John has been Chairman of Huawei Technologies (Australia) Pty Ltd since 2011 and is a member of the Victorian Government’s Ministerial Community Advisory Committee in the Department of Justice. He served for three years as Chairman of the Victorian Veterans Council until December 2016. In a voluntary capacity he is Chairman of the Defence Bank Foundation and Patron of the Darwin Defenders 1942-45 Melbourne.

Previously he has been a Director of the Victorian Metropolitan Fire & Emergency Services Board, a member of the Victoria Defence Council, Chairman of DMS Maritime Systems Pty Ltd from 2003 to 2013, Chief Executive and Director of the Marine Board of Victoria, and a member of the Australian Maritime Group. John was an Executive Director of P&O Maritime Services responsible for global operations and government business, and on the Boards of P&O Maritime Services in Ireland, South Africa and Singapore. He served with the Royal Australian Navy for over 36 years during which time he saw active service in Vietnam, was the inaugural Head of Defence Education and Training, the Fleet Commander responsible for Australian naval operations worldwide, and retired with the rank of Rear Admiral.