Is it a warm up?
Youngster Garrick McCamey took the Chair today to thunderous applause but was quick to point out that this was NOT a trial run for President next year (watch this space!).
Reminding us of the 4 Way Test tenet - Is it the Truth? - he reminded us that today in history...
- 1963 - Martin Luther King Jr gave his ever-remembered speech "I had a Dream"
- 1996 - Charles and Diana's divorce was finalised
- The legend of Kung Foo Panda (aka Jack Black) turned 50
Directors' Reports and Member Announcements
- Owen F - Guess Who's Coming To Dinner - circulating sheet for hosts and guests
- Lorrie G - relieved ex-member Sid Jessup of 34 boxes of bottles to go towards her FUNdraising for Offtraq. Sid doing well and sends his regards.
- Wayne M - Seeking assistance from sandwich makers for the Offtraq Saturday lunch on 24 October.
- Ian K - Reminder that Offtraq is looking for entertainers (or those who like to dress up) to entertain the participants en route.
Guest Speaker
Host Peggy Leung, a DTMI team member, introduced her Boss Peter Parolo.
Peter is a Fellow of CPA Australia (FCPA) with more than 35 years' financial experience, with the first 15 years being in the private sector, prior to moving to public sector government.
He has worked in diverse government agencies including spending time with the Department of Justice (as an employee) and working as the Chief Finance Officer for the Department of Water, Peter landed the role as Executive Director of Ports and Maritime from 2011-2016, taking on a major reform program.
Peter has been in his current role as CFO at DTMI since 2016 where he sees the organisation as complex from a financial perspective but with a lot of flexibility.
Some of the favourite parts of his job are being surrounded by a team filled with cultural diversity and high performing people.
Peter, CFO of the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure (DTMI), delivered an overview of the agency’s financial operations, structural governance, community programs, and major infrastructure projects. He outlined how DTMI manages a $1 billion annual operational budget, oversees a $23 billion major projects pipeline, and collects $3.8 billion in state receivables.
He reflected on transitioning from the private sector to public sector maritime reform, noting that Western Australia (WA) generates nearly 50% of Australia’s export income. He described managing government trading enterprises alongside private industry as a “z-donkey” model, pairing the agile execution of private enterprise with the governance and reliability of the public service.
An excellent AI-generated summary of Peter’s presentation (thanks to Ian Kremmer) can be viewed at: https://drive.google.com/open?id=13uovZibzkQ_Xk2mjK1mRGdjIat_jqzgL&usp=drive_fs
A Fine(s) Figure of a Finesmaster...
- Garrick - not knowing the difference between a President and Chairman as well as dressing in pink to match his dog just to buy a coffee.
- Bow Tie Day - anyone who has owned or worn a Bow Tie (for whatever reason)
- All Brits - whether by birth or default as today in 1933 the British Parliament passed the Slavery Abolition Act to end legal enslavement in most parts of the British Empire.
- Fans of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, fish net tights etc etc but especially Tim Curry fans
- Astrid - for abandoning here usual multi-coloured garb for monochrome gear this morning (very black and white)
- Mike C - After Tottenham paid out in excess of $80m but still lost 3-0
- Ross S - Ticking off Lorrie
- Ken P - Missing in action
- All "Dolly" fans - she will be missed.
Winner of Heads and Tails
Attendance
37 attendees in all, including guest speaker Peter Parolo, and visitors Maurice Hanrahan, Elizabeth Adamson, Chris Pittman and Eno Budo.
