Museum would be the perfect tribute for UOW's visionary leader

A "trailblazer", "genius" and "visionary" – the tributes have flowed following the sudden passing of the University of Wollongong's (UOW) second Vice-Chancellor, Emeritus Professor Ken McKinnon AO.

Close friend, lawyer and former Wollongong alderman Harold Hanson described Ken as "an extraordinary man". Their friendship stretched over many decades. "We just hit it off," Harold said.

They last caught up just a few days before Ken's death as he was preparing for his daily swim at The Links in Wollongong where he and his wife, Sue Walker, have lived for many years. "When we last met, he was fine.

"As couples, the four of us regularly dined together, and Ken and I would catch up for coffee. We talked a lot about Wollongong's progress and things we'd still like to see happen. He was a ready conversationalist, and we chatted about anything and everything."

Their shared vision of a world-class museum for Wollongong was always high on their agenda.

A recruitment master stroke

Harold said attracting Ken McKinnon to UOW in its formative years was a master stroke.

"We were extraordinarily fortunate when he came here in 1981. Remember the city of Wollongong was on the cusp of its biggest ever recession with BHP reducing its workforce drastically. The university became a much more significant player, especially with Ken in charge. Can you imagine the drastic effect on the economy of Wollongong and the Illawarra without UOW at that time.

"He was the best strategic tactician I've ever come across, without a doubt, and he was a genius at raising money for the campus. He was the true architect of the university," Harold said.

"There were obstacles, of course, but to develop a university of the standard of UOW with its quality buildings, finding the right staff, and the finances to build was never going to be easy. And to do it within a time period of 13 years was not just extraordinary, it was genius."

In a statement, UOW said: "Professor McKinnon's legacy is profound and far-reaching. His transformative leadership elevated a young regional university to national prominence through strategic foresight, hands-on engagement, and an unwavering commitment to putting people first."

'A visionary'

UOW's current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Max Lu AO, described Ken McKinnon as "a visionary leader".

"He had the foresight to build not just an institution, but a culture that values innovation, inclusivity and real-world impact.

"The university we are today is in no small part the result of his leadership, determination and belief in what Wollongong could become," Professor Lu said.

Professor McKinnon was credited with UOW's evolution into a world-class research and teaching institution. He led the amalgamation with the Wollongong Institute of Education, expanded academic disciplines, drove the development of UOW's iconic leafy campus, and established the university's first international campus in Dubai.

According to Harold Hanson, when Ken retired from UOW in 1994: "He didn't really retire and importantly, he and Sue chose to stay in Wollongong.

"He rescued James Cook University when it was in deep trouble. He was the Chairman of the IMB for a time and the Australian Press Council."

Generous contributions to UOW

Ken also remained deeply connected to UOW. He and his wife, Sue Walker, made significant philanthropic contributions that continue to support students and researchers.

In 2016, the couple established the McKinnon Walker Trust with a $1.3 million gift to foster innovation across the university, and their commitment continued with a landmark $5 million donation in 2024 to establish research fellowships, support future generations of scholars, and reinforce UOW's capacity to address global challenges.

Paying tribute, Wollongong MP, Paul Scully said Ken "never lost his passion for seeing the university or the city improve. In recent conversations he still had big ideas that he was passionately advocating for".

Championing a museum

Harold Hanson said one of those big ideas was for the creation of a "first-class" regional museum in Wollongong. "One of Ken's biggest disappointments in recent years was that no one shared the vision that he and I both had to see a wonderful museum created."

In December 2024, Ken told The Illawarra Flame: "Over the years I've travelled the world quite a bit, and this is the only city of this size that doesn't have a significant museum in its cultural precinct.

"Every place I've seen with a population of 300,000, or much less, has a significant public building which tells the story of that place. If we can get this museum project up and running it would change the city forever. We're the third city of NSW but you wouldn't think so; and we have a great story to tell."

Harold said Ken saw his advocacy for a regional museum as "unfinished business".

"I'd love to see some sort of lasting tribute to recognise the remarkable contribution that Ken's made to this city. I couldn't imagine a better tribute than the regional museum idea which Ken spoke about so passionately."