Paul Jeans

Paul Jeans is a fourth generation Novocastrian. He grew up on the shores of Lake Macquarie and attended Newcastle Boys High School. Jeans completed a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering at Newcastle University College in Tighes Hill in the years before the institution became the autonomous University of Newcastle. He has undertaken management training at the University of New South Wales and the University of Hawaii.

During a 42 year career with BHP Jeans held a number of Executive roles, including responsibility for the Steelworks in Newcastle and leading BHP Engineering. Jeans’ success in business has also seen him become Director and Chairman of other organisations, including Fosters Brewing Group, Energy Australia, Ausgrid and Wollongong University’s Illawarra Technology Corporation. Jeans has also played leading roles with the Australia-Korea Business Council and the Australian Minerals Council. Jeans is a fellow of the Institution of Engineers and Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Paul Jeans has been closely involved in some important episodes of Newcastle’s history. He was involved with winding down the BHP Steelworks in the 1990s and was Chairman of the Newcastle Port Corporation when the port was leased by the state government. He will now use his experience of managing organisations through periods of change to oversee the University of Newcastle as it expands into the city centre.