David Gonski
| David Gonski AC | |
|---|---|
| Born |
David Michael Gonski 7 October 1953 Cape Town, South Africa |
| Residence | Point Piper, Sydney |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Alma mater | University of New South Wales |
| Spouse(s) | Orli Wargon |
| Children | Michael, Kate, Timothy |
| Parent(s) | Alexander Gonski, Helene Blume |
David Michael Gonski AC (born 7 October 1953) is an Australian public figure and businessman. He is a leading philanthropist, Patron of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation, and Patron of Raise Foundation. (www.raise.org.au)
In 2008, The Sydney Morning Herald described him as "one of the country's best-connected businessmen" and dubbed him "Mr Networks" for being "arguably Sydney's most networked man." A profile in 2010 by Australian author and Herald columnist, Malcolm Knox said that Gonski is "a quiet man, in some ways invisible, and cleaves to the shadows. If he were to draw a self-portrait, Gonski would get more use out of an eraser than a pencil."
Gonski was born in Cape Town, South Africa and his family migrated to Australia in 1961 in the wake of the Sharpeville massacre. Gonski's father, Alexander, was neurosurgeon of Polish background and a founding member of the New South Wales Golf Club at La Perouse. His mother is Helene Blume. In a 2010 interview, Gonski recalls that one of his earliest recollections was his mother buying a lithograph by Australian artist, Charles Blackman; commenting that "...there's no doubt that my love for Australian art came from her." Gonski is Jewish. He attended Sydney Grammar School and the University of New South Wales, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1976, and a Bachelor of Laws degree (with the University Medal) in 1977.
He practised as a solicitor with the firm of Freehills from 1977 to 1986, becoming their youngest ever partner at age 25, before leaving to co-found an investment bank. While at Freehills, he taught intellectual property law for the Faculty of Law at the University of New South Wales.
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