Leigh Clifford
{{Short description|Australian businessman and executive}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100|AC}}
| name = Leigh Clifford
| image =
| caption =
| office = Chairman of Qantas
| term_start = 14 November 2007
| term_end = 26 October 2018
| predecessor = Margaret Jackson
| successor = Richard Goyder
| birth_date = {{birth-date|1948}}
| birth_place = South Australia, Australia{{Cite web|url=https://www.twst.com/bio/leigh-clifford/|title = Clifford, Leigh|publisher=The Wall Street Transcript}}
| death_date =
| death_place =
| education = Anglican Church Grammar School
| alma_mater = University of Melbourne
| nationality = Australian
| occupation = Businessman
}}
Richard Leigh Clifford {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AC}} (born 1948) is an Australian businessman and corporate executive who served as Chairman of Qantas from 2007 to 2018.[http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/board-of-directors/global/en Qantas Chairman], Qantas.com.au[http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1121228.php New Qantas Chairman announced] Clifford was appointed Chairman at the company's November 2007 Annual General Meeting, succeeding Margaret Jackson. He is also Chairman of Bechtel Australia.
Early life and education
Clifford was educated at the Anglican Church Grammar School and the University of Melbourne, where he graduated with Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) and Master of Engineering Science degrees.{{cite book|last=Mason|first=James|title=Churchie: The Centenary Register|year=2011|publisher=The Anglican Church Grammar School|location=Brisbane, Australia|isbn=978-0-646-55807-3}}
Career
His career with the Rio Tinto Group, starting as a mining engineer and retiring as chief executive,{{cite news|title=Ex-Broken Hill engineer new Qantas chairman|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-08-10/ex-broken-hill-engineer-new-qantas-chairman/636272|access-date=24 July 2015|work=ABC News|date=10 August 2007}} spanned 37 years and included time both in Australia and overseas.{{Cite news |url=https://www.ausimmbulletin.com/feature/leigh-cliffords-spectacular-journey/ |title=Leigh Clifford's spectacular journey |date=10 February 2018 |work=AusIMM Bulletin |access-date=20 February 2018 |language=en-US}}
Clifford was the chief executive officer of the Rio Tinto Group from April 2000 to April 2007. He succeeded Peter Costello as the number-one ticketholder for the Essendon Football Club in March 2008.[http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/news.asp?nid=5626 Leigh Clifford the new Number One Ticketholder – Essendon Football Club – News News Story] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080722211346/http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/news.asp?nid=5626 |date=22 July 2008 }} However he was, in turn, replaced by Lindsay Tanner in September 2009.{{cite web |url=http://essendonfc.com.au/news/a/Lindsay-Tanner-named-No.1-ticket-holder/7057 |title=Lindsay Tanner named No.1 ticket holder | Essendon Football Club | News Story |access-date=30 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515230439/http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/a/Lindsay-Tanner-named-No.1-ticket-holder/7057 |archive-date=15 May 2012 }} Clifford also served as chairman of the Murdoch Children's Research Institute.
On 28 June 2018, Clifford announced his intention to resign as Chairman of Qantas. Former Wesfarmers CEO Richard Goyder replaced Clifford as Chairman in October 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/ex-wesfarmers-boss-richard-goyder-to-take-over-as-qantas-chairman-20180628-p4zoaj.html |title=Ex-Wesfarmers boss Richard Goyder to take over as Qantas chairman |work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=28 June 2018 |access-date=28 June 2018 }}
Honours
Clifford was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the 2008 Australia Day Honours for "service to business through executive roles in the mining industry, to the promotion of international trade and the development of export markets, and to the arts".{{cite web |title=Mr Richard Leigh CLIFFORD |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1137403 |website=Australian Honours Search Facility |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |access-date=12 June 2022}} In June 2022, in the 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours, Clifford was promoted to Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for "eminent service to business in the aviation, arts and education sectors, to the community through charitable support and scholarships, and for philanthropic contributions".{{cite news |title=Queen's Birthday 2022 Honours - the full list |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/queen-s-birthday-2022-honours-the-full-list-20220609-p5askg.html |access-date=12 June 2022 |work=Sydney Morning Herald |agency=Nine Entertainment Co. |date=12 June 2022}}
Clifford was awarded a Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) by the University of Melbourne in February 2022.{{Cite web |last=Somerville |first=Cath |date=2022-03-01 |title=University of Melbourne confers six honorary doctorates |url=https://about.unimelb.edu.au/newsroom/news/2022/february/university-of-melbourne-confers-six-honorary-doctorates |access-date=2022-02-28 |website=University of Melbourne |language=en}}
Personal life
Clifford currently resides in Melbourne, Australia. He is married and has two daughters.{{Cite web|url=https://www.twst.com/bio/leigh-clifford/|title = Clifford, Leigh}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-bus}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Margaret Jackson}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chairperson of Qantas
|years=2007–2018}}
{{s-aft|after=Richard Goyder}}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clifford, Leigh}}
Category:Australian corporate directors
Category:Australian mining engineers
Category:Businesspeople from Melbourne
Category:Companions of the Order of Australia
Category:People educated at Anglican Church Grammar School
Category:University of Melbourne alumni
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