Board of Directors

The Board of Guide Dogs Victoria set and monitor our strategic direction and overall performance. The names and details of the company’s Directors in office during the financial year end 2009 are as follows.  Directors were in office for this entire period unless otherwise stated.

David Hume

A DAVID HUME

Appointed to the Board in November 1995. Mr Hume is a career Human Resource professional with more than 25 years in the executive search business and was formerly the Principal of H R Network. Prior to that, he was a Consulting Director of the Slade Group, and National H R Partner of the chartered accounting firm, Pannell Kerr Forster. In addition, he had an interest in a transport recruitment consultancy and a point-of-sale advertising business. Mr Hume scaled down his consulting activities in favour of an interest in three liquor stores. After 4 years he has returned to Human Resources Consulting in a joint venture with the DST Group as Executive Director Business Development. Mr Hume is blind and has been a consumer of the Association since 1961.

COLIN J JACKSON OAM, DIPCOM, DIPMGMSC (Post-Grad UK), FCPA, FTIA, FICD, FCA

Appointed to the Board in 1992, Mr Jackson is a Director of the publicly listed company Sonic Healthcare Ltd and The Independent Practitioner Network Ltd. He is the Chair of the Board of Directors of Aotea Pathology Ltd and a Fellow of CPA Australia, Australian Institute of Company Directors, and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia. He is Chairman of the Board of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Foundation and a member of the Tasmanian selection panel for the Winston Churchill Fellowship Trust. He is also a director of the University of Tasmania Foundation and the Tasmanian division of the Australian Olympic Committee.
RAMONA MANDY, BA HONS (Linguistics)

Appointed to the Board in February 2006. Ms Mandy is the Senior Blindness Products Consultant for HumanWare Australia. HumanWare is an international company, which designs, manufactures and distributes innovative information technology for people who are blind or vision impaired or who have learning difficulties. Ms Mandy is blind and has been a Guide Dog handler for over 20 years.
JOHN M O’CONNOR, FCPA, MAICD, B.BUS (ACCT’G), M.MKTG
Vice President

Appointed to the Board in August 2004. Mr O’Connor is currently the Commercial Director in private industry for an Australian based, globally focussed technology organisation. He is a Fellow of CPA Australia and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
HIS HONOUR JUDGE FRANCIS J SHELTON, BA, LLB

Appointed to the Board in November 1995. Judge Shelton is a County Court Judge and past National President and Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Property Institute and past Chairman of Genazzano FCJ College Limited.
Mike Smith DR MICHAEL S SMITH, MB, BS(TAS), FRANZCR

Appointed to the Board in September 2001. Dr Smith is a Diagnostic Radiologist in Private Practice and has a vision impaired son who is a long-term client of the Association. Before moving to Melbourne, Dr Smith had been the President of the Royal Guide Dogs for the Blind Association of Tasmania from 1987 to 1994.

MERV TAPPENDEN, B.Bus(Acct’g) Grad Dip(Acct’g)

Appointed to the Board in November 2009. Prior to his retirement in 2006 Merv was the Finance Director for Webco Australia Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Swedish international company Autoliv Ltd, who are involved in the design and manufacture of all aspects of automotive safety. Prior to that he worked for many years as a Financial Controller in various divisions of Pacific Dunlop. Merv was an Associate of CPA Australia, and an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators. He and his wife are contributors to Guide Dogs Victoria as Puppy Sponsors and Volunteers.
MURRAY L WALKER, FCPA
President

Appointed to the Board in February 1992 and became President in February 2006. In 1980 Mr Walker co-founded and is a Director of Douglas Walker International and as part of Agilium Worldwide LLC formerly known as The World Executive Search Group he is the Regional Director. Mr Walker is a Fellow of CPA Australia.
RUSSELL A WALKER, FCPA, DipBus(Acc), GradDip(Govt Acc)
Treasurer

Appointed to the Board in May 1997. Mr Walker is a consultant specialising in governance, auditing, and financial and performance reporting. He spent 20 years as Assistant Auditor General of Victoria and was a Commissioner on the Victorian Commission of Audit. Mr Walker is a Fellow of CPA Australia and is a Director on the Royal Guide Dog Association of Australia. He and his wife have been long-term contributors to Guide Dogs Victoria as Puppy Raisers.