Welcome to the new country news area of PA's Alumni website, designed to provide you with the opportunity to strengthen and renew relationships with former colleagues, while also keeping you up to date on local events.
After operating in Australia for over 50 years the Australian alumni network which has over 500 members continues to remain active, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne.
For further information, to be included in future events or to submit a story on your life after PA please contact us at alumni@paconsulting.com.
Events update | Life after PA | PA Retirers' Association
PA's Sydney network enjoys a reunion overlooking the harbour
Over 60 members of PA's Sydney Alumni network enjoyed an evening of drinks and canapés by the harbour at the biggest alumni event ever held in Australia on 7 May. With attendees ranging from leavers from the 1970s right up until 2007 including almost all the former Country Heads there was plenty of catching up to do – it's no surprise then that conversations continued to midnight. Due to popular demand Zorana Bull and Paul Lewis (former Partners who are leading alumni activities in Sydney) are planning another event in Sydney during the festive season in December. For further information regarding alumni activities in Australia please contact us at alumni@paconsulting.com.
Over twenty members of PA’s Melbourne alumni network enjoy lunch at the Australian Club
Over 20 members of the PA Melbourne Alumni network gathered for lunch at the Australian club in May. Attendees spanned 50 years of PA history, from Denys McCullough, who joined in 1953, to Gideon Perrott who joined in early 2000. A great time was had by all with many noting that the atmosphere encompassed the unique culture of PA.
The group enjoyed the event so much that a second lunch has been scheduled for October, date to be confirmed. For further information regarding alumni activities in Australia please contact us at alumni@paconsulting.com.
Guy Templeton – celebrating more than four years as CEO of Minter Ellison
Guy Templeton left PA as a Managing Partner after 14 years with the firm to become CEO of Minter Ellison at the start of 2005. Minter Ellison is Asia-Pacific's largest law firm (by number of lawyers), with 297 partners operating from 13 offices in six countries. Guy tells us about changing careers:
"It was an unusual move for a major law firm to recruit a CEO externally, especially a non-lawyer. All of my experience as a consultant jumping into new situations was put rapidly to the test. It was terrific fun coming in with a mandate to challenge the status quo, combined with the authority and accountability to drive through change."
Minter has overtaken four top-tier firms on independent ratings of client satisfaction and profitability has increased dramatically.
Guy is now moving on from Minter and looking at a number of executive roles and management buy-in opportunities.
Suellen Hughes (née O'Neill) – transforming individuals instead of companies
Suellen left PA in June 2006 after 4 years with PA in Sydney and 4 years in the UK. After taking some time out to decide what to do next with her career, in July 2007, she started a business called Transformé which offers a complete range of image, health and wellness services to individuals and organisations Australia wide. Transformé has caught Australia’s media attention with some of it’s makeovers and has appeared in a number of magazines including the Sun-Herald, Slimming & Health magazine and Fitness First magazine.
To read more, visit www.transforme.com.au.
"I decided I wanted to do something more one-on-one with individuals rather than with a large organisation and I wanted flexibility to spend time with my little boy Ethan, who is now 5 years old so this led me down the path of starting my own business. I've always worked with people issues whether in my roles in Human Resources or in my assignments at PA so the content of my job isn't really all that different but it's been a huge learning experience starting and running my own business. I love what I do and it doesn't feel like work at all."
Suellen still keeps her hand in at consulting, carrying out the odd assignment for Amica – her husband David's (also an ex PAer) consulting business.
The PA Retirers' Association (PARA) is a great way to keep in contact with ex-PA colleagues and receive occasional updates on news about PA itself. Over 500 PA pensioners and alumni enjoy being members of PARA.
The PARAnews newsletter is distributed three times each year, and contains a wide variety of articles on subjects ranging from updates on the pension scheme to members’ experiences and activities.
PARA organises regional social events, usually lunch-time gatherings in pubs or restaurants, that are becoming increasingly popular. The Annual General Meetings present a special opportunity to get together with former colleagues from far and wide. There is also an annual golf tournament in the UK.
Membership of PARA is open to everyone who has spent a considerable proportion of their career in PA, or their widowed spouse.
For more information on PARA, please contact:
Chris Buckley
Tel: +44 (0) 1883 650 420
E-mail: teletraveller@btinternet.com
