Bond University is named after its founder, the Australian businessman Alan Bond. His name is associated with entrepreneurial success, Australia’s historic 1983 America’s Cup victory, and a series of high-profile scandals.
On May 15, 1989, Bond University inaugurated its campus on the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia, welcoming an initial cohort of 322 students. As Australia’s first private, not-for-profit university, Bond was conceived as a Down Under counterpart to the prestigious Ivy League institutions of the USA.
Proudly independent from Australia’s public higher education system, Bond enjoys the freedom to chart its own path and make decisions that best serve its student body. Mirroring the approach of elite American private universities, Bond prioritizes small class sizes, personalized teaching philosophy, and cutting-edge facilities.
Bond University has a diverse array of postgraduate master’s programs, including law, medicine, architecture, data analytics, film and television, communication, sports management, and occupational therapy. Business master’s degrees are offered through Bond Business School.
The university was the brainchild and legacy project of renowned Australian businessman Alan Bond. Bond was a controversial figure, and the university was a cornerstone of his legacy projects.
Alan Bond (1938 – 2015) was a prominent British-born Australian businessman whose career was characterized by both exceptional entrepreneurial success and significant controversy.
Alan was born in London, UK, but moved to Australia with his family at the age of 12. His teenage years were tumultuous, marred by several arrests for robbery. Despite these rocky beginnings, his story is often cited as a classic example of a rags-to-riches story. He achieved immense success in property development, significantly shaping the landscape of Western Australia.
Alan’s business empire encompassed a variety of sectors, from managing the brewing giant Castlemaine Tooheys to venturing into gold mining and television.
But Alan is perhaps best remembered for financing Australia’s 1983 America’s Cup victory. This triumph ended the New York Yacht Club’s 132-year winning streak, making him a legend in the sailing world and a national hero in Australia.
Alan Bond’s reputation was far from spotless. Although regarded by some as a hero, many others view him as a villain. He played a central role in the infamous WA Inc scandals during the 1980s.
WA Inc is the name given to Western Australian Labor Party’s involvement in complex business deals with several prominent businessmen, including Alan. These dealings escalated into a major scandal due to the shady nature of many of the public-private investments. The fallout led to the insolvency of numerous large corporations and the loss of massive amounts of taxpayer money.
The WA Inc scandals resulted in one of the biggest corporate collapses in Australian history. Alan’s empire crumbled, leaving investors, employees, and creditors in dire straits. In 1992, he declared bankruptcy, a stunning fall from grace for a man who was famous for his Midas touch.
Five years later, in 1997, Alan faced charges of corporate fraud, accused of diverting over a billion dollars from a company under his control but not fully owned by him. His conviction led to a prison sentence.
Bond University carries the name of its controversial founder. Alan Bond is not just a benefactor, he is the school’s prime mover. Bond University was conceived by Bond, a man who was already controversial when he started the school.
Shortly after founding the school, when Alan’s financial troubles were making headlines, the school’s Vice Chancellor told reporters, “Despite what some people are saying about Alan Bond, if it had not been for his foresight and initiative, this university would not exist.”
Despite the complexities associated with its namesake, the decision to retain the name reflects a recognition of Alan Bond’s fundamental role in the institution’s origins.
Bond University boasts a network of over 30,000 alumni, known affectionately as ‘Bondies.’ Notable alumni include:
Alan Bond’s private university has proven to be a success. Today, Bond is a leading institution in Australia’s academic landscape. Bond University has high academic and ethical standards, innovative educational practices, and a strong commitment to sustainability. It doesn’t allow the controversies surrounding its namesake to overshadow its mission.
Check out our profile of Bond University to learn more about Bond’s master’s programs.
