QualificationsBachelor of Engineering (Honours)
Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering Biography
Ken Moss was born in 1945 and grew up in the Newcastle suburb of Adamstown. He was educated at Adamstown Public School and Newcastle Boys High School. Moss was able to attend university because of a scholarship and combined study with an apprenticeship at BHP Steelworks. When he graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree in 1968 it was in the first full year of graduates from the newly autonomous University of Newcastle. The social life of university convinced Moss to continue studying and he received a Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering in 1974. As well as the social life of university Moss involved himself in student politics and took a strong stance against the Vietnam War and conscription. Working in the steelworks was also important to his early development. He learnt to work with a wide range of people and remained down to earth and generous for his whole life.
After university Moss worked his way up the engineering company Goninan and became managing director of Goninan’s parent company, Howard Smith, in Britain from 1995 to 2000. Moss has also played a role in leading other companies. He has been chairman of Boral and Centennial Coal Company and sat on the board of National Australia Bank, Adsteam Marine and Macquarie Capital Alliance Group. Moss was also chairman of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and played an important part in the establishment of the Hunter Medical Research Institute.
Moss was a member of the University of Newcastle Council from 2010 and became Chancellor in May 2012. In 2008 Moss was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for services to business and the community.
Dr Ken Moss AM died in October 2012 at the age of 67.