# Melbourne Business School

Melbourne Business School (MBS) is the graduate business school of the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The School offers an MBA program, specialist Masters programs, a doctoral program, and executive education programs. The MBS Head Office and main campus are in the Melbourne suburb of Carlton, walking distance from Melbourne's Central Business District, in a complex designed by Daryl Jackson.
MBS has an additional office in Pitt Street, Sydney, and a program enquiries office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

## History

MBS began teaching in 1955 when the University of Melbourne offered Australia's first residential executive education program in the summer of that year. Its first Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree was awarded in 1965, which was also the first MBA degree awarded in Australia.
During the 1980s, MBS was awarded the status of a National Management School by the Australian Government and the Graduate School of Management was established within the University of Melbourne.
In 1989, it was re-organized again, this time as the Graduate School of Management Ltd: a non-profit company limited by guarantee and managed by a board of directors which includes the chairs and directors of leading Australian corporations. This organization structure has helped create a major link between the university and those who have a responsibility for management. It is currently co-owned by the University of Melbourne (45%) and Australian businesses (55%).
In 2004, Melbourne Business School Limited merged with Mt Eliza Business School, which was established in 1957, becoming the largest management education business school in Australia.
In July 2009, the school announced that it was the subject of a proposed merger with the Graduate School of Management at the University of Melbourne. However, the proposal was decided not to proceed following opposition from MBS members in September 2009.
In October 2012 the school signed a collaboration deal with University of Melbourne, sharing resources but retaining the school's independence and the authority of the board.
MBS closed and sold its Mt Eliza campus in 2016, to concentrate on expanding the Carlton campus.

## Research Centres

Centre for Business Analytics
The Centre for Business Analytics (CfBA) at Melbourne Business School was established in 2014 in response to growing global demand for analytics research and knowledge. The Centre also manages educational programs, collaborative workshops and the School's Master of Business Analytics program. The CfBA is headed by Professor Yalcin Akcay.
Centre for Sustainability and Business
The Centre for Sustainability and Business at Melbourne Business School was established in 2020 to support the development of sustainability in business. the Centre brings together leaders to develop the networks and comprehensive skill-sets needed to advance the practice of sustainability in business. The CSaB is headed by Professor Glen Hoetker.
Dilin Duwa Centre for Indigenous Business Leadership
The Dilin Duwa Centre is a joint centre between the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Business and Economics and the Melbourne Business School. It runs the Murra Program and a Graduate Certificate of Indigenous Leadership. The Centre is headed by Associate Professor Michelle Evans.

## Ranking

Per the Financial Times 2024 ranking, the Melbourne MBA is currently unranked. Additionally, Melbourne Business School withdrew from the Financial Times Executive MBA ranking after a staff member inappropriately encouraged students to fill out surveys rating their courses.

## Notable alumni

* Adam Garone, Founder, Movember, Master of Marketing 1999
* Ahmed Fahour, former CEO, Australia Post, MBA 1993
* Andrew Bassat, Co-Founder, Seek, MBA 1994
* Bill Shorten, Australian Federal Minister for Government Services and Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (incumbent), Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Australian Labor Party (2013 - 2019), MBA 2001
* Brent Chapman, Founder, Majordomo, MBA 2003
* Brodie Grundy, Australian Football League player, Sydney Swans, MBA 2024
* Christine Kilpatrick, CEO, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Senior Executive MBA, 2007
* Damien Gance, Director and Co-founder, Chemist Warehouse, MBA 2008
* Grant McCabe, Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand, Boston Consulting Group, MBA 2001
* John Elliott, former CEO of Elders IXL and Carlton & United Breweries (now Carlton & United Beverages)
* Katie Lahey, former CEO, Business Council of Australia, Senior Executive MBA 1988
* Margaret Jackson, former chairman Qantas, MBA 1982
* Michael Phelan, Chief Policing Officer, ACT Policing (2007 - 2010); Chief Executive Officer, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) (2017 - 2022), MBA 2009
* Paul Rizzo, Group Managing Director of Telstra, MBA 1969
* Rosemary Balmford, the first female judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria, MBA 1971
* Ross Oakley, former CEO, AFL
* Wesley Walden, Managing Partner, Australia and New Zealand, McKinsey & Company, MBA 2004

## Board of directors

MBS is unique among Australian business school's because of its hybrid ownership structure. The School is owned by Melbourne Business School Ltd, a non-profit organisation that is 55 per cent owned by the business community and 45 per cent owned by the University of Melbourne. The board of directors of MBS Ltd are:
* Mr Ken MacKenzie (Chairman). Appointed: 2023
* Mr Anthony Ray Burgess. Appointed: 2013
* Professor Jenny George. Appointed: 2023
* Janelle Hopkins. Appointed: 2023
* Mr Robert Johanson. Appointed 2017
* Professor Paul Kofman. Appointed: 2013
* Mr Cameron Leitch. Appointed: 2017
* Professor Geoff Martin. Appointed 2020
* Professor Duncan Maskell. Appointed 2018
* Rebecca McGrath. Appointed: 2023
* Brooke Miller. Appointed: 2023
* Ms Claire Rogers. Appointed: 2020