Sydney Probus Management Committee
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President
John Doherty
BA (New England), BE (Sydney), Harvard Business Administration Alumnus, FIEAust, FAusIMM, FCPA, FGIA.
Steel industry coke and iron construction and operating experience at BHP Port Kembla, Newcastle, and Whyalla. Coal mining operations, underground and open-cut, in New South Wales and international marketing of coal. Involved in the establishment of the Australia-Japan Coal Conferences and the Newcastle ‘Coal Chain’. Part ownership and operations director of an open-cut coal mine, Lidsdale, NSW. 50 years in commercial cattle and sheep grazing. Application of mathematical programming to provide the variable nutritional feed requirements of young, weaned cattle. RAAF (Reserve) – Flying Operations – Radio & Radar. Sometime sailor from RANSA at Rushcutters Bay. Widower – three children, seven grandchildren.
Role
The President provides leadership and direction and has the overall responsibility for the smooth operation of the Club. He chairs Committee meetings, General meetings and the Annual General Meeting. He is a key liaison person with Probus South Pacific Limited (PSPL).
Vice President
Rod Binsted
School – Normanhurst. Sydney University graduated 1971 MB BS. Specialist Anaesthetist Qualification 1975 London FFARCS (now FRCA). Clinical & Research Fellow Montreal 1976.
Further Specialist Anaesthetist Qualification Sydney 1977 FFARACS (now FANZCA). Specialist Anaesthetist Career mixed Public and Private RNSH and several Private Hospitals, 1977-2014 (retired).
I was involved in Cardiac, Neurosurgical, Vascular and Obstetric Anaesthetics. Director of training for Anaesthetists at RNSH for 10 years
I play Tennis, Bridge, study History, Astronomy & Physics.
I have a partner Judy for 24 years, also a retired Anaesthetist. I have one son, 2 daughters and 6 grandchildren who I see regularly. Judy has a son and a daughter and 4 grandchildren. My passion is to make sure they can all swim.
Role
The Vice President is seen as the President-in-waiting. In the absence of the President, he acts in his role and assists with the smooth operation of the Club and the succession planning for the Committee. With the assistance of the current President he ensures that a smooth handover to the new Committee appointed at the March AGM.
Immediate Past President
Peter James
With degrees in science and commerce from Sydney and business studies at INSEAD France, Peter spent 19 years at CSR in sugar, insulation and coal including 8 years in London.
He then established an office in Australia for British Steel to facilitate purchasing of coking coal for Britain, Netherlands and India and also a company which audits loading of coal, grain, wood pellets etc for overseas buyers. He semi-retired in 2018.
Peter played a lot of cricket at a high level, but now enjoys golf, theatre, music together with his wife Robin, 2 daughters and 2 grandchildren.
He has travelled to almost 100 countries, including about half of them for work.
Role
Having had considerable experience in the club, the Immediate Past President brings experience and a depth of knowledge about club affairs. He supports President and Vice President and may stand in for other committee roles at short notice if necessary.
Secretary
Chris Luget
Chris, born in the UK, moved to Australia with his Australian wife Judith in 1984. His early career began at Kodak UK/USA then evolved to managing operations of other international companies such as Itek International and Heidelberg, providing leading-edge technologies to the photographic, graphic arts, printing and allied ‘colour’ industries. In 1999 Chris left the ‘mainstream’ to establish his own consultancy focussing on business and executive development for SME’s (small-to-medium enterprises). He also worked with The CEO Institute providing executive mentoring support for business leaders.
Role
The Secretary works with the President to ensure the Committee functions smoothly and ensures meeting agendas are organised and minutes circulated. He should be familiar with the Constitution, by-laws and standing resolutions and is responsible for the administrative functions of the club and he is the Public Officer. He handles all correspondence.
Treasurer
Wayne Jones
Wayne prior to retirement was a Fellow Chartered Practising Accountant (FCPA) and also a Fellow of Chartered Governance Institute (FCGA) and was Finance Director of Kimberly-Clark Australia before assuming general management responsibilities as Managing Director Australia and New Zealand and then President South Asia for Kimberly-Clark Corporation.
Wayne enjoys travel with his wife Iley with Hawaii being a favourite destination over many years and more recently cruising in Europe and Asia, taking long walks and the occasional social golf. Time in Australia is split between Sydney and Terrigal and Iley and Wayne have one daughter and two grandchildren who all reside in Sydney.
Role
The Treasurer is responsible for the maintenance of all financial records and ensures all funds are accounted for. An Annual Budget is prepared and there are monthly reconciliation reports for the Committee. He manages the bank accounts.
Guest Speakers
Geoff McWilliam
Geoff, after graduating from UNSW with a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil), spent 23 years of his working life at Lendlease Corporation. Over this time he worked in Sydney, Adelaide, Singapore, Malaysia and in London working for the Chairman Dick Dusseldorp. In 1996 he left Lendlease and was CEO Property for Colonial First State for ten years which included all property owned by the Commonwealth Bank. He retired in 2006 and has held various independent directorships since.
He is married to Barbara, has three daughters and nine grandchildren. Barbara and Geoff have travelled extensively having visited all five continents. He is an enthusiastic member of Killara Golf Club.
Role
As interesting Guest Speakers are one of the most important activities of our Club, the Speakers Program Officer ensures there is a Guest Speaker available for each monthly General Meeting. He liaises with them to make sure they are familiar with the venue and that the necessary facilities are available. He introduces the speaker, arranges for a vote of thanks and arranges for them to join members at luncheon.
Membership
Hugh Hopkins
After graduating from UNSW (B. Com, M. AppSc) Hugh spent most of his working life in the Wool and Exotic (Cashmere, Camel Hair, Alpaca etc) fibre industries. One of the many highlights of his career being a 7 year stint in the USA as General Manager of the Forte Cashmere Company. In retirement Hugh enjoys keeping “Bees”, social tennis, theatre and is a Life Member of the Sydney Beefsteak and Burgundy Club. Married to Belinda with 2 daughters and 2 grandchildren.
Role
The Membership Officer maintains an up to date register of members and oversees the processes related to new member induction. He reports to committee of activity in relation to meeting attendance, new members, potential members and guests.
System Administrator & IT Services
Tony Andrew
Tony was a GP in the Cremorne Area for 35 years. Previously he worked at Roche Pharmaceuticals and completed an MBA at UNSW. With two other GPs he founded an accreditation organisation for assessing general practice against national standards and consequently has visited approximately 800 general practices throughout Australia. He has five daughters and nine grandchildren and enjoys travel with his partner, Lynne Hurley and reading. He joined Sydney Probus in 2013.
Role
Maintains the Wild Apricot Membership Management System, oversees the updating of the Club Website and archives. Manages the Newsletter distribution and circulates group emails. Assists Committee Members with the usage of the Management system and Members with other I.T. issues
Activities Coordinator
Kim Oates
Kim Oates is a paediatrician who started as a frightened resident at the Children’s Hospital Camperdown in 1969, finishing in 2006 as Chief Executive of that same hospital when it became the Children’s Hospital at Westmead.
He trained in London and Boston, obtained 2 research doctorates and has published widely (over 300 papers and 16 books). He held the Foundation Douglas Burrows Chair of Paediatrics and Child Health (1985 to1997).
In 2007 he returned to Sydney University to plan a new medical curriculum and joined the Clinical Excellence Commission where he developed a patient safety course which he taught in 5 medical schools. He established the Australian Academy of Emerging Leaders in Patient Safety.
He has a 15-year commitment to teaching young health leaders in Vietnam.
He has received a range of national and international awards, but his greatest achievement was to marry Robyn, who he met when he was sixteen. They have 3 children and 9 grandchildren.
He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2020
Role
Regular events are arranged between meetings to visit organisations or destinations of particular interest. The Activities Coordinator manages bookings and confirms payments are made. He oversees functions to ensure seamless operation and reports to the Committee on future and past activities.
Newsletter Editor
Rod Hanson
Rod completed secondary education at Shore in 1969, followed by Mining Engineering at UNSW in 1973 and an MBA at UNE in 2004.
He spent 50 years in the mining industry in most states of Australia, Solomon Islands and China. The majority of Rod’s career focused on gold mining, but also base metals and coal, both open pit and underground. His final full-time position was MD & CEO of Unity Mining based in Bendigo VIC.
Rod is married to Jeanette, with one daughter, three stepchildren and 5 grandchildren.
Hobbies and Interests include food and wine, current affairs, Australian history, following the fortunes of Australian miners, managing his SMSF and travel.
Rod has been a member of the Probus Club of Sydney for about two years.
Role
The Newsletter Editor compiles the monthly newsletter which advises of upcoming meetings and events, reports on past meetings and events and includes ancillary material such as book reviews and a humour section. Committee members are responsible for supplying the required content for publication.
Club Services
Robert Warburton
Robert was raised in Goulburn NSW. At age 16 he joined the Royal Australian Navy, completing his training at HMAS Leeuwin in Fremantle West Australia. After 24 years he joined the staff of The Union Club Sydney. During his 24 years with the Union Club he had several positions culminating in Floor Manager when he retired in April 2014. Retirement enabled Robert to catch up with travel and assist with the administration of his son’s business. Robert has two sons and four grandchildren.
Role
The Club Services Officer ensures that the General Meeting Room, Registration Desk and Social table are ready for meetings and equipment is functional. This includes layout, sound equipment, computer and data projector. Liaises with Speakers Program Officer to see that all is in readiness for the speaker. Liaises with the Union Club generally and specifically regarding morning tea, luncheon numbers and payment.
Assistants
Appointed Club Members
Role
Most committee officers have an Assistant appointed by the Committee Officer and ratified by the committee. The aim is to have a member able to attend committee meetings to represent an officer in their absence and who may well step into their role as the officer moves on. Attendance at committee meetings with their officer is at the discretion of the officer, however it offers enhanced insight into the activities of the role and the workings of the committee. The Officer may choose to delegate some responsibilities to their assistant.