Board Structure and Members

The Western Operations Board currently comprises 6 elected directors with scope to appoint three independent directors.    The current directors of the Board are:


Tony Crook (Chairman)
 
Mr Tony Crook is a pastoralist from Kalgoorlie and having sold his property after 32 years is now providing pastoral management services under contract and also works part time as a Bio-security officer for Ag WA.

Tony is a founding member of the Western Operations Board and is a Director of the Gold Fields Australian Foundation. Tony is a former National President of the Australian Council of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, life member the Royal Flying Doctor Service, recipient of the Centenary Medal for services to emergency medicine and was Kalgoorlie / Boulder Citizen of the Year in 2004.

Tony is actively involved in his local community as Chairman of the John Paul College Board, Vice president of the Kalgoorlie District Pony Club and has previously been Chairman of St Mary's Primary School Board and President of the Eastern Goldfields Highland Dancing Association.



Neville Bassett (Vice Chairman)
 

Mr Neville Bassett runs a corporate consulting business in Perth and was originally nominated as a director for this Board in 1998.  Neville also represents Western Operations as a director on the National Board of the Australian Council of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia.

Dr Rob Liddell

Dr Rob Liddell was employed as the first full time Medical Director of the RFDS in WA from 1977 to 1983.   He moved to the UK to work as an airline company doctor and line pilot with Dan Air until 1989.  Following this he had 7 years in Canberra with the Civil Aviation Authority as Director of Aviation Medicine. Rob now works in emergency medicine and clinic practice and continues to fly as a professional pilot.  Rob is a Past president of RFDS (WA Section), Past President of Aviation Medicine Society of Australia, and is currently a medical advisor to the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia.

Michael Hutson

Mr Mike Hutson is a Fellow of the Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountants and manages his own accounting practice in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.  He Joined the RFDS board in 2004 bringing with him a diverse background from the corporate sector as CFO of major public companies within Australia and the United Kingdom.  Mike specialises in taxation, accounting, pursing business opportunities, business management, financial management, fund raising and investment advice.  His interest in business and community service has included working parties for Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other benevolent organisations. He holds directorships in several private companies.


Richard Alder

Mr Richard Alder is a retired partner of financial services firm JB Were & Sons.  During his 36 year career he worked in Melbourne, London and Perth and he maintains strong links with the securities industry in providing general advice and comment on investment for organisations such as the Murdoch Veterinary Trust, Scotch College Foundation, JP Stratton Trust and the Lions Eye Institute.  


John Croser

Mr John Croser is a retired Orthopaedic surgeon resident in Perth and has previously worked as Head of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Joondalup Health Campus and Director of Orthopaedic Trauma at Royal Perth Hospital.  John is a Life Member of the Royal Flying Doctor Service having served as a Councillor, Federal representative and President of the Eastern Goldfields Section. He was a member of the working party and inaugural Board of Western Operations.

In retirement John has continued a commitment to surgical education at a local, interstate and international level through the Swiss AO Foundation.


Paul Monger

Mr Paul Monger is a retired pastoralist, originally from York where he worked on the family farm established in 1881.  Paul has always been a committed member of the community, previously holding positions such as the York Shire President and Chairman of the York Tourist Council and of Guildford Grammar School.  Paul has also had significant involvement in regional health management working as the Chairman of the Avon Health Service Board, the York Health Advisory Committee and President of the St John’s Ambulance York Sub-Centre.


Mark Ashley

Mark Ashley is the Managing Director of Apex Minerals NL. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and has over 20 years experience in the resources industry.

In 1992, Mark joined Forrestania Gold – which was subsequently acquired by LionOre in 1994 and was with the company through its emergence as a growing international nickel producer up until 31st March, 2006. Mark who was a main board Director and CEO of its Australian operations, left LionOre at that time to run Apex Minerals.

Mark is a Non-executive Director of Kagara Zinc and Metallica Minerals Limited, both ASX listed companies.  Mark is a Member of Council at the Curtin University of Technology and is a member of the university’s Finance Committee.  He has also served as Chairman of the Major Gifts Committee for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and as a Director of the Australian Gold Council.

Last Updated: 27/03/2008