Bede Callaghan
Bede Bertrand Callaghan was born in 1912 in Newcastle and also educated in Newcastle. Callaghan began a distinguished career in banking and became General Manager of the Commonwealth Development Bank in 1959 and then Managing Director of the Commonwealth Bank from 1965 until he retired in 1976. Callaghan attributed his high work ethic to his Catholic background and believed in a moral obligation to always work to the best of his ability. He was interested and involved in government matters but never went into politics.
In 1957 Callaghan became Australia’s representative on the boards of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and rose to become an Executive Director of the IMF. He also became Chairman of the Foreign Investment Review Board and published books and articles about foreign investment and banking. Callaghan was knighted in 1976 for his services to the banking industry and received many other awards during his career. During his recreation hours Callaghan took an interest in sport and served as Chairman of the Institute of Sports Medicine.
Callaghan was appointed to the University of Newcastle Council in 1966 and became Chancellor in 1977 after Alister McMullin stepped down from the position. Callaghan worked hard to make the university an important institution for the Hunter Region and also for Australia. He remained in the position until 1988. The suburb where the main campus of the University of Newcastle is located in now known as Callaghan.
Sir Bede Callaghan died in 1992.
Date of Birth1912Date of Death1992-09Other OccupationBankerChairmanManaging DirectorThemeUniversity of Newcastle History
Chancellor Bede CallaghanChancellorShortland CampusOrganisationsUniversity of Newcastle HistoryCommonwealth BankInternational Monetary FundForeign Investment Review BoardAustralian Institute of ManagementBankers' Institute of Australasia