By Vice Admiral Peter Jones AO, DSC RAN Retired
This is my third President’s report to the Australian Naval Institute members. I am pleased to report that the Institute has had a number of notable achievements in the last twelve months.
These include:
• The very successful 2016 Annual Dinner and Vernon Parker Oration by the Honourable Kim Beazley. This was attended by a near capacity audience at Hotel Realm.
• The institution of the McNeil Prize awarded to an individual or individuals who have made an outstanding contribution from industry to the capabilities of the Royal Australian Navy. The very worthy inaugural recipient was Mr Ian Croser AM of CEA Technologies.
• The publication of the inaugural Australian Naval Review. This will be published annually for members at the end of each year.
• The subscriber numbers for the ANI website reached 1,000.
• The successful staging of the 2016 Goldrick Seminar which was held in partnership with the Australian Centre for the Study of Armed Conflict and Society (ACSACS) at the Australian Defence Force Academy.
• The first Maritime Event in Sydney with the tour and briefing onboard HMAS Canberra.
These achievements could not have been made possible without the support of our sponsors, the efforts of the ANI Council with the administrative support of Sue Hart and Commerce Management Services. The current Council members are:
• President – Vice Admiral Peter Jones (retired)
• Vice President – Commodore Lee Goddard
• Treasurer – Commander Nick Tate
• Public Officer – Mrs Sue Hart
• Secretary – Lieutenant Stephanie Foulkes
• Councillors – Commander Adam Allica, Dr Greg Gilbert, Midshipman Callum Hicks, Commodore Justin Jones, Mr Brian Mansell, Lieutenant Nam Nguygen, Midshipman Eamon O’Shea, Lieutenant Sarah Pavillard, Captain Tom Phillips, Commander Nick Watson and Lieutenant Commander Desmond Woods.
Turning to the future our attention is on the following areas:
• The events program of Annual Dinner, Goldrick Seminar and Maritime Events. I am delighted that Mr Ric Smith AO, PSM has agreed to give the 2017 Vernon Parker Oration.
• The award of the 2017 McNeil Prize.
• Enhance the functionality of the ANI website and in particular improve how people can join and book to attend ANI events.
• Work more closely with kindred organizations both in Australia and internationally. Examples of this is the planned partnership with the Submarine Institute of Australia and ACSACS in the staging of the 2017 Goldrick Seminar.
• Further strengthen our financial, membership and sponsorship base.
I would value any feedback for members and I thank you for your support on the ANI in its 42st year.