Sir Lew Edwards to Mentor Italian Week Producer

Sir Llewellyn Edwards, CEO of World Expo 88 in Brisbane Australia has generously agreed to mentor Alessandro Sorbello and support Italian Week. We are deeply grateful for the wealth of experience Sir Llew offers and his valuable assistance. Thank you once again Sir Llew

Sir Llew, a Senate member since 1984, and Chancellor since 1993, is a distinguished graduate of the University and a former Deputy Premier and Treasurer of Queensland.
Born in Ipswich, he was educated at Raceview and Silkstone State Schools and Ipswich Grammar School.

His first qualification was as an electrician in his family business and he then studied medicine at UQ, graduating with Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degrees. He worked as a Resident Medical Officer and as a Surgical Registrar in Queensland Hospitals before overseas postings in London, Edinburgh and Wales.

Sir Llew was a General Practitioner in Ipswich until 1972. During this time he served as President of the Australian Medical Association (Ipswich Branch), President of Ipswich Grammar School Old Boys Association, member of Ipswich Blue Nurses Council, and member of the Ipswich Hospitals Board.

In 1972 he was elected to the Parliament of Queensland as the Member for Ipswich representing the Liberal Party. He was appointed Minister for Health in 1974 and in 1978 became Deputy Premier & Treasurer of Queensland until he retired from Parliament in 1983.

He was then appointed by the Federal and Queensland Governments as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of World Expo 88, the major bicentenary event in 1988, and remained in that position until 1989. It was one of the most successful events held in Australia and attracted 18 million visits over six months.

Sir Llew then entered corporate life becoming Executive Consultant to Jones Lang Wootton, Australia`s leading property company, now Jones Lang LaSalle, and remains with that company.
He has served on many Boards: Chairman of Como Properties 1990-1994, Australian Japan Foundation 1990-1996, Chairman Multi Function Polis 1990-1997, Chairman of Greyhound Pioneer Pty Ltd 1994-1998, Director of Channel 10 1990-1993, AGC Ltd 1989-1996, Chairman of Micro-medical Industries 1994-1996, Westpac Banking Corporation from 1988 to December 2004, James Hardie Industries 1989 to 2001, Telecom New Zealand (Aust) Ltd 1994 to1998, RT Edwards & Sons Pty Ltd from 1974 to present time, Chairman of Pacific Film and Television Commission (the Queensland Government Film Body) from 1990 to present time. He has been Chairman of the Medical Research and Compensation Foundation, Amaca Pty Ltd and Amaba Pty Ltd since 2001.

He was also a member of the Forde Foundation Advisory Council, appointed by the Queensland Government, for 3 years from 2001. He has chaired UQ Holdings Pty Ltd since 1998. He is Chairman of the Asia Pacific Economic Forum and a Director of Uniseed Pty Ltd.

Sir Llew was awarded a Knight Bachelor in 1984 for his services to the people of Queensland, a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 1989 for his services to the people of Australia, Queenslander of the Year 1988 and many other awards. He has been awarded Honorary Doctorates of The University of Queensland, Griffith University and Queensland University of Technology.