MEET TEC CHAIRS

Biography:

Graeme has Directorships, Chief Executive and Senior Executive experience in the pharmaceutical, FMCG, wine, information, advertising, fashion and distribution sectors.

Graeme started his career as a cadet at Nicholas (Aspro). For fifteen years he worked his way through all sections of Nicholas holding senior management positions in Australia, SE Asia and the United Kingdom.

The following three years Graeme spent as Group Sales and Marketing Director for the Barossa and Clare Valley Co-operative Winery (Kaiser Stuhl Wines) with 150 personnel and $10 million sales revenue.

After Kaiser Stuhl was sold to Penfolds Wines Graeme served six years as Sales and Marketing Director followed by three years as General Manager of Edward H O'Brien Pty Ltd (Yellow Pages Australia) with 400 employees and $240 million sales revenue.

In 1993 he moved into the Advertising Industry as CEO for Neville Jeffress Advertising Pty Ltd with 350 employees and $120 million revenue (the eight largest Advertising Agency in Australia)

From 1994 to 1996 Graeme spent three years as Executive Director of Hunter Douglas Australia with 700 employees and $200 million revenue.

This was followed with seven years as Chief Executive of Metal Manufactures Electrical Merchandising (electrical wholesaling and distribution).  MMEM comprised a national network of 150 Profit Centres (branches), with 1100 employees and sales revenue of $600 million.

In 2004 Graeme started his own Mentoring, Coaching and Consulting Firm.

In 2006 and 2007 Graeme was presented with the Phil Meddings Award for Australasia (approx 70 Chair persons vie for this award).

In addition, Graeme has won 4 Chair Excellence Gold Awards (the top award a TEC Chair can receive for best practices) plus one Silver Award over the five year period 2006 to 2010.

In 2009 awarded the Robert Nourse TEC Chairman of the Year Award. Graeme is the first Australian to receive this award.

Graeme was a judge in the 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 Telstra Business Awards and 2010 Telstra Women's Awards.

Graeme is immediate past Chairman of the Electrical Wholesales Association of Australia past Chair of the Australian Electro-Technology Alliance and past member of Newington College Council.

Education and Associations:

Graeme has completed the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration and the Executive Studies at IMD International Switzerland and is a MAICD.

Personal:

Graeme played over 150 first grade games of Rugby with St George (Sydney), GPS Old Boys (Brisbane) and The Royal Bangkok Sports Club, is a member of Manly Golf Club and is married with two Sons.