Joining our series on this episode is prominent company director & corporate advisor, Tony Howarth AO.
Tony’s extensive five-decade plus career has taken in the heights of Australia’s financial and banking sectors, including high-profile roles leading renowned organisations Challenge Bank & Hartleys as Chief Executive Officer as well as Chairman positions with Altina Energy and Home Building Society.
He has also held a number of board positions including as a Non Executive Director of WesFarmers (2007 - 2019), Deputy Chair of the Bank of Queensland (2007 - 2010), Non Executive Director of private investment vehicle AWB and Non Executive Director and Chair of St John of God Health Care.
Across a broad portfolio of current roles, Tony serves as a Board Member of Coventry Group, BWP Trust, Viburnum Funds and Altina Energy.
Born in Bathurst, Tony left school in year 10 and joined the local bank branch, studying an accounting degree at Tafe whilst working his way up through the ranks including to General Manager of Community Banking at the State Bank of New South Wales (managing 300 branches) as well as gaining experience in retail & commercial banking in Sydney, London and New York.
In 1991, Tony moved to Perth and was appointed Chief General Manager and later, Chief Executive Officer of Challenge Bank, a period which saw him leading the bank through a strong re-build before it was acquired by Westpac four years later in 1995.
Since that time, Tony has been a trusted sounding board for both public and private organisations and has built an enviable profile across Perth’s business community.
Tony served on the University of Western Australia Senate for 12 years, and was an inaugural Chairman of the University Club and was a key driver in the creation of the UWA Business School where he led the Fund Raising and served as Deputy Chair for over a decade.
Tony ‘s community involvement included Chairman of Western Australian Rugby Union; inaugural Chairman of the Committee for Perth; President of both the Western Australian and Australian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the International Chamber of Commerce of Australia.
