Australian Overseas Foundation Inc.



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	Board of Directors:
	Tom Thorpe - Chairman Member of selection committee Tom has had many years experience in engineering and manufacturing industries, and was Director of Paramount Cores and Compacts and Thorpe Industries Pty Ltd. He was involved in a senior management position in a Sheltered Workshop and was a founder and director of Inner Eastern Group Training. Tom is now retired but continues as a Director and member of the Audit committee. Tom was a councilor of the City of Box Hill and served three times as Mayor.

	John Bieske - CEO Member of selection committee John was awarded a Victorian Overseas Foundation scholarship in 1965 traveling on to England and Canada for four years of industry experience in computers and telecommunication. Upon his return to Australia he joined Hewlett Packard where he fulfilled a number of sales and marketing positions over the next 30 years. His last position was Executive Director responsible for computer sales and marketing. John is now semi retired with one of his current interests as CEO of the AOF.
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	Graeme Scott - Board Member Graeme won a VOF scholarship in 1966 in the trade of Electrical. Graeme traveled to the USA where he was given the position of Assistant Engineer in the R&D dept of Perkin Elmer Corp. After one and a half years, he was offered a similar position with Perkin Elmer Ltd in the UK . Graeme has spent 6 years as a TAFE teacher, 10 years as a Teachers College Lecturer, 11 years as a Regional Consultant with the Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce & Industry. He is now providing a highly specialized service to business and industry as an Industrial Counselor with ITIM Australia. Graeme is a past Secretary-Treasurer of the AOF and is now a Board member of the AOF.
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	David Purchase CEO VACC Bio to come soon
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	John Panozzo - Board Member Member of selection committee John was awarded a VOF scholarship as an automotive technician in 1961. John spent two years in England studying and gaining experience in the automotive industry and on his return, joined Toyota Australia as State Service Manager. He progressed through various management positions until his retirement in 2002. John was president of the John Batman College of TAFE for nine years and chairman of the VACC "A" Grade Board of Examiners for five years. John continues to consult in the automotive industry.
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	Graeme Kellett - Board Member Graeme is now in his 53rd year in the jewellery industry being self employed for the last 38 years, producing handmade, high quality jewellery for most leading retail jewellers and wholesalers in Melbourne. Graeme also produces private commissions. He has held a sessional teaching position at N.M.I.T. and lectures at the Gold and Silversmith's Guild of Australia. Graeme has served on the AOF board for seven years.
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	Geoff Foster - Board Member As a career public servant within the Office of Training and Tertiary Education, Geoff has been involved with promotion, development and regulation of the apprenticeship and traineeship system in Victoria for 30 years. The Victorian Government supports the Austalian Overseas Foundation through an administrative support grant from OTTE.

	Mark Callaghan - Board Member Chief Executive Officer WorldSkills Australia Mark Callaghan joined WorldSkills Australia (WSA) in October 2005 and was appointed CEO in November 2006. WSA is a not-for-profit organisation that contributes to Australia’s economic growth through the recognition and promotion of world class skills. Prior to WSA, Mark had extensive experience in operations and project management and major event operations, including Olympic and Commonwealth Games. Mark currently lives in Melbourne with his wife and 2 young sons.
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	Robert Herbstreit - Secretary Member of selection committee Married, recently retired and living in Inverloch Victoria, he commenced work as a Toolmaker gaining a VOF scholarship in 1966, and worked as a Manufacturing and Production Engineer in the US and UK. On return to Australia, he advanced through Works and Operations Management, and attained General Manager’s positions in both the Metals Manufacturing and Printing Industries. He has considerable experience and understanding of manufacturing and company management, and believes the VOF scholarship was instrumental in building his career.
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	Graeme Little - Treasurer Married – 3 adult boys VOF Scholarship recipient – 1975 Geelong Sub-committee – Chairman and Secretary for a number of years. Retired in July 2006. Currently contracted as a teacher at the Gordon Institute of Technology in Mechanical Engineering.

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	page updated 26/8/08
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