New Chair in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at University of Adelaide

Philanthropist Pamela Wall has donated $5m to the University of Adelaide to establish an endowed academic chair – the Ian and Pamela Wall Chair in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

Ms Wall, known by most as “Pammie”, and her late husband Ian, are well known for being generous supporters of a number of philanthropic causes.

Mr Wall, who passed away late last year, co-founded EILCO — the Electronics, Instrument and Lighting Company — with University of Adelaide friends Alastair Wood and Jim Bettison in 1959, with a vision to tackle a range of challenges in electronics engineering. EILCO became Codan in the 1970s and expanded overseas by exporting products and working directly with humanitarian organisations.

Codan pioneered equipment that supported the launch of Australia’s first domestic satellite system in the 1980s and launched the world’s first commercial modem for fast and fully automatic high-frequency fax and data transmission in the1990s.

Since its early days the company has developed and supplied high-frequency radio equipment for the School of the Air network and the Royal Flying Doctor Service across Australia.

The UN also adopted Codan radio equipment for its relief efforts, establishing the company as the leading global supplier of high frequency communications to humanitarian organisations.

Codan is now listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and is valued at about $1.4bn. Codan reported an underlying net profit of $65.5m on revenues of $456.5m in the latest financial year. 

Ms Wall met her future husband Ian while he studied at the University of Adelaide and she trained as a nurse at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. She later left nursing to marry and support her family and the establishment of EILCO. She was closely involved in the business and served on the board for several decades.

“The opportunity for Ian to study electrical engineering at the University of Adelaide in the 1950s led to key friendships, and a further opportunity to make scientific equipment for some of the University departments,”

Pamela said. “Ian and I have worked hard, but at the same time have always been aware of helping others. In the early days, our focus was on the business, but once that was on track, we could spread our wings and put time, effort and energy into other things.”

University of Adelaide vice-chancellor Peter Hoj said the organisation was immensely grateful.

“The Ian and Pamela Wall Chair in Electrical and Electronic Engineering will make a significant contribution to our future research and education offerings, strengthening the University of Adelaide’s reputation as a globally recognised centre of excellence in electrical and electronic engineering,” he said.

The University will also invest an additional $1.5m to fund PhD research scholarships in the area of electrical and electronic engineering.

By:  Cameron England

From: Adelaide  Advertiser