We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you personalised advertising. To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policy

Skip to Content
University of Wollongong Australia. Logo. University of Wollongong Australia. Logo. University of Wollongong Australia. Logo.
  • Search
  • Give
  • Library
  • Current Students
  • Staff
  • UOW Global
    • Our global presence
    • UOW in Dubai
    • UOW in Hong Kong
    • UOW in Malaysia
  • Menu
  • Study at UOW

    • Courses
    • Apply
    • Scholarships & grants
    • Accommodation
    • High-school students
    • Non-school leavers
    • Postgraduate students
    • International students
    • Moving to Wollongong
    • Study abroad & exchange
    • Global sport programs
    • Campuses
    Study at UOW
  • Engage

    • Future student
    • Alumni
    • Visit UOW
    • Woolyungah Indigenous Centre
    • Volunteer
    • The Stand Magazine
    • Community Members
    • Grants and funding
    • Give to UOW
    • Visit the Library
    • Key contacts
    • Educators & school teachers
    Engage with us
  • About UOW

    • Welcome
    • Our people
    • Services
    • Contacts
    • What's on
    • Global presence
    • Media Centre
    • Faculties & schools
    • Our vision & strategy
    • Our Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Strategy
    • Our reputation & experience
    • Locations, campuses & partners
    See more about UOW
  • Research

    • Our research
    • Researcher support
    • Research impact
    • Partnership & collaboration
    • Graduate Research School
    • Commercial research
    • Global Challenges
    • Media, news & events
    • Find an expert
    • Our people
    See more about research
  • Industry

    • Generator Lab
    • Advantage SME
    • Success stories
    • Industry research engagement
    • Equipment & Labs
    • Funding opportunities
    • Intellectual property
    • Collaboration for business
    • Collaboration for researchers
    • Careers and employability
    See more about Industry
  • Alumni

    • Benefits
    • Outlook Magazine
    • Events & webinars
    • Volunteer
    • Awards
    • Honorary alumni
    • Testamurs & transcripts
    • Update your details
    • Your career journey
    • Contact us & FAQ
    See more about alumni
  • Quick links

    • Contact directory
    • Staff Intranet
    • Campus maps
    • Transport & parking
    • Key dates
    • Events
    • Password management
    • Jobs
    • Accommodation
    • Policy directory
  • Library
You are here More Pages
  • Home
  • About UOW
  • Media Centre
  • 2023
  • Brendan Lyon joins UOW as Professor of Practice

Media Quick Links

  • Contact UOW Media
  • Visiting campus
  • Image library
  • UOW key facts
  • Find an expert
  • News Corp subscription
  • Sign up for the latest news from UOW Media

May 25, 2023


  • Story By
  • India Glyde
  • Photo By
  • Mark Newsham
Share
Type
Media Release
Category
Business and Economy
Tags
WollongongEconomicsStudent lifeBusiness

UOW in the News

Brendan Lyon joins UOW as Professor of Practice

Infrastructure professional brings wealth of experience in corporate, government roles to Faculty of Business and Law


Professor Brendan Lyon knows better than most that there’s always light after darkness.

Over the past five years, wading through hell in his professional life, infrastructure professional Professor Lyon withstood immense corporate and political pressure by sticking to his core principles.

Now, as he joins the University of Wollongong (UOW) as the first Professor of Practice in the Faculty of Business and Law, Professor Lyon has no regrets about maintaining his ethics and character, in the worst of times.

“At the start of my career a company director named Mark Birrell, who is one of my greatest friends and mentors, gave me a simple ethical framework to apply across my career: ‘Would you still say or do something in two years’ time, if you were working somewhere else?’,” Professor Lyon said.  

“It has been some of the best advice I have ever received and has served me well throughout my career, particularly in tough times.”

Professors of Practice are traditionally senior executives who bring a wealth of real-world, practical experience to the role and can be engaged in both teaching and research activities. 

Originally from southern Sydney, Professor Lyon has a long history with UOW, beginning with an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts and Law. Although he left in his fourth year of the double degree, eager to pursue a job in the world of business, he came back to complete a Master of Business Administration a few years later.

He is “delighted” to have taken on the role of Professor of Practice, which will enable him to balance his interest in research with a position teaching across the faculty’s undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

“I am absolutely thrilled to join the University of Wollongong,” he said. “UOW’s campus is beautiful, the faculty have been very welcoming, and I am excited about the opportunity to conduct my own research and to help teach the next generation of business leaders.”

In addition to his business experience, Professor Lyon brings to UOW a wealth of experience in project management and infrastructure that will translate to both law and business. He has always been drawn to the people-centred nature of business – the fact that corporations or projects are the sum of their human parts.

“All business is personal,” he said simply.

In particular, Professor Lyon loves that infrastructure, at its best, helps to make people’s lives better.

“If you look at road infrastructure, it connects people, it makes their trips safer and shorter, which enables them to spend more time with their loved ones and to be more productive in their day. When infrastructure is done well, it is a reflection of business or government doing well.”

UOW Executive Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law, Professor Colin Picker, said that as the new Professor of Practice, Professor Lyon brought to the job an extensive record of hard work and results in the business world that would translate into research and teaching.

“Business and Law’s commitment to real world and practice-informed research and teaching has taken a great leap forward now that we have a Professor of Practice to further enhance the expertise and relationships that already exist within the faculty,” Professor Picker said.

“Furthermore, the appointment of Professor Lyon into that role additionally connects that commitment to one of our other principles – that of teaching and research focused on socially responsible business and law.  Professor Lyon’s unique experiences and proven commitments will ensure that the faculty continues to lead in these spaces.”

Along with the many lessons he has gained in ethics over the course of his career, which reflect the Faculty of Business and Law’s focus on socially responsible business practices, Professor Lyon is looking forward to working alongside young, business-savvy minds.  

“When you enter the professional world after university, you tend to think that everyone you are working with has all the answers. But then you realise that they are human, they are just making it up as they go along. We are all just making decisions every day based on the information that is in front of us and the skills that we have gained,” he said.

“That is one thing that I really want to instil in my students when I am teaching. If you have good values and good intentions, then you can make the right decisions when you need to.”

Professor Lyon delivered the guest address at the Faculty of Business and Law graduation ceremony at UOW last month. It was an immense honour, he said, and a chance to instil in the graduates the value of standing up for what they believe in, and for using their own name to build a career, and a life, after University.

“Whatever you choose to do – remember the distinction between who you are – and what you do. If there is a material gap between who you are and what you are being asked to do, be prepared to resign – or to be sacked,” he told the audience.  

“Take risks, make mistakes, make decisions, gain experiences. If you are honest, your mistakes will be honest. If you are accountable to your errors, you will learn and adapt and people will trust you, respect you and want to work for, with or around you. 

“Jobs, roles and titles are transitory but your name is permanent. If you act professionally and with integrity, you’ll always have people’s confidence and be regarded for professional diligence and fairness.”

Media Contacts for this article

UOW Media Office

You may also be interested in

Leading financial experts to explore security of the banking sector at inaugural Gong Talks event
UOW expert commentary: Dr Paul Mazzola on RBA review
Imposter syndrome under the spotlight
Services & Help
  • Current students
  • Library
  • Information technology
  • Accommodation
  • Security & safety
  • Pool, gym & retail
News, Media & Events
  • Media Centre
  • The Stand
  • Alumni Magazine
  • Research news
  • Events
  • Find an expert
Faculties
  • Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities
  • Business & Law
  • Engineering & Information Sciences
  • Science, Medicine & Health
Administration
  • Graduation
  • Environment
  • Policy directory
  • Learning and teaching
  • Financial Services
  • Access to information
  • Jobs
UOW Entities
  • Innovation Campus
  • UOW College Australia
  • UOW College Hong Kong
  • UOW in Dubai
  • UOW Global Enterprises
  • UOW Malaysia KDU
  • UOW Pulse
Connect with us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Conversation
  • Contact us
  • Feedback
  • Give to UOW

Northfields Ave Wollongong,  NSW 2522  Australia 
Phone: 1300 367 869 
International: +61 2 4221 3218 
Switchboard: +61 2 4221 3555

  • NUW Alliance: Smarter Solutions for NSW
  • University Global Partnership Network (UGPN)
  • Reconciliation Australia
  • AWEI LGBTQ inclusion awards logo

Aboriginal flag Torres Strait Islander flag

On the lands that we study, we walk, and we live, we acknowledge and respect the traditional custodians and cultural knowledge holders of these lands.

Copyright © 2023 University of Wollongong
CRICOS Provider No: 00102E | TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12062 | ABN: 61 060 567 686
Copyright & disclaimer | Privacy & cookie usage | Web Accessibility Statement

Close