Air Warfare Destroyer Principals Council, and is a member of the First Principle Review of the Australian Department of Defence.
In 2015, McDowell was a member of the Expert Advisory Panel on the Future Submarine Competitive Evaluation Process, formed by the Australian Government. McDowell's contract was valued at $275,000 for 50 days' work and included travel expenses. Concern was expressed regarding the remuneration for the advisory panel members by independent senator Nick Xenophon.