Organisation Information

Stephen Maitland OAM, RFD

Stephen is Principal of Corporate Advisers, Delphin Associates and is a non-executive Company Director. He has more than 30 years' experience in banking and finance and is currently a Director of Buderim Ginger Ltd, Australian Unity Ltd, RACQ Ltd and a number of private companies. He is also an active surf lifesaver and was honoured with the International Life Saving Federation 'Citation of Merit' in 2005. Stephen has been on the Surf Life Saving Foundation Board of Directors since February 1999 and took the position of Chairman in August 2010.

Neil Balnaves AO

Neil has worked in the media industry for over 45 years previously holding the position of Executive Chairman of the Southern Star Group which he founded. Neil is the Chairman of Ardent Leisure Group, one of Australia's most successful owners and operators of premium leisure assets. He is a Trustee Member of Bond University and in 2009 received an Honorary Doctorate of the University. Neil is a member of the Advisory Council and Dean’s Circle of the University of New South Wales Faculty of Medicine and in 2010 received an Honorary Doctorate of the University. He is a Trustee of the Mosman Public Art Trust, serves on numerous advisory and community organisations and is a Foundation Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In 2006 Neil established The Balnaves Foundation, a philanthropic fund that disperses more than $2 million annually in supporting eligible organisations that aim to create a better Australia through education, medicine, and the arts with a focus on young people, the disadvantaged and Indigenous communities. In 2010 Neil was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for his services to business and philanthropy. Neil is a Director of Technicolor Australia Limited and a board member of the Surf Life Saving Foundation since November 2010.

Alan Rydge

Alan Rydge is Chairman of entertainment and leisure company Amalgamated Holdings Limited (AHL), which incorporates Greater Union cinemas, Event cinemas, Ford Fiesta Moonlight cinema, Rydges Hotels & Resorts, Kosciuszko Thredbo Pty Limited, Featherdale Wildlife Park. Alan commenced work with Greater Union in 1971 and has been Chairman of AHL since 1980. Alan is a past Director of Village Roadshow Corporation Limited and past Deputy Chairman of Australia Post. He is also Chairman of Carlton Investments Limited and joined the board of the Surf Life Saving Foundation in November 2010.

John Kirby

John Kirby is Chairman of Village Roadshow Corporation.  He was a Director of Austereo Group Limited, the owner of the national Today and Triple M radio networks.  He has over 40 years’ experience in the media and entertainment industry.  He is a member of The Salvation Army Territorial Advisory Board and recently appointed as Red Shield Appeal Chairman and is responsible for the Red Shield Appeal Development Council.  He is also Deputy Chairman, The Conversation Media Group, a Board member of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and also a Board member of the Jigsaw Foundation at the Royal Children’s Hospital. He was also the 2011 President of The Society of Australian Cinema Pioneers.  John has been on the Board of the Surf Life Saving Foundation since November 2010.

Lionel Hogg

Lionel is a corporate advisory partner of Gadens Lawyers. Lionel has assisted the lifesaving movement for over 10 years, including helping to establish the Surf Life Saving Foundation. He is also a Director of the public affairs organisation The National Forum. Lionel has been on the Board of the Surf Life Saving Foundation since September 2001 and also sits on the SLSF Audit Committee.

Deborah Thomas

One of the country’s most successful and experienced magazine editors, Deborah has been at the helm of Australia’s biggest selling magazine, The Australian Women’s Weekly, for a decade and editing our most popular women’s magazines for over 20 years. Deborah is now the General Manager of Media, Public Affairs and Brand Development across ACP Magazines’ portfolio of 70+ titles. She is also the corporate face of the company, hosting many of the magazines’ events and also speaking on behalf of the company as well representing ACP on a number of boards and charities. She is also a regular on radio and a media commentator, with regular spots on the Today show, A Current Affair and 20 to One. Currently, Deborah sits on the council of the National Library of Australia and is a board member of the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre. She is also a founding patron of the Taronga Conservation Foundation. In 2011 Deborah was awarded a Board Diversity Scholarship from the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Deborah has also been a member of the Walkley Advisory Council (2005-2007), an Australia Day Ambassador (2009) a board member of the Queensland Food, Fibre and Agribusiness Council (2000 – 2007), an AusAID Ambassador for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (2003) and a member of the steering committee for Promoting the Value of the Arts for the Australia Council (2002). Deborah joined the Board of the Surf Life Saving Foundation in November 2010.

2011 Annual Report

2010 Annual Report

2009 Annual Report

2008 Annual Report