Kenneth Edward Cowley, AO

Patron

Ken Cowley is a director of The News Corporation Limited and has been so since that body was formed in 1979.

Until July, 1997, Mr Cowley was executive chairman of News Limited, The News Corporation Limited’s Australasian holding company.

Mr Cowley joined News in 1964 when he accepted Mr Rupert Murdoch's offer to help launch The Australian, Australia’s first and only national daily broadsheet.

In 1976, Mr Cowley was appointed to the News Limited board of directors, and he assumed the role of managing director four years later. He was made chairman and chief executive in 1992, becoming executive chairman in 1996.

Mr Cowley's directorships include:

R M Williams Holdings Pty Limited (Chairman);
The News Corporation Limited (Director)
Independent Newspapers Limited (Executive Chairman);

He is a member of the Union Club.

Mr Cowley was born on 17 November, 1934, resides in Sydney and is married with a daughter and son. He is a life governor of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, a Councillor of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales, a Governor of the Curran Foundation, chairman of The Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre and was an Ambassador of 2002 Year of the Outback. He is also a director of Tower Estate Pty Ltd.

Mr Cowley was recognised by the Order of Australia in 1988 for his services to media and the community.