The Honourable Stephen Gerlach AM

The Honourable Stephen Gerlach

AM

ATTENDED PULTENEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL 1955 - 1962

Stephen was a strong academic student, and significant sportsman during his time at Pulteney.

After studying a Degree in Law at the University of Adelaide, Stephen worked for legal firm Finlaysons in Adelaide for 23 years, during which time he held the position of Managing Partner from 1985 to 1991.

He has acted as Chairman of numerous publicly listed companies, including Equatorial Mining Ltd, Challenger Listed Investments Limited, Amdel Ltd and Penrice Ltd. Significantly, he was Chairman of Oil and Gas producer, Santos Ltd from 2001 until 2009, and was Chairman of Elders Ltd for 10 years, until his retirement in December 2010.

He held directors’ positions on further public companies including Southcorp Ltd, Elders Rural Bank and Brunner Mond Holdings Ltd (UK).

Stephen has also been actively involved in a number of community and professional associations and is currently a Trustee of the Australian Cancer Research Foundation, a Director of the General Sir John Monash Foundation, Chairman of The Psychosis Trust and Chairman of the South Australian Cricket Association Nomination Committee. He was the inaugural Chairman of Foodbank South Australia from 1999 - 2014. Stephen replaced former South Australian Governor, Sir Eric Neal when he was appointed Chancellor of Flinders University in 2010. In 2009, Stephen Gerlach was made a Member of the Order of Australia for service to the provision of social welfare programs through Foodbank South Australia, and to the community.

In 2019 he was appointed a Distinguished Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.