Leigh Clifford is Chairman of Qantas Airways; he is also a Director of Bechtel Group Inc in the USA and Chairman of Bechtel Australia Pty Ltd, Senior Adviser to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co, Director of Crestone Wealth Management, a member of the Council of Trustees of the National Gallery of Victoria and Chairman of the National Gallery of Victoria Foundation, a director of Equestrian Australia and Chair of the University of Melbourne’s philanthropic campaign.
Prior to this Mr Clifford worked for Rio Tinto for 37 years. He was appointed a Director of Rio Tinto in 1994 and became Chief Executive in March 2000. He retired as Chief Executive and Director in 2007.
Mr Clifford was previously Chairman of the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, a Director of Barclays Bank plc in the United Kingdom and Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc in the USA.
He was born in Loxton, South Australia. A qualified mining engineer, he graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Engineering with first class honours and gained a Masters degree in Engineering Science from the same University.
