Ian McLennan


Sir Ian Munro McLennan was a prominent Australian director of public companies, most notably as Chairman of Australia's then largest company, the Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited.
McLennan was born in Stawell, Victoria, and spent his early childhood at Mooroopna. He attended Scotch College, Melbourne as a border, where he was equal Dux of School in 1927. After leaving school he studied electrical engineering at the University of Melbourne and was a resident at the University's Ormond College.
After graduating from university in 1932 he joined the Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited as a cadet in its Whyalla works and at the nearby Iron Knob iron-ore mine. In April 1971 McLennan was appointed Chairman and Director of Administration of BHP, positions he held until 1977 when he reached the compulsory retirement age for BHP directors. Thus, in just less than forty years he had moved through the company ranks to its most senior position. During that time he had guided the company though a series of major changes including its move into petroleum exploration and production in offshore Bass Strait.
His directorships and roles included:
He was a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, a Foundation Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, and also the Foundation President of ATSE.
He was a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy council, and its president in 1940.
In 1956 he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his services as a member of the Immigration Planning Council. In 1963 he was elevated to Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to industry.
In 1979 he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George for services to youth, the community and industry.
McLennan endowed his old school, Scotch College, Melbourne with the Sir Ian McLennan Chair of Design and Technology.