About Us

CLUB COMMITTEE

The business of the Club is managed by a Committee made up of a President, Vice President and eight committee members nominated from the existing voting members and elected by voting members at the Annual General Meeting.

PATRICK CANION, President

Patrick is a Certified Financial Planner and holds a Master of Applied Finance and Investment degree. As well as being President of the Western Australian Club, Patrick is on the board of the Financial Planning Association of Australia Ltd. Patrick specialises in assisting professionals and business owners in creating wealth, and is a recognised expert witness.

Patrick is General Manager and Principal of rmg financial services, a financial planning firm with over 30 employees. rmg financial services has won numerous awards for the quality of their advice and client services.

Patrick is also a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia and a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

As a former rocker turned ‘corporate suit’ Patrick gets a lot of enjoyment from the burgeoning musical careers of his children. His hobbies include skiing and getting down to the beach. He dreams of one day having a single figure golf handicap!

JAN SPRIGGS, Vice President

Jan has 20 years of experience in providing recruitment and human resource solutions to all levels of business and industry sectors.

She has owned and managed businesses successfully for over 15 years and is an active board member of the National Board for the Recruitment Consulting Services Association.

In 2004, Jan acquired Placer Management Group six years ago and during that time the company has grown and rebranded whilst focusing on the professional and executive sector.

Apart from her business interests, Jan enjoys the arts, sailing, fashion, family and friends and just having fun in life.

PETER HANSEN, Treasurer

Peter is the Director of RSM Bird Cameron’s Business Solutions division in Perth, Western Australia and is primarily a consultant to privately held and controlled businesses.

With over 35 years accounting experience, Peter is a highly experienced advisor who has worked in various regions throughout Western Australia and specialises in assisting businesses to achieve their goals and profit objectives.

He is actively involved in advising clients on taxation, strategic planning and business plans.

Peter is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICA); and a Fellow of the Finance Services Institute of Australia (FINSIA).

AMY MEARS, Committee Member

Amy is the Sponsorship Manager for the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships (Perth 2011), the primary qualifying event for the London 2012 Olympics to be held in Perth from December 3rd – 18th 2011.

Before joining Perth 2011, Amy was responsible for Marketing, P.R. and Business Development at Perth based construction company, Jaxon.

Amy is formerly Chair of The WA Club’s Younger Member Subcommittee and was recently re-elected as a member of the WA Club Board for the fourth consecutive year.

She is a past Member of the Australian Marking Institute (AMI)’s Emerging Marker’s Subcommittee and a current member of the Board of The Asthma Foundation.

Amy’s interests include cooking, writing, wine, and boating. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce degree majoring in marketing.

MELVIN YEO LLB (Hons) UWA, FFin, GAICD, Committee Member

Melvin is a Legal Counsel with the corporate office of Wesfarmers Limited. He graduated with honours from the University of Western Australia and is also a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia and a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Prior to joining Wesfarmers, he was a senior lawyer with Australian national law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth for 7 years, practising in corporate governance, takeovers, and mergers and acquisitions. Melvin is Chairman of the Club’s House, Food & Beverage Sub-Committee, and is also a Board member of Heritage Perth Inc and Vice President of the Australian Corporate Lawyers Association (WA Division).

Melvin was the Chairman of the Food & Beverage Sub-Committee from June 2006. In January 2008, the Sub-Committee’s responsibilities were expanded to include House matters. Melvin joined the Committee in May 2009.

NICHOLAS SUTTON, Committee Member

Managing Director, The Hay Street Consultancy

The Hay Street Consultancy specialises in developing executive talent and enhancing leadership, personal impact and communication skills. Nick’s own career background included twenty years as a front-line infantry officer serving in The Parachute Regiment, The Gordon Highlanders and the Brigade of Gurkhas, giving him significant experience of operating in some highly challenging roles and environments throughout the world.

After leaving the British Army in 1992 Nick’s subsequent appointments were all in senior management positions within the private sector in both the UK and Europe (Chief Executive, Managing Director and Operations Director roles) and as a consequence, he is able to deliver advice, recommendations and encouragement with the benefit of wide personal experience.

Nick also has specific experience in the UK media, having worked as both as a radio presenter, a journalist for ITV television news, a programme editor and subsequently as General Manager for ITV television in the south-west of England.

Lately, Nick acts as a corporate event host and facilitator and speaks regularly at business functions and seminars on a range of business communications issues. He is acknowledged for his clear, to the point advice and coaching. He is also a Member of The Institute of Public Relations and the National Speakers Association of Australia.

CLAIRE TURTON, Committee Member

Claire has over 14 years experience in the Financial Services industry starting in the United Kingdom in banking, passing through Melbourne before finally settling in Perth 10 years ago.

Most recently, she left her long term role as a Stockbroker to join Perpetual Private Wealth as a Financial Adviser. Claire has a Diploma of Financial Services and multiple ASX Accreditations and is a current member of the High IQ Society, Mensa Australia.

Claire is the Chair of the Club’s Younger Members Sub Committee and she also holds various positions and interests in the Not for Profit Sector.

Her personal interests include reading, travel, cooking, fashion and music. Claire spends a great deal of time at The Western Australian Club and credits the club for helping her to expand her contact network exponentially since joining in 2009.

SUB-COMMITTEES

The Club has three sub-committees that answer to the Club Committee and liaise with Club management to ensure direct interaction from the membership in an assortment of areas of Club life. Current sub-committees are:

Membership and Marketing

The Membership and Marketing sub-committee screens applications from prospective new members. It is responsible for orientation for new members, audit membership categories and assist with attracting new members to the Club.

House, Food & Beverage

The House, Food and Beverage sub-committee assists/advises management with selecting wines and provides feedback on Club decor and Food & Beverage operations. Reporting to the House, Food and Beverage Sub-committee is the Events Committee.

Younger Members

The Younger Members sub-committee assists with proposing and organising events and highlighting special interests for the Club’s younger members.

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM

Judith Darlington | General Manager

Judith Darlington is the first woman appointed as General Manager of The Western Australian Club in 117 years.
A Western Australian by birth, Judith joined the Club in 2010 and brought with her over 20 years experience in tourism, food and beverage management and marketing in five star hotels both in Australia and internationally, as well as in the field of international export.

Ana Volpe | Food & Beverage Manager
David Gallagher | Executive Chef
Alain Lee | Restaurant and Banquet Supervisor
Tracy Worthington | Accounts Manager
Candice Grigg | Marketing and Administration Co-ordinator