Mr. William Leslie (Bill) Dix AO, has led a long and distinguished career, dominated largely by the Ford Motor Company, but also including involvements with some other of Australia’s most iconic enterprises.
He commenced his working career with Ford Australia in 1941 as a junior, an association with Ford which continued for almost 50 Years, culminating with his appointment as Chairman and Managing Director of Ford Australia in 1981 and his retirement from full time involvement in 1990. Notable other senior appointments within Ford were: President, Ford Motor Company Japan Ltd (which included Board membership of the Mazda Corporation) 1979-1981; Vice President Export Operations of Ford Europe 1977-1979; Regional Director of Ford Asia Pacific in 1973. He was the first Australian to be appointed in 1965 as Finance Director of Ford Asia Pacific and Finance Director of Ford Australia. In June 1987, he was appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) “for service to secondary industry, particularly the automotive industry”.
He has held a great number of senior business positions which included: Chairman, Qantas Airways Ltd from 1989 to 1993 (the last Government appointment to that position and with responsibility for overseeing the airlines privatisation); Chairman- Australian Airlines 1992 (merged with Qantas); Director, Air New Zealand 1989-1992; Director- Aussat Ltd 1985-1987; Deputy Chairman Telecom Australia 1987 followed by Board Membership of Telstra to 1994 (Resulting from the merger and subsequent privatisation of the merged Telecom and Overseas Telecommunications Corporation); Director CRA Ltd (now Rio Tinto ) 1990-1996; Director ICI Australia (now Orica) 1990- 1996.
Mr Dix was also involved in many non-commercial activities including Trustee – National Tennis Centre 1986-1995; Chairman – Trade Development Council 1989-1992; Member- Australian Manufacturing Industry Council 1983-1988; Chairman – Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries Council 1988-1990 and Member 1981-1988; Member – Business Council of Australia 1983-1992; Trustee RMH Neuroscience Foundation 1992-2005; Director – Geelong Football Club 1987-1998; Chairman of Commissioners City of Greater Geelong (Council amalgamations) 1993-1995; Member Geelong College Council 1983-1990.
Mr Dix was educated at Geelong College and the Christian Brothers College in Warrnambool and completed his technical training with Hemingway Robertson. He is a Fellow Certified Practicing Accountant (FCPA) having originally been a member of both the Commonwealth Institute of Accountants and the Australian Institute of Cost Accountants (which merged into what is now CPA Australia) and on August 19 this year he achieved “70 Years of Membership” of that organisation. He is also a member of the Governance Institute of Australia (AGIA) based on his long-term membership of the Australian Institute of Corporate Secretaries(ACIS). He is one of the Founders of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants, and is now a Patron of ICMA and a Fellow Certified Management Accountant (FCMA). He is also a Life Member of the Geelong Football Club, the RACV Club and the Athenaeum Club.
The Institute of Certified Management Accountants is honoured to induct Mr William Dix to the Global Management Accounting Hall of Fame for his services to the profession in Australia.