Board of Directors NSW

The Hon Alan G Cadman OAM - Chairman NSW

Mr Alan Cadman, a long-term supporter of Life Education, represented the people, the families, and the organisations in the Federal seat of Mitchell in the North Western Suburbs of Sydney for the past 33 years. Mr Cadman was born in Sydney and he graduated from the University of NSW. Prior to his election to Parliament he was experienced in station and property management, small business and orcharding, with a Certificate in Agriculture.

Following the Coalition’s decisive Federal election victory on 3 March 1996, Mr Cadman was appointed to the position of Chief Government Whip.He served in that position until his appointment as Parliamentary Secretary for Workplace Relations and Small Business in July 1997 and held that position until October 1998.

He was also appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, the Hon Malcolm Fraser, in 1981 and was later appointed Shadow Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs in 1985, a position he held for four years.When in Opposition, Mr Cadman served as acting Coalition spokesman in many senior portfolios including Communications; Aviation and Tourism; Senior Citizens and Aged Care; Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, Finance; and Small Business.

Alan is married to Judy, a teacher by profession, and they live at Galston.  Alan and Judy have three sons, Stephen, Phillip and Andrew and two grandchildren.Interests:  surfing, painting and tennis

Mr Jay Bacik

Jay has been involved with Life Education for ten years, holding the previous positions
of CEO for LE nationally and LE NSW state office.  He is currently CEO for LE NSW state office.  Jay has a background in ministry (he has a degree in Theology), media (radio), and is a regular talk-back host on 2GB.  He has worked for a number of NFP organisations including Austcare, Diabetes Australia and was CEO of Sydney City Mission Foundation (Mission Australia).  He is a staunch believer in ‘prevention is better than cure’.  His interests are cricket, politics, media and rugby league.

Bill Buckle has spent 33 years in Australian Retail Motor Industry including Managing Director of one of Sydney’s largest motor dealerships, Board member of Motor Trader's Association Executive 1988 to 1991, President Toyota Dealer Association 1986 to 1989, Chairman Toyota Advertising Association 1990 to 1994, Chairman Toyota Finance Dealer Association 1996 to 1999, Member Subaru Advertising Executive 2001 to 2004 and Member Audi Marketing Group 2005 to 2008.  He is currently the Owner/Director of Sydney Podtrailers.  Bill holds a Bachelor of Business Degree (Marketing Major) at UTS Kuringai.   Bill’s interests include surfing, snow sports, boating, cycling, fitness and golf.

Julian de Meyrick is the Dean of Students at Macquarie University.  He joined the University in 1997 after a career marketing some of the best known brands in Australia and the world, working for companies like Unilever, American Express, Bushells and the Hong Kong Tourist Association.  His academic qualifications are B Com (UNSW), MBA (Cranfield) and PhD (Macquarie).  He is a Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute and a Certified Practising Marketer.

David holds a Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Certificate in Public Policy and Master of Arts (Communication).   A keen interest in politics led David to join the personal staff of the then Senator Bronwyn Bishop before joining the staff of The Hon John Howard MP.  In 1993 he joined the NSW Police Media Unit and in 1995 David joined the Regular Army.

A long-time friendship with the then NSW Opposition Leader, The Hon Peter Collins, QC, MP saw David return to politics as his senior press secretary in 1997.  Following the change of leadership in the NSW Liberal Party in 1999,  David was invited to be the National Campaign Director of the No Republic campaign.  For his services to the referendum he was awarded the Commonwealth’s Centenary Medal in 2001.    January 2000 saw David recalled to the regular Army and peacekeeping forces in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, for which he was awarded the Australian Service Medal.  He returned to Australia in June 2000 and opted for a career sabbatical with the international charity, St John’s Ambulance.

In 2004 David joined the Australian Hotels Association and served as the NSW Deputy Chief Executive until 2008 when he became CEO of the Civil Contractors Federation (NSW).

David is a Director of Castle Hill and Parramatta RSLs and is on the NSW state Board of Life Education.  From 2006 to 2007 he was a lay-member of the NSW Law Society Professional Conduct Committee.  In 2009 David was elected as a Member of the Sydney Business Chamber Governing Council.

Ken Keith

Ken Keith is the Mayor of Parkes.  Cr Keith was educated at Yanco Agricultural High School and the University of Sydney, specialising in agricultural education.  He taught at Forbes and Windsor High Schools before returning home to run a family farm of Merino sheep and a Merino X Border Leicester first cross lamb production enterprise.  Ken also has a small tillage operation of wheat, canola, barley, lupin and oats.

Ken has been an active sportsman, and dedicates much of his time coaching and officiating cricket and soccer.

Peter Khalil is currently an Associate with Hawker Britton where he provides strategic advice and consultation on government relations for a variety of commercial clients as well as work for charities, NFP organisations and community groups in their interaction with federal, state and local government.   Peter also currently holds the position of Adjunct Associate Professor at the Centre for International Security Studies at Sydney University where he develops national security courses for senior levels of government agencies and departments.  Peter joined the office of the Federal Labor leader, Kevin Rudd, as his foreign policy and national security advisor in 2007 where he worked for Mr Rudd as Opposition leader and a short time as Prime Minister.   Peter provided the Prime Minister and the then acting Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, with Foreign Policy, Defence and National Security advice.  From October 2004 to October 2005 he was a Visiting Research Fellow at  the Saban Centre Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution in Washington DC.  Previously he served as an Assistant Director Iraq Policy at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra.  From August 03 – May 04, Peter was a Director of National Security Policy at the CPA in Baghdad.  He is a frequent contributor on SKY News Australia on foreign affairs.   Peter holds a BA LLB and Masters Degree in International Law from ANU Canberra.

Jackie O’Brien has recently joined Norton Rose Legal Practice as a partner, specialising in IP.  Formerly of Allens Arthur Robinson, she is recognised as a leader in her area of practice by Chambers Global, Who’s Who of International Trademark Lawyers and Doyle’s Guide.  Jackie has applied her high level of legal expertise to disputes impacting on clients in a variety of industries including entertainment, e-commerce, clothing, pharmaceutical and luxury goods.  She has advised on brand protection, registration and maintenance for some of the world’s highest profile companies including News Corp, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation and Matt Groening Productions.

Neville Parsons

Neville attended Sydney University where he graduated in Economics and Law.   Neville is CEO and Director of Holiday Coast Credit Union Ltd that serves the Holiday Coast and Maitland - Hunter Regions in NSW. Neville is the current President of the Rotary Club of Wauchope.  In December 2010 Neville was appointed as a member of the Mid North Coast Local Health Network Governing Council with effect from 1 January 2011 and it is now the Mid North Coast Local Health Board.

Mr Victor Tagg

Victor Tagg has been a Director of Life Education NSW since May 2003.  He has been involved with Ryde Hunters Hill Life Education since 1995 and Chairman of it since 1998.  He has been involved with many commercial and not-for-profit boards and is a successful business man with an interest in local politics.  Vic was the Mayor of Ryde in 2008.

Mrs Julie Thorp joined the Board of Directors of Life Education NSW in December 2005. Julie's professional background is as a primary school teacher with a specialisation in teaching English as a Second Language. She took a break from teaching to raise her children and since then has been involved in significant school community and volunteer work including event management, school development projects and fundraising. She has also served on a various number of committees in a variety of positions.

Julie is married to Stephen and has two daughters.

Michael joined Life Education in 2006 taking on a similar role for both Life Education nationally and the NSW state office.  He is also Company Secretary for both organisations.  He has a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) degree and is a CPA member.  He has held senior management roles in international and local IG, retailing and SME consulting organisations.