Bill Bowness established Wilbow Corporation in 1976, which grew to be one of Australia’s largest privately owned property development companies, with interests in Melbourne, Brisbane, Auckland (NZ), and Dallas (USA). The Australian interests were sold to a major public company in 2006 and Wilbow Group was formed as a family office.
Bill is Founder and Director of the Bowness Family Foundation established in 2008, which has gone on to make significant contributions to the Australian community. He was previously a Director of Centro Retail Trust, Defence Housing Australia, Housing Choices Australia and Places Victoria. He was Chair of the Museum of Australian Photography (MAPh), Member of Photo Australia Board; and Member of the National Gallery of Victoria Foundation and Board of the Australian Ballet Foundation being made a Life Member of both organisations.
Bill was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Business from the University of Queensland in 2015 and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2017 for his distinguished service to the arts sector, the property development industry, and philanthropy.