Board of Directors

Chairman Michael Ransom

Mitcham Nunawading Probus Club, Victoria

Email: [email protected]

Michael is a foundation member of the Mitcham Nunawading Probus Club in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. He has been a Probus member for over ten years and has served as President, Membership Officer and Tours and Outings Officer, and more recently he has been a Probus Ambassador working with a number of Clubs in the City of Whitehorse.

Micheal has had nearly forty years experience in Government, working in a range of locations around Victoria with the state Government in a range of senior roles with the Environment Department and the Department of Primary Industries. He has been actively involved in community organisations for many years, and more recently has spent time enjoying golf, and served as captain of the Box Hill Golf Club for three years. Michael is married with three adult children and five grandchildren.  

Michael is the Representative Member for Victoria and Tasmania.

Vice Chairman Judith Maestracci AM

Indooroopilly Probus Club and Paddington Probus Club, Queensland  

Email: [email protected]   

Judith is a foundation member of the Indooroopilly Probus Club and has served as that club’s President, Secretary, Newsletter Editor and Guest Speaker Officer. Judith is also a foundation member of the Paddington Probus Club.

She has also served two terms on the committee of the Probus Association of Queensland (PAQ). During a business career spanning five decades, Judith has owned and operated her own businesses and served as Chairman and Director of numerous government and private company boards, commissions and organisations.

She was recognised for her contribution to community, sport and tourism industry in 1996 appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM). 

Judith is the Representative Member for Queensland.

 

Treasurer David Ekert BA (Accounting) MBA, CPA

Cornubia Probus Club Inc, Queensland

David is a Foundation Member and Past President of the Cornubia Probus Club in Southeast Queensland and has held all Executive positions in his Club. David is an Appointed Director. He is a past Rotarian, a Paul Harris Fellow and has been granted Honorary Membership of his former Rotary Club.  David currently serves as a Director of a listed financial services company and has held Committee and Board positions with a number of community organisations.

David is a qualified accountant and has held executive financial and general management roles in Government and industry, as well as program and project management of major business change initiatives.

 

Director Margaret Drake

Rolleston Combined Probus Club, New Zealand

Email: [email protected]

Margaret Drake is a Representative Member/Director for New Zealand.  In 2005 she became a foundation member of the Rolleston Combined Probus Club and has served as its Secretary and President (twice).  She has also been speaker organiser and newsletter editor.  Margaret has served on the PSPL Board previously, from 2016 to 2020 and was its Chairman in 2020.

Prior to retiring Margaret spent most of her working life as a legal Secretary/Executive in Christchurch, Dunedin, Palmerston North and Auckland so is familiar with the whole of New Zealand.  She had been actively involved in Inner Wheel for many years, serving as Secretary and President of Howick Inner Wheel in Auckland and she also completed three years as District Secretary.

Margaret has been awarded a Paul Harris Fellow twice, and has also been Treasurer of her local Residents Association.

Margaret is the Representative Member for New Zealand.

 

Director Nicholas Erby

Kingscliff Probus Club, New South Wales

Email: [email protected]

Nick is a past president of the Probus Club of Kingscliff in NSW. He had a long career in broadcasting, managing radio stations and then specialising in country music where he was recognised for his service with a number of Australian and International awards. Throughout his career Nick served on the boards of both radio and country music industry bodies.

Nick is the Representative Member for New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

 

Director Brian Hoult  B. Bus , CA

Mandurah Peel Probus Club, Western Australia

Email: [email protected] 

Brian is a member and current president of the Probus Club of Mandurah Peel. He is a past Rotarian and currently sits on the committee of the Probus Association of Western Australia.

Brian is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and spent 40 years in Public Practice working largely with small businesses. He has also acted as Treasurer for a number of sporting and community groups over the years and is currently the Treasurer of his local croquet club.

Brian is the Representative Member for Western Australia

 

Director Jennifer Law

Victor Harbor/Granite Island Combined Probus Club, South Australia

Email: [email protected]

Jennifer is a Past President and former Secretary of the Victor Harbor/Granite Island Combined Probus Club, and she is currently the Probus District Chairman for the South Country Area.

Jennifer’s working life was spent in the local government sector in Western Australia, and she held executive positions both within the sector and the State Department of Local Government.  Post retirement she operated a small consulting business for rural and remote local governments providing assistance on governance and policy matters.  She also delivered training and support programs for local government officers and elected members.

Jennifer is the Representative Member for South Australia and the Northern Territory. 

 

Director Peter Turner

Toorak Men's Probus Club, Victoria

Email: [email protected]

Peter Turner is appointed to the PSPL Board and has many years of business experience in the private sector in Australia and overseas.

He held senior positions in the Royal Philips Electronics Group, Foster's Group Limited and the Australian Corporate Lawyers Association.

He is Past President of the Toorak Men's Probus Club Inc.   

 

 

Director Merv Richens OAM

Probus Club of Springwood, Queensland

Email: [email protected]

Merv is a member of the Probus Club of Springwood. He has served the community as an active Rotarian since 1964 and is a Past District Governor, Paul Harris Fellow and Rotary Foundation Benefactor. He has served on a number of Rotary International committees and is still an active member of the Rotary Club of Loganholme. Merv has been actively involved with Probus for a number of years, being convener of the Probus Club of Goonellabah in NSW in 1993 and his present club, the Probus Club of Springwood in 2001. In recent years Merv has served as the Rotary District 9630 Probus Chairman (RDPC) and is currently the Probus District Chairman (PDC) in his area and has been involved with the formation of several new Clubs in Queensland. Most of Merv’s working life has been involved with refrigeration and air conditioning contracting and he retains an interest in computing and the IT Industry.  

Married to Margaret, who is also a Probian, they have three married children with nine grandchildren who all live close by and are an important part of their lives. They enjoy short excursions with their caravan and especially enjoy the fun, friendship and fellowship that Probus provides.