A PROFILE OF THE AUSTRALIAN CORPORATE ELITE

Those who manage the largest corporations in free market economies are among the most powerful élite groups in those societies, influential in almost all areas of economic, political and social life. Yet, while considerable research has been conducted on the corporate élite of various countries, relatively little work has been done in Australia. The article seeks to go some way to filling that void by providing a profile of the chief executive officers of large Australian corporations. Based on a questionnaire survey of Australia′s largest 199 corporations, 76 CEOs provided detailed information on their personal and professional background. The article profiles them in terms of their occupational and educational origins, career paths and the like.