Brookes Oration

The Deakin Graduate School of Business annually hosts the Brookes Oration. Each year the top two MBA Graduates are named Brookes Scholars and presented with the Brookes Medal at this event.

Mr C H Brookes is a supporter of the Oration, named in honour of his father, Sir Wilfred Brookes, grandson of Alfred Deakin, the second Prime Minister of Australia, for whom Deakin University is named. Sir Wilfred continued the family's association with the University as Chairman of the Deakin University Foundation.

Sir Wilfred had a long and distinguished career in business and the corporate world. He was a decorated World War II veteran who worked with Australian Paper Manufacturers before the war, and on demobilisation served as Director of a number of companies including Western Mining Corporation, Associated Pulp and Paper Mills, BH South, Broken Hill Associated Smelters and North Broken Hill Holdings, Alcoa of Australia, Perpetual Trustees and Colonial Mutual Life. He contributed significantly to community life through his work with the Institute of Public Affairs, the Liberal Party, the Edward Wilson Trust and the Corps of Commissionaires.

Among his many community roles, he made a significant contribution to Deakin University and in 1981 Sir Wilfred honoured us by giving an address to the first MBA class on 21 March. Download the address [493KB].

The Brookes Oration was established by the Deakin Graduate School of Business to encourage thoughtful debate about the contribution of corporate Australia in the global community.

2012 Brookes Oration