Hampton Bayside Bowls Club Board

Dr Kathy Walker OAM
Chair

Kathy is highly respected for her expertise and skills in change management, effective communication and leadership, conflict resolution and relationship enhancement.

Kathy presents to, and coaches, educators, leaders and organisations across the world in a wide range of sectors including the corporate world, educational settings and Boards of Management. Kathy is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, facilitator and coach.

Kathy’s outstanding contribution is demonstrated by being awarded an Order of Australia in 2015 and is the recipient of many fellowships and awards.

She was an academic at RMIT University, Manager of Child and Adolescent Therapy, Monash University, and was Founding Director of the international organisation Early Life Foundations which supports parents and educators in the early childhood and primary sectors across the world.

She has had experience as a Board member in a number of organisations and has worked in leadership and change management for twenty years nationally and internationally.

Kathy is a recognised author of seven text books with Penguin Publishing and the Australian Council of Educational Research.

Simon Troon
Director of Finance

Simon has over 20 years’ experience in Banking and Finance at two of Australia’s ‘Big 4’ banks in a range of roles from sales leadership, product development, strategy and design and risk management. His area of experience is predominantly in SME and commercial banking, as well as payments.

Simon’s brings the skills of sound financial management, risk management, strategy, sales and marketing, design and operations to HBBC.

He is passionate about helping businesses to succeed by having a clear strategy, disciplined sales and service execution and financial management.

Simon has two children who keep him busy, but who also enjoy coming to the club to enjoy the social aspects it has to offer, especially in meeting friends and family inside or out on the deck.

He intends to manage the finances of the club closely to ensure its ongoing viability and prosperity.

Phil Gibbons
Director of Bowls

Business Experience: I worked as a Manufacturing Engineer for 36 years. A significant part of the time for a company supplying the automotive industry (e.g. Holden, Toyota, Ford). I held positions of Quality Manager, Manufacturing Manager, and Engineering Manager at various times.

I was a member of the Management Team for about 10 years. I retired when the automotive industry stopped at the end of 2017.

Community Involvement: I was involved with Scouts Australia for 15 years as a Leader. I was member of the Bayside Bushwalking Club for 10 years and on the Committee for 5 years.

Bowling Involvement: I joined Hampton Bowls Club in 2020 after being part of the U3A group from that year.

Pam Longley
Director of Administration

Over forty years’ experience in project and corporate administration, including extensive involvement in document development and production.

Project administrator (based in Zambia, Central Africa) with Bechtel Corporation, USA, for engineering, procurement and construction management projects being developed in Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania.

Preparation of bids for resource development projects in the petroleum, gas, petrochemical and mining sectors for projects in Europe, the Middle East and Africa with Bechtel Corporation, London, and with Fluor Inc in Australia.

Worked with two major Australian engineering consultancies – GHD Pty Ltd and Kinhill Pty Ltd over a twenty-five year period. Key responsibilities were project administration and preparation of bids for international aid projects for AusAID, the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. Sectors included governance, urban development, water supply and sanitation and transportation. Project locations included China, South East Asia, the Pacific, India and Pakistan.

Operations Manager/Company Secretary for a small project services group, Melbourne.

Committees

Secretary, Hampton RSL Bowling Club – three years.

Committee Member, Hampton RSL Sub-Branch – two years.

Carol Finlay
House / Social

BA Fine Arts, Graduate Diploma (Marketing), Financial Services Certificate, Fellow, Australian Institute of Management

Director of Marketing, American International Assurance/ Group AIA/AIG (ten years). Responsibilities included: marketing various products across five distribution channels Australia wide, one with over 800 Asian insurance agents; organising an annual overseas incentive trip for over 100 agents; and launch of a new subsidiary company. Speaker, award presenter, and travel/touring co-ordinator.

Marketing Manager, Pharmacy Guild Insurance.

Marketing Assistant, Jacques Martin – Union Superannuation, subsidiary of Colonial Mutual, Marketing Manager of Colonial Mutual Club (300,000 members).

Various Personal Assistant roles: RMIT, London Stock Exchange, Cadbury London, GM Colonial Mutual General.

Bowls

Elsternwick Park Bowls Section (Elwood Bowls Club) and Vice President and Secretary and Board Member, Secretary/Returning Officer for Elsternwick Park Sports Club.

Rob Chapman
Director of Sponsorship