Robert Champion de Crespigny

Robert James Champion de Crespigny was born in Melbourne in August 1950 and educated at Melbourne Grammar School and the University of Melbourne graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce. As a Chartered Accountant for 13 years he worked in the area of corporate finance and taxation and provided advice to the mineral industry.

Late 1985, de Crespigny left accounting and formed Normandy Mining Ltd. He was its Executive Chairman during its 17 years of activity. In 1988 he and his family moved to Adelaide, South Australia. De Crespigny was involved in a number of different organisations including the Australian Gold Council and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD).

De Crespigny was associated with cultural and arts activities such as the National Gallery of Australia Council. He was Chair of the SA Museum Board from 1992-2002 and in 2002 awarded AC, for his services to the mining industry, to business and to the community in promoting cultural preservation and education.

In 2000, de Crespigny was appointed Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, bringing to the role his outstanding business expertise and strong leadership. He was a strong instigator for the establishment of the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics at Waite Campus and helped secure the funding to establish the centre.

De Crespigny stepped down from his role as Chancellor in 2005, and moved to the U.K. to return to the world of business where his experience and advice is much sought after.