Chairman, Chair Membership Committee; member Governance Committee
Ian Ahearn has retired to Canberra after a 35 year career in the Australian Army and then 8 years in the information technology industry. He saw active service in South Vietnam with 12 Field Regiment RAA and service overseas with 28 ANZUK Field Regiment in Singapore. He was the Commandant 1st Recruit Training Battalion in 1988/89 and ended his service in Army HQ as Director Information Plans and Policy-Army. He was President of the RAA Association (ACT) from 1991 to 1995, Vice Chairman of the Australian Industry Defence Network 1998/2000, President of the Federal Golf Club 2005/06 and is currently the Colonel Commandant RAA Eastern Region. Ian is a Graduate of the Royal Military College, Army Command and Staff College and the Joint Services Staff College. He holds a Dip Grad – Defence Studies from the University of NSW.
Schon Condon is Managing Principal of the Condon Group, former Commanding Officer of 23rd Field Regiment RAA and remains a project Officer within Defence. Schon is currently also the President of the Parramatta Chamber of Commerce.
Schon has a career spanning more than 40 years in the Accounting, Turnaround and Military professions. He is well recognised within the profession as a leading advisor and media spokesperson. His professional role has seen him in numerous leadership and command roles including Chairman Western Sydney Itec Ltd, Senior Vice President Western Sydney Business Connection, Chairman Hawkesbury Business Connection, Chair NSW Public Practice CPA Australia, and President of the Royal Australian Artillery Association (NSW) Inc.
He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, and Fellow of the Taxation Institute of Australia. His qualifications include B. Bus (Acc) University of Technology, Sydney; Grad Dip Mgt., University of Canberra, and psc(r) Australian Command and Staff College, Canberra. He is a Registered Company Auditor, a Registered Tax Agent, and a Certified Fraud Examiner, an Official Liquidator appointed by the Supreme Court of NSW and a Registered Trustee in Bankruptcy appointed by the Federal Court of Australia.
John served in the Permanent Army from 1968 to 2003, and continues to work as a Reserve Member. He currently specialises in implementing improved governance and management of Defence’s total workforce. He was Commanding Officer of the 8th/12th Medium Regiment at Holsworthy in 1991-1992 and the Director of Artillery 1993-1995. While Director he was Chairman of the Royal Australian Artillery Historical Society. He conceived and led an ‘Australia Remembers’ project to create the ‘Defence of Sydney Monument’ at North Head. John became a Life Governor of the RAAHS/RAAHC in 1993, and he is Chairman of the History Sub Committee of the RAA Regimental Committee. John matriculated from Adelaide Boys High School, is a Graduate of the Royal Military College, the Joint Services Staff College and the Australian College of Defence and Strategic Studies. He is a Doctor of Philosophy (Physics UNSW) and is a lapsed Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Nick Floyd is a serving officer in the Australian Regular Army.
He graduated in 1989 to the Royal Australian Artillery, serving in the 8th/12th, 1st and 2nd/10th Regiments. After attending the Australian Command & Staff College, he has served in staff and instructional appointments in Forces Command-Army, Army Headquarters, Australian Defence Force Headquarters and Australian Defence College, including as the Chief of Army’s Visiting Fellow, and as the Army Contributing Historian to Australia's Official History Project - (the Official History of Australian Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Australian Peacekeeping Operations in East Timor).
Nick has deployed on operations to Iraq (2005-6); Afghanistan (2010), and Iraq (2017).
Nick has a Bachelor's degree in history, and post-graduate degrees in defence studies, and in history & archaeology. He has published a number of professional journal articles, and recently co-authored the Clash of the Gods of War: Australian Artillery and the Firepower Lessons of the Great War.
Peter served in the Australian Army for 30 years in field, operational and training appointments. He retired in 1998 and subsequent appointments include implementing quality systems, planning and project managing operations and works at Sydney Airport, and most recently, CEO of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists. Peter commanded 8/12 Medium Regiment in 1989 to 1991 and was an exchange instructor at the Royal School of Artillery, Larkhill, UK and the Canadian Forces College, Toronto, Canada. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and is a graduate of the Australian Army and Canadian Command and Staff Courses.
28 years in Royal Australian Artillery (RAA) regimental and instructional appointments. Commanding Officer 5/11 Field d Regt RAA, Full Time Duty 1981 3/81 Joint Services Staff College. Attended Joint Warfare & Maritime Courses 1992, TIC and Advanced Operations Courses LWC. President RAA Association QLD 5 years, Vice President 2 years, Secretary from 2007 to current. I support documenting Artillery history and equipment. Throughout this time, I have established a strong network between many RAA members across South East Queensland.
Diploma Applied Chemistry QIT, Certificate in Chemistry QIT, Associate Diploma in Laboratory Management CSU. Lecturer (tablet and capsule formulation)/Scientific Services Manager, School of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, retired 2014.
Bill Served in the Australian Regular Army for over 30 years and retired in in 1998. Since then he has been employed in the Financial Services industry as the General Manager and Company Secretary of the Huntley Group, a company providing investment services and management to companies and individuals. Bill saw active service in Vietnam with 4 Field Regiment and service overseas with 28 ANZUK Field Regiment. Among other Gunner appointments during his service he was an Exchange Instructor at the US Army Field Artillery School, Fort Sill for two years, commanded 102 Field Battery and was Commanding Officer of 4 Field Regiment in 1988/89. He is a graduate of New England University, the Australian Army Command and Staff College and is a Fellow of the Corporate Directors Association of Australia. He has been an active member of the NSW SES for over 15 years.
James Eling is a Victorian based Reservist, having graduated RMC-A in 2006. He has served in a number of Regimental roles in 2/10 Fd Regt, and as a staff officer at HQ 4 BDE. In 2020 he takes up the role of BC of 2/10 Lt Bty. He is the Managing Director of Extreme Networks, and IT and marketing company and he is the producer of The Principles of War, a professional military education podcast. James has a MBA from UQ and a Grad Dip in Applied Finance (Treasury).
Colonel (Retired) Ian Ahearn OAM
Chair
Members Area
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Tony Kennedy was born in 1966 and educated at Tomerong Public School. A professional soldier, joining the Australian Regular Army in 1985, he served in the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery and saw active service in Iraq on OP Catalyst and Afghanistan during OP Slipper.
During his Military career he had numerous instructional and regimental postings, including the Royal Military College, Duntroon; the School of Artillery; 4th Field Regiment; 8/12 Medium Regiment and 1st Field Regiment. He was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer Class One in 2009 and his postings since then included Master Gunner at the School of Artillery, and the Inaugural Master Gunner at 4th Regiment. He is currently appointed the Regimental Sergeant-Major 4th Regiment.
Warrant Officer Class One Tony Kennedy was born and educated in New South Wales and enlisted into the Australian Regular Army in January 1985. He has held a variety of regimental and instructional appointments in both Training and Land Command units.
On completion of recruit training Warrant Officer Kennedy was allocated to the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery. After completing his initial employment training as a gun number at the School of Artillery in North-Head, he arrived in 4th Field Regiment and was allocated to 107th Field Battery.
In 1990 Warrant Officer Kennedy was posted to 8/12 Medium Regiment at Holsworthy and employed as a Detachment 2IC and Detachment Commander in both 103rd Medium Battery and A Field Battery. In 1994 Warrant Officer Kennedy was posted to 1st Field Regiment Enoggera and was promoted to Sergeant in April 1995. In 1997 Warrant Officer Kennedy posted back to 4th Field Regiment as Troop Sergeant and separated for a short period to move to England to support his wife and family. He returned in 1998 and served in Fire Support Company at 6th Battalion the Royal Australian Regiment as part of the embedded trial as a Troop Sergeant. In 2000 Warrant Officer Kennedy posted to the School of Artillery and was employed as the Operator Command Post Sergeant in 53 BTY and was later selected to instruct Gun and OPCP courses in Fire Support Wing.
Warrant Officer Kennedy was promoted to Warrant Officer Class Two in April 2002 and performed the duties of Operations Warrant Officer at the School of Artillery and was the inaugural Sergeant Major Instructor Gunnery of the Regimental Training Team. In 2004 Warrant Officer Kennedy was posted to another training role as Class Sergeant Major 2nd Class and HQ Company Sergeant Major at the Royal Military College, Duntroon. In 2006 Warrant Officer Kennedy was appointed the Battery Sergeant Major of A Field Battery in Holsworthy until posting back to the School of Artillery in 2008 as the Standards Warrant Officer. In 2008 Warrant Officer Kennedy was selected to attend the Regimental Sergeant Major's Course and was promoted to Warrant Officer Class One in January 2009 as the Master Gunner Fire Support Wing. In 2011 Warrant Officer Kennedy was appointed the inaugural Master Gunner 4th Regiment and was appointed the Regimental Sergeant Major of 4th Regiment in January 2013.
Warrant Officer Kennedy has seen operational service in Iraq with the Australian Army Training Team - Iraq Six, on Operation Catalyst, and as the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Artillery Training Advisory Team in Afghanistan from Jun 2011 until March 2012 as part of Operation Slipper.
Warrant Officer Kennedy has been awarded the Australian Active Service Medal (Iraq and ICAT Clasp), Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Defence Long Service Medal with 2nd Clasp, Australian Defence Medal, NATO non-article five medal with ISAF clasp, Army Combat Badge, the Soldier's Medallion for Exemplary Service and the Land Commander Australia Commendation.
Warrant Officer Kennedy is married to Gillian and has three children all of whom are now adults including a son who is serving in the RAINF Corps, Royal Australian Regiment. Warrant Officer Kennedy's interests include rugby league, working around the home and maintaining fitness.