Following the 2016 Golf Victoria Annual General Meeting held at the Commonwealth Golf Club on 23 May, the Golf Victoria Board has undergone a number of changes.
President John Hobday has retired from the board after 23 years of dedicated service to Victorian golf together with Golf Victoria inaugural Board Member Lee Wills and Finance Director Tony Nott.
Hobday was elected to the Victorian Golf Association (VGA) Council in 1993, became President in 2007 and was instrumental within the five-year amalgamation process which saw the VGA and Women’s Golf Victoria (WGV) merge to establish Golf Victoria in 2010. Hobday has been President of the Golf Victoria Board since amalgamation and is a Golf Victoria life member.
Nott joined the VGA Council in 2007 and was appointed Finance Director of the Golf Victoria Board in 2011. Wills was a member of the WGV Board for a year prior to the amalgamation of the two bodies and has since been a Director of the Golf Victoria Board.
Golf Victoria wishes to sincerely thank John, Tony and Lee for their wonderful service to Victorian golf throughout their tenure.
Current Golf Victoria Board Member, Stephen Spargo AM, has been elected as President following serving as Vice-President over the past two years. Spargo has a wealth of corporate and golf experience having been a partner with leading Australian law firm Allens for over 30 years as well as being a past Captain at Commonwealth.
“It is a great privilege for me to follow John Hobday as President and to continue his strong leadership of Golf Victoria,” said Spargo.
“I am excited about the role I have now assumed and particularly looking forward to working with all of Golf Victoria’s staff and my fellow directors to further the interests of golf in Victoria.”
KPMG National Chairman and member of Barwon Heads and Green Acres Golf Clubs, Peter Nash has joined the Golf Victoria Board in replacement of Nott as Finance Director. Nash has practised for 31 years in the consulting and financial services sector and brings global accounting experience to the Golf Victoria Board.
Golf Victoria also welcomes Mark Dunstan, Luci Bryce and Dorothy Hisgrove to the Board.
Dunstan is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Barrister of the Supreme Court of Victoria. A member of both Spring Valley and The National Golf Clubs, Dunstan is also member of Golf Victoria’s Finance, Audit and Risk committee and a State level referee.
Bryce has highly relevant professional experience including positions with the PGA Tour, Australian Football League (AFL) and currently the Victorian Major Events Company.
Hisgrove has an extensive career history in business development, leadership and culture working with companies such as BHP Billiton, National Australia Bank, Australian Post and the AFL.
Simon Brookhouse, Golf Victoria CEO, described the handover of board members as exciting but somewhat sad.
“It is with sadness that we farewell John, Tony and Lee from the board. Their commitment and contribution to Victorian golf has been outstanding and we thank them for their service over many years.
“That being said, we are pleased to welcome Peter, Mark, Luci and Dorothy to the Golf Victoria Board,” said Brookhouse.
“There is no doubt that their knowledge and expertise will enrich the sport in Victoria and we look forward to the outcomes of their contributions.”