Oxford Business Alumni History

The first meeting of the Oxford Business Alumni (OBA) steering committee was held on 20th October 1997. The following was accepted as a shorthand statement for the Association's purpose:

The Association exists to promote and develop the relationships between the Saïd Business School, Oxford Colleges and former students. The Association will also seek to assist the Saïd Business School establish itself as, and then retain the position of, one of the world's finest centres for studying management and organisation.

In April 1998, Sir Michael Perry, first Chairperson of the OBA, formally launched the association.

John Kay delivered the OBA Inaugural Lecture at the Institute of Chartered Accountants on 29th September 1998.
OBA was incorporated as a private limited company on 25th May 1999.

To maximise networking potential, during the initial launch period all graduates of Oxford with an interest in business were offered the option of being grandfathered into OBA. The Friends of Templeton, were also invited to transfer their membership to OBA.

Since then OBA has furthered its objectives through producing an alumni directory, establishing a website of information (giving access to membership news and an interrogative membership database) and through organising networking events and lectures for members. Members are also sent regular mailings of SBS news and are encouraged to support the School through marketing of student programmes and other School PR initiatives, helping students job search and identifying student projects.

The University of Oxford (SBS) has now become the major fund provider for OBA. To guarantee long-term financial security for the organisation the assets and membership of the Company were transferred to the University on 15th July 2002.

The company is now dormant and the OBA Board of Directors has been re-named The OBA Advisory Board.