Our Board
The Board of Directors are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Foundation, including fundraising, investing, marketing, and communication, assessing and awarding the annual grants and awards. Directors are appointed for a three-year term and can serve a maximum of three terms (nine years).
Current Directors (left to right) Vikki Baldwin, Dean McAullay (Secretary), Paul Green, Rob Rooke, Dr Brien Hennessey, and Philippa Packer (Chairman).
As RTYF continues to evolve and strives to achieve its mission, the Directors hope to raise the profile or the Foundation sufficiently so the whole yachting fraternity can recognise and realise the benefits of the philanthropic objective the original founders wanted.
PHILIPPA PACKER
Philippa started sailing at the age of 9 in the UK and has continued her involvement in the sport ever since. After moving to Australia in the late 1980’s, Philippa has participated in many State, National and World Championships in the Flying Fifteen class. She also looks for any opportunities to sail in other classes and events.
Philippa’s role as Chairman of RTYF has a special place in her heart as it involves combining her passion for sailing with her enthusiasm to help youngsters further their dreams of sailing success. As a sport you can do all your life, we need to encourage more people of all ages to get involved and enjoy the healthy, social and rewarding benefits it can bring!
Philippa’s ongoing involvement with various Not-for-Profit organisations and community projects over many years allows her to use her skills (including a Master of Business degree from Notre Dame University) to ensure the objectives and underlying philosophies of RTYF are best sustained to benefit the sailing community of Western Australia.
DEAN MCAULLAY
Dean McAullay is a Certified Practicing Accountant and the current Secretary/Treasurer of RTYF Pty Ltd which is the Trustee of The Ron Tough Yachting Foundation. Dean is a past Commodore of Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, past RTYF Gold Medal winner, World Champion and multiple National Champion and current Flying Fifteen and Etchels sailor.
VIKKI BALDWIN
M. Lit. (Cultural Studies), B. HRM, B. Arts (Soc. & PR), CQU. PhD Candidate (in recess). CPM, MPRIA, AMSRS, Fellow AMI,
Vikki was introduced to sailing on Australia’s East coast – far North Queensland – Townsville to be exact, where she crewed Tornado class catamarans. After moving to Perth, she joined the Duyfken 1606 Replica Foundation where her crewing took on a different ‘look’ as she became part of the deck team on a 17th century sailing ship.
With four years as Chair of the Duyfken Foundation, being a board member of the Rotary Club of Melville and a member of the management committee, South of Perth Yacht Club Vikki has relished her leadership and team roles. She brings these experiences and her knowledge in Marketing, Events Management and Corporate Communications to RTYF.
Vikki is also Senior Lecturer in Marketing and Public Relations, at University of Notre Dame, Fremantle.
PAUL GREEN
Paul first learnt to sail at Fremantle Sailing Club when he was 10. In the years since he’s been a regular competitor in boats including Cherubs, Lasers, Flying Fifteens, Herons, Contenders, I14, Sharpies, a Musto Skiff and Foiling Moth.
Paul has degrees in Accounting and Business Law and has worked in tax accounting, marine tourism, retail merchandising and the building industry.
Within sailing Paul has held positions including Commodore of Shelley Sailing Club, Dinghy Captain and regular Race Officer at Fremantle Sailing Club, International Measurer for the Laser Class, State Measurer for the Optimist Class, State Umpire for Match and Teams racing, Sailing Instructor, Club Coach, and National Juror, along with many YWA and association committee positions.
DR BRIEN HENNESSY
Brien has raced yachts continuously for over 45 years, in many different dinghy classes and keelboats. Since moving to Perth 20 years ago he has been a member of Perth Dinghy Sailing Club where he continues to sail a Javelin, and more recently, Royal Perth Yacht Club where he also sails a Beneteau.
He has been on the state and national committees of most of the classes that he and his children have sailed, and is the current WA 49er president.
Brien is a specialist anaesthetist and the immediate past head of department at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, as well as practicing at Hollywood and Bethesda Hospitals. He also juggles national governance roles within the critical care medical specialties.
Robert Parker
Rob is the immediate past Commodore of RFBYC. He started sailing early in life at aged 11 and has been a member of RFBYC since 1969. He sailed in Pelican’s, Cherub’s, 470’s and then on his Fathers’ S&S 34, both offshore and river racing. Rob has recently purchased a Dragon to enjoy in his retirement!
Rob played an integral part in the fundraising for RFBYC’s new Dinghy & Training Centre. This facility is world class with a strong emphasis on Junior sailing programs for all levels of participation. Rob has a passion for promoting Junior sailing and brings corporate governance, finance, and commercial skills to the board as a, now retired, Chartered Accountant.