Introducing our newest Board Members

The Australian Wooden Boat Festival is excited to welcome onto the team our first Festival Patron, John Bertrand AO.  

In the winter of 2020, the AWBF launched a recruitment process to search for new Board level talent to help steer the Festival forward in the turbulent years ahead. After a considerable nationwide search, the AWBF engaged with John Bertrand AO, who agreed to come on board as Festival Patron – a representative, advocate, figurehead, and supporter all in one.  

It is a great honour to welcome John Bertrand, a high successful international businessman, philanthropist and sportsman. Within his five America’s Cup campaigns he was skipper of Australia 11, winner of the 1983 America’s Cup. The victory was considered by the Confederation of Australian sport as the greatest team performance in 200 years of Australian Sport.

He is the Chair of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and recently retired President of Swimming Australia. For 15 years he was also Chair of the Alannah and Madeline Children’s Foundation which grew out of the Port Arthur tragedy. Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, is the Foundations International patron.

John’s wide ranging experience and national recognition will be an invaluable asset over the next few years, as the AWBF navigates a post-COVID world and prepares for the future. 

The AWBF is also excited to welcome to the team three new board members – Scott Rankin, Jane Worrall, and Bass Gamlin. 

Scott is the CEO and Creative Director of the arts and social change organisation Big hART. Through Big hART, Scott has delivered projects across the world to over 2.4 million audience members and was the 2018 Tasmanian of the Year. He brings a solid arts and fundraising skillset to the AWBF Board.  

Bass is an associate engineer at a well-known Tasmanian engineering firm and is a passionate advocate of wooden boats. With formal AICD training and close connections to a range of important businesses across the state, Bass has an in-depth understanding of best business practice and management. 

Jane Worrall is an experienced policy expert with a healthy network of key players in local and federal politics. Her experience with developing strategic advice on Defence operations offers the Board a strong focus on risk management and planning – very welcome skills in our current environment. 

The current AWBF Board composition is:

Chair – Peter Higgs 

Vice-Chair – Joy Phillips 

Secretary – Chris Palmer 

Treasurer – Greg Hitchens 

Board Member – Sarah Parry 

Board Member – Jane Worrall 

Board Member – Bass Gamlin 

Board Member – Scott Rankin 

Festival Patron – John Bertrand AO