Flinders University appoints John Hood as incoming chancellor

Flinders University has appointed business consulting veteran John Hood to succeed Stephen Gerlach as its next chancellor, with the former Deloitte partner the first Flinders alumnus to take on the role.

Former Deloitte partner John Hood has been appointed as the next chancellor of Flinders University, where he graduated with a degree in economics and accounting diploma in 1985 before going on to join PwC.

Hood has altogether spent almost four decades within the accounting and consulting profession, and presently serves as the chair of boutique digital consultancy Sensei. He succeeds Stephen Gerlach at the beginning of next month.

“John is the first Flinders alumnus to be appointed to this important governance role and has already demonstrated his calibre through many years of association with the university as a student and on council,” commented deputy chancellor Douglas Gautier. “He is an active participant in the South Australian community and respected throughout the state, while possessing a deep understanding and passion for the unique and innovative university that is Flinders.”

To kick-start his career, Hood spent more than a decade with PwC in Adelaide, Papua New Guinea and Fiji before joining local outfit mhm in 1996, where he served as the boutique accounting and consulting firm’s managing partner and CEO until its acquisition by Deloitte in 2010. He then spent close to four years as a partner at the latter, at which point he established his own business advisory Humanee and switched his focus to board and governance roles.

Hood’s long list of former board memberships include the Port Adelaide Football Club (at the time of the AFL’s shift to Adelaide Oval), Seymour College, Foodbank South Australia, arts industry body Guildhouse, and drinks company Mighty Craft. Presently, in addition to Sensei, he is the chair of retirement village operator Gannon and a co-founder and director of collaborative workspace Intersect, while also having been on the Flinders council since 2004.

Remarkably, his connection to the university dates back even further, in fact to its very foundation in the late 60s, with his migrant father having been recruited from Edinburgh University to help establish Flinders and the Flinders Medical Centre laboratories. According to a press release, Hood spent much of his childhood roaming the Flinders uni grounds, before later becoming president of the Student Economic Society during his study years.

“As a passionate graduate of this university, I have long been proud of the innovation and impact forged by Flinders, as we continue to ignite generations to contribute to their communities wherever they choose to live and work,” Hood stated. “I am honoured to be overseeing Flinders’ governance and look forward to continuing to further progress the important work currently underway across the institution, where students are at the heart of everything we do.”