John Cassidy

Who is John Cassidy?

John Marcus Cassidy AO, Australian engineer and pastoralist, was the sixth Chancellor of the University of New England, serving from 2004 until 2008.

Much of Cassidy’s career was in civil engineering. He studied at the University of Newcastle, where he graduated with a bachelor of Civil Engineering. His career included stints abroad between 1975 and 1985. In the late 1980s, Cassidy became CEO of the construction company Abigroup. Having built and diversified the company, Cassidy retired as CEO of Abigroup in early 2004. In 1982, Cassidy purchased the grazing property Merilba at Kingstown, where he became associated with the breeding of South Devon cattle, as well as other livestock, and more recent times, the growing wine grapes on the property.

Cassidy was appointed chancellor by the University Council on the 11 December 2003, and was installed at a graduation ceremony the following March. In 2007, Cassidy was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for service to university administration, to the civil engineering and construction industries, and to the community.