Bill Ferris

Bill Ferris has been the Executive Chairman of CHAMP since its formation in 2000， and of its predecessor， Australian Mezzanine Investments Pty Ltd （AMIL）， which he co-founded in 1987 with Joe Skrzynski. Mr Ferris is a 41-year veteran of private equity in Australasia， founding Australia’s first venture capital firm in 1970.

Mr Ferris holds an Honours degree in Economics from the University of Sydney and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School where he graduated as a Baker Scholar in 1970. Mr Ferris’ current directorships include Chairman； Garvan Institute of Medical Research， CHAMP Ventures Pty Ltd， International Energy Services Pty Ltd （IES）， Accolade Wines Australia and UK， and Chair of the Health and Hospitals Fund Advisory Board as part of the Federal Government’s Nation-Building Funds initiative. Other current directorships include: Director， Garvan Research Foundation and Member of the Harvard Business School Asia Pacific Advisory Council. Former directorships include； Chairman: Austar United Communications； Australian Pacific Paper Products； Macquarie University Asia Pacific Council； Bradken Resources； Director: Austal Limited； Australian Institute of Management （NSW）； and Managing Director， Barlow Marine.

In 1985， Mr Ferris chaired the committee report to the Australian Government entitled “Lifting the Performance of Manufacturing and Services Exports”. He was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Australian Trade Commission （Austrade） in 1986 and was Chairman from 1988 until his retirement from that position in December 1993. In 1990， Mr Ferris was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for his contribution to industry and the export sector and in January 2008， Mr Ferris was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia for service to the community through a range of philanthropic endeavours， as a leader in support of medical research， and to business and commerce through ongoing roles supporting Australian exports， venture capital and private equity. Other recent aw