Educated at Wesley College and the University of Melbourne, Bruce Williams went on to secure academic positions in Adelaide, Belfast and North Staffordshire, eventually becoming professor of economics at Manchester and a consultant to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. While in England he took part in the creation of two innovative universities, at Keele and Lancaster. He also became economic advisor to the Ministry of Technology and a member of the Prices and Incomes Board - an experience that influenced his views as a board member of the Reserve Bank of Australia from 1969 to 1981.
Williams returned to Australia in 1967 to take up the position of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney. he held this office until 1981. He was knighted Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to education and government in 1980. After retiring from the University of Sydney Williams returned to England to direct the New Technical Change Centre. He was also visiting professor at Imperial College.
Keenly interested in a wide variety of cultural affairs Williams was chair of the Sydney International Piano Competition Australia from 1988 to 2003 and helped establish the Cladan Cultural Exchange Institute of Australia, which he chaired from 1976 to 1982. A prolific writer he also authored 13 books on industry, investment and education.
