CQU Faculty of Business and Law Alumni will attend a celebration dinner on Friday night to mark the 35-year history of the Faculty of Business and Law.

Many among the first graduates have become local business leaders in the Rockhampton area including Ron Smyth (DC Motors) and Allan Johnson (Johnson & Tennent).

Travelling the longest distance for the occassion is another CQU Alumnus, Des Pearson, Auditor General of Western Australia. Des was one of the original students of Capricornia Institute of Advanced Education in 1970 and holds a Bachelor of Business Degree, majoring in accounting, business law and management and a Graduate Diploma in Management, majoring in management information and accounting systems.

On completion of his initial tertiary education in 1970, Des commenced as a Cadet Auditor and within the first decade of his career became the Chief Auditor of Darwin in the Northern Territory. In furthering his career, he made a shift in 1979 to the department of Primary Industries and Energy where he held various positions as Director. The next challenge was the appointment in 1988 to the Canberra Institute of Technology as Associate Director, Corporate Services.

Des went on to pursue a career in the public sector, leading to Auditor General for Western Australia in 1991.

"Des is a true Central Queenslander born and educated in this region. Des' s career is a very impressive one, and this is a reflection, not only on himself but also on Central Queensland University where he obtained his tertiary education," Professor Fagg said.

Besides his career achievements, Des has excelled in community activities and takes an active role as a Rotarian, a member of the Deafness Council Western Australia, Director of Bizlink and a Director of PE Personnel, employment services for school leavers with disabilities. Other activities have included professional affiliations as a Fellow of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants (ASCPA), an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA), a member of the Institute of Public Administration Australia and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management (AIM).

Des was the winner of the Central Queensland University Alumnus of the Year Award in 1996.

"The Faculty of Business and Law is extremely proud to have such an outstanding achiever as one of its founding students," said Professor Fagg.

Photo: Staff and students, Department of General Studies (Business) 1971. (front from left), Ross Johnson, Ray Hutchings, Peter Wells, Kevin Fagg, John Carkeek, Des Pearson, Kevin Lock, Graham Smith. (back) Phil Hoare, Phil Procopis, Marshall McCarthy, Graham McHugh, Bob Hay, Randall Alick and John Morris.

Photo source: 'Academia Capricornia - A History of the University of Central Queensland', Dr Dennis Cryle, p17.