Mr Paul Beard

Mr Paul Beard was appointed a Director of the SAHMRI Board in October 2026.

Mr Beard is a senior executive and finance leader with more than 30 years' experience across the higher education, public and private sectors. His career has included leadership responsibilities across finance, operations, technology, infrastructure, governance and organisational performance.

Mr Beard currently serves as Deputy Vice Chancellor, Corporate at Adelaide University, where he leads the University’s corporate portfolio, including finance, information technology, estates and facilities, risk, legal, performance data and insights, and the safer community unit.

Prior to his current role, Mr Beard was Chief Operating Officer at the University of South Australia and a member of its senior executive for more than two decades. Earlier roles included senior finance positions in South Australia’s electricity industry, including Chief Financial Officer of ETSA Power and Manager, Finance with AGL. He has also held senior roles with Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu in Australia and the United Kingdom, and Adelaide-based technology company Vision Systems.

His governance appointments include serving as a Director of AU Ventures Group and Open Universities Australia.

Mr Beard is a Chartered Accountant, has completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).