Dr Ben Lochtenberg
LOCHTENBERG, Bernard (Ben) Hendrik, BE(Hons) PHD(Oxon) FTSE HonLLD (1931–2022)
Bernard (Ben) Hendrik Lochtenberg was born on March 10, 1931, in Singapore, the only son of Jan M Lochtenberg and his wife Anna Lochtenberg. With the fall of Singapore, Ben was evacuated from Java to Australia with his mother, cousins and aunt arriving in Bunbury on the “Van Den Bosch” on March 5, 1942. His father was taken as a Japanese prisoner of war and died in 1945, as forced labour, building a railway in Sumatra.
Ben’s story is published in his autobiography, “A Boy on the Last Boat".
Prior to coming to Australia, Ben attended schools in Java, Holland, Singapore and the United States. From 1942 to 1948 he attended St Louis Jesuit School, Claremont. He was Dux and Captain of the school.
In 1949, Ben enrolled in Engineering at The University of Western Australia. In December 1953 he was selected as Rhodes Scholar for 1954. In April 1954, Ben graduated with First Class Honours in Civil Engineering. He had been University Guild President, President of the University Engineers Club and an active member of the University Rowing Club. He had also won the G M Nunn prize for Surveying I in 1950 and Surveying II in 1952.
Ben studied at Oxford from 1954 to 1956 at Braesnose College completing a PHD.
On June 16, 1956, he married Margaret Mary Lynch in London and they had seven children. Margaret was the daughter of Dr John Lynch and his wife Kathleen Lynch, nee O’Hara from Brisbane.
On August 19, 1957, he returned to Australia from England with his wife and young son to take up residence in Victoria. He had joined ICI Australia in 1956. He became a General Manager of the company 1970, and a director of ICI’s Plastics Division in England in 1973. He was a senior Vice President of ICI Americas from 1979 to 1988, and Chairman from 1989 to 1993. Dr Lochtenberg was Chairman of Orica Limited, formerly ICI Australia, from 1995 to 2001. He also was Deputy Chairman of Webjet and a Director of Capral Aluminium Limited.
The Melbourne University profile states: “Dr Lochtenberg has been a most active and capable contributor in a wide range of health organisations. In 1994-1995 he was a Director of the Caritas Christi Hospice (Kew) and has been Chairman of the Mental Health Research Institute since 1994 and a Director of the Inner and Eastern Health Care Network Board since 1995. He was a member of the Neuroscience Victoria Board from 2002 to 2004.
Dr Lochtenberg was also Chairman of the Ministerial Review on Medical Staffing in the Victorian Public Hospital System in 1994-1995. Dr Lochtenberg has made an outstanding contribution to the University in his role as a member of University Council. Dr Lochtenberg was appointed a member of the University Council 1996 and was subsequently appointed as Deputy Chancellor in 2005. He has been an active member of Council committees, namely Audit and Risk Committee (1998-2004), Building and Estates Committee (1998-2006), Remuneration and Employment Conditions Committee (formerly Standing Committee on Staff Salaries) (1996-2006), Council Nominations and Governance Committee (2004-2006), Senior Appointments Committee (2005) and Honours Committee (2006). He has also been a member of the Newman College Council since 1996.
In 1998 Dr Lochtenberg undertook the important leadership role in the establishment and governance of UMEE Pty Ltd (formerly Melbourne University Private Pty Ltd) by first accepting a directorship of the company, which was then followed by his appointment as Chairman in 2003. In 2001, he also took on the role of Director of Melbourne Enterprises International Ltd, a subsidiary of UMEE Pty Ltd, which was followed by his appointment as Chair in 2003. In 2004, he took up the appointment of Chair of the MU Student Union Ltd, which he held until May 2006. Dr Lochtenberg has also been Chairman of the Delaware Symphony 1984-1993. In 2003, the Commonwealth Government awarded him a Federation Centenary Medal, acknowledging his great contribution to the Australian community.”
Ben Lochtenberg died in Melbourne on March 9, 2022, aged 89.
References:
A Boy on the Last Boat, Ben Lochtenberg, Brolga Publishing, 2016.
West Australian 4.12.1953, p. 4.
Who is Who in Australia, Crown Content Pty Ltd, North Melbourne, 2006.
Microsoft Word - Lochtenberg, Ben FINAL.doc (unimelb.edu.au) accessed April 1, 2022.
