John Bertrand AO Travels from VIC
Fee Range: :$5001 to $10000
John Bertrand AO's Biography
John Bertrand AO is a businessman, international sportsman, and philanthropist.
In his business career, he built companies in the marine industry, property development and digital media industries including co-founder and chairman of Quokka Sports, a pioneering digital sports broadcast company based in San Francisco.
Quokka Sports (Nasdaq listed) was the official digital real time broadcaster of major sporting events including Motor GP, CART, Le Mans 24 hour, America’s Cup and in partnership with NBC, NBCOlympics.com for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
He was instrumental in five America’s Cup campaigns over 25 years of international competition, both sailing, management, skipper of Australia 11 and chairman of oneAustralia. These high technology multi $million campaigns typically extended over 2-3 years, utilizing the most advanced technologies and human resources available.
He competed in two Olympic Games, ‘72 Munich and ‘76 Montreal (Bronze medal).
He skippered the winged keel Australia 11 to victory over the US Defender Liberty to win the 1983 America's Cup, ending 132 years of American domination and in the process, breaking the longest-running record in the history of modern sport.
When Australia 11 finally crossed the finishing line (after coming from 3 races to 1 down), the nation celebrated as never before.
Prime Minister Bob Hawke summed it up…”any boss who sacks anyone today for not turning up is a bum!”
The Confederation of Australian Sport voted the Australia 11 victory as the ‘greatest team performance in 200 years of Australian sport’.
America’s Cup winner, Olympic bronze medalist and multiple world Etchell class sailing champion, John is a Legend of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
John is currently president and chairman of Swimming Australia, representing over 4.5 million participants and responsible for the country’s most successful Olympic team.
He is also chairman of The Sport Australia Hall Fame and formerly chair of the Alannah and Madeline children’s foundation.
He has an Honorary Doctorate from Victoria University and is a Vice Chancellor Professorial Fellow at Monash University with particular focus on high end leadership.
He holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from Monash University and a Master of Science from MIT in Boston.
In 2016, his Order of Australia AM award was upgraded to AO…in recognition for sporting administration, in particular swimming and sailing, children’s welfare, higher education and mentoring of young people.
He continues to mentor young aspiring Olympians.
Speaking Topics Include
Building High Performance Teams
The Essence of Leadership
The Key links of all world class organisation - Management + Technology + People
The Principles of Leadership