Biographical entry Potter, William Ian (Ian) (1902 - 1994)

Summary

(Sir) William Ian (Ian) Potter was a stockbroker and financier who was the Principal Partner in Ian Potter & Co. 1935-67. In 1964 he established the Ian Potter Foundation which distributes over $2million in grants each year. Beneficiaries have included the Howard Florey Institute of Experimental Physiology and Medicine, The Australian Academy of Science, CSIRO, the Zoological Board of Victoria, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, Birds Australia (formerly The Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union) and a number of medical institutions.

Details

Born Sydney, 25 August 1902. Died Melbourne, 24 October 1994. Kt cr. 1962. Educated University of Sydney (BEc 1929). Economist, Edward Dyason, a Melbourne stockbroker 1929-33, Economist, Federal Treasury, Canberra 1933-35, Principal Partner, Ian Potter and Company 1935-67, Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve 1940-43. Founder and Chairman, Ian Potter Foundation Ltd, chairman and/or director of numerous companies in both the commercial and cultural fields. Commonwealth representative, Conference on Rural Debt Adjustment 1934-35, Australian Member, War Reparation Council, represented Australia at World Bank meetings 1950s and '60s. Fellow, Australian Academy of Science 1978.

Related entries

Published resources

Journal Articles

• Denton, D. A.; Ryan, M. H., 'William Ian Potter 1902-1994', Historical Records of Australian Science, vol. 11, no. 4, 1997, pp. 541-550. Also available at http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/HR9971140541.htm. Details

Online Resources

• National Library of Australia, 'Potter, William Ian', Trove, National Library of Australia and the Australian National Maritime Museum Darling Harbour, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1476044. Details