L-R Ken Williams (Company Secretary), Bill Munro (Chairman), Rabia Siddique (Director), Greg Williams (Managing Director)
I am so excited to announce the incorporation of Calan Williams Racing Pty Ltd, and to introduce my amazing Board who bring strong and diverse experience along with outstanding leadership and governance oversight to all the organizational aspects which are now involved in my racing.
The first meeting of the Board was held last night with Bill Munro (Chairman), Greg Williams (Managing Director), Rabia Siddique (Director) and Ken Williams (Company Secretary).
A Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Bill Munro brings to the Board of Calan Williams Racing Pty Ltd not only long experience in governance, finance and commercial practice but also in leadership and community service.
For many years prior to his retirement from full-time employment in 2014, Bill was Director of Finance and Administration for Western Irrigation Pty Ltd and retains an interest in its operations. He was one of three key people who, over the years, developed the company from its beginnings as a small irrigation contractor to its present position as an industry leader in almost all aspects of the water industry in Western Australia.
Bill is currently Chairman (Western Australia) of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and a member of their National Board. His past experience has included roles as Chairman of the Melville-Cockburn Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Royal West Australian Institute for the Blind, Board Member of the State Housing Commission of Western Australia and State Manager of BT Australia Ltd. He is a member of the Royal Australian Regiment Association and a Sub-warden of the West Australian State War Memorial.
Bill’s passion for excellence is reflected in the surprising twist that he is a passionate gourmet cook, studying for a Master’s Degree in Gastronomic Tourism and National Argentier of La Chaine des Rôtisseurs!
Rabia is one of the most inspiring women in Western Australia. She is an International Humanitarian, Professional Speaker, Author, Facilitator and Advocate. She was a finalist in the 2016 Australian of the Year Awards and has been recognized by the Australian Financial Review and Westpac Bank as one of Australia’s 100 Most Influential Women (2014). Her mantra is “be the change you wish to see”. Enthusiastically, she has followed my progress for some years and I could hardly have a better role model in courage, resilience, enthusiasm and the pursuit of excellence.
Many Australians have been inspired by Rabia’s autobiographical book, ‘Equal Justice’ (2013), in which she recounts amongst other things her experience, as a British Army Major, of being taken hostage in Baghdad during the Iraq War, of negotiating the survival and release of her colleague and herself, and then fighting successfully for just recognition of her experience and achievement in the face of gender-based disregard. When Rabia encourages people to persevere and transcend their circumstances to be the best they can be, she knows exactly what she is talking about.
Besides these motivational aspects, Rabia also brings her legal background and experience to the Board of Calan Williams Racing Pty Ltd. She holds degrees in Arts and Law from the University of Western Australia and, after being a legal officer in the British Army, has been Crown Advocate in the Counter Terrorism Division of the Crown Prosecution Service, Principal Lawyer with the Crime and Corruption Commission and Commissioner’s Legal Counsel with the West Australian Police. Since 2013 she has practiced in her own business as speaker, author, facilitator, mentor and coach.
Greg Williams (Dad) has a background in sport through cricket playing in both Perth as well as the UK for seven seasons, with four of these being involved with Somerset County Cricket Club both as a coach and a player representing the County in their 2nd X1. Through coaching Greg has been involved in the highest levels of the sport, coaching state and county underage teams, and working closely with the Western Warriors and Australian Cricket Teams in the capacity of a Performance Analyst for five years.
Over the past 13 years Greg has been a State Manager with the Australian Sports Commission and is currently the WA State Manager for the Alcohol and Drug Foundation.
Ken Williams (Grandad) is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and formally qualified and experienced in commercial art, clinical psychology, commerce, and divinity. His roles have included being superintendent of juvenile security institutions, Chief of Institutional Services for the WA Department for Community Welfare, Director of the WA Office of Redeployment, Business Manager for the Uniting Church in Western Australia and, in the years leading up to his retirement, Moderator (Head) of the Uniting Church in Western Australia.
His experience has included being principal author of the first White Paper ever tabled in the Parliament of Western Australia: ‘Managing Change in the Public Sector’ (June 1986) and designing the redeployment and retraining service that served tens of thousands of displaced WA public sector employees. For some years he managed the $40M WA Uniting Church Investment Fund and the internal Uniting Church Insurance Service that served the needs of the Church, its schools and instrumentalities. He was also a trustee of the superannuation fund for the lay staff of the Church.
For fifty years, Ken has followed Formula One and in person seen almost all the World Champions drive, so tells me he believes he knows a good driver when he sees one! In retirement, he takes a keen interest in the progress of all five of his grandchildren and enjoys being able to apply his time and experience to supporting me in my ambitions.
Following the first meeting of the Board we enjoyed a really nice meal together enjoying each other’s company and looking forward to the challenges and successes ahead. I am incredibly grateful to have such amazing experience and guidance around me.