William 'Bill' Bowness AO - BCOM FCPA FAPI FAICD HonDB was born and raised in Brisbane, Queensland. Educated at Coorparoo State School, Brisbane State High School and University of Queensland, Bill relocated to Melbourne in 1968.

Bill's initial work background was in banking and investment banking. He was the founder, Chairman and CEO of Melbourne based property developer, Wilbow Corporation Pty. Ltd. Formed in 1976, offices were later established in Brisbane, Dallas (United States) and Auckland (New Zealand) between 1989 to 2004. The Australian operations were sold to a major public company in late 2006 while Dallas operations were retained and expanded. He is the Chair of Wilbow Group Pty. Ltd. which is involved in various investments and developments in Australia and in property development in USA.

Bill was the Director of what is now, Housing Choices Australia, from 2007 to 2011 and a Director of Places Victoria from 2011 to 2014. From 2005 to 2009, he was a Director of Defence Housing Australia (DHA) and from 2009 to 2012 was a Director of Centro Retail Trust.

Bill was also Chair of the Monash Gallery of Art Committee of Management from 1998 to 2010 and is a Trustee of the Monash Gallery of Art Foundation. He was appointed a Member of the National Gallery of Victoria Foundation and The Australian Ballet Foundation in 2010. He has been awarded Life Membership of both the National Gallery of Victoria and the Australian Ballet. From 2009 to 2017, he was a Member of the Monash University Estates Committee and from 2011 to 2016, a Member of the Latrobe University Infrastructure & Estates Planning Committee. He was also a Member of the Board of Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) from 2007 to 2013.

In 2015, Bill received an Honorary Doctorate of Business from the University of Queensland for his distinguished service to the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of Queensland. In 2017, Bill received the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the visual and performing arts through philanthropic contributions, fundraising and advisory roles, and to the building and construction industry. He is still currently actively involved in various cultural, community and philanthropic activities.

Bill describes his time at Brisbane State High School and his advice to current students: "Formative years that were largely wasted academically notwithstanding, a great environment and some really committed staff who I still recall. Don't let it happen to you!"