Phil was appointed Wallara CEO in 2010 after a 20 year career spanning investment banking, commercial law and sports marketing. The sports phase included 12 years with the National Basketball Association where he finished as MD NBA Asia in Hong Kong and then a year on his return to Australia in 2006 leading all commercial operations for the Hawthorn Football Club.  

 

The leap to the disability sector was primarily driven by being a carer of a family member with an intellectual disability who is also non verbal. 

 

Given that sports background,  Phil sees the Wallara role as helping the playing group of 700 adults with different abilities who attend Wallara to  realise their full potential with help from a group of 200+ talented Support Coaches. Phil’s job is to generate partnerships and drive initiatives that enable Wallara to provide better outcomes than it can alone, ideally in a way that drives greater community awareness and inclusion.  

 

Today Wallara operates 5 certified social enterprises across logistics and e-commerce, hospitality, land management services and media and has a workforce of 600 where 45% are people with disabilities. Strategic partners include Monash University and St Kilda Football Club and Wallara also owns and operates a 40 acre farm on the Mornington Peninsula Sages Cottage farm, where Phil hopes see you all soon.