Ronald J. Walker
|
Ron Walker AC CBE |
|
|---|---|
| 83rd Lord Mayor of Melbourne | |
| Preceded by | Alan Douglas Whalley |
| Succeeded by | Donald Osborne |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
15 September 1939 Melbourne, Australia |
| Political party | Liberal |
Ronald Joseph "Ron" Walker AC CBE (born 15 September 1939) is a former Lord Mayor of Melbourne and prominent Australian businessman, renowned for his work in managing sporting events.
Walker attended Caulfield Grammar School. He served as the Lord Mayor of Melbourne from 1974 to 1976. He became a prominent Liberal Party figure, working as honorary National Treasurer from 1987 to 2002.
In 1988 he was appointed as a Commissioner for Melbourne's 1996 Olympics bid to host the Games. His relationship with former Liberal Victorian Premier, Jeff Kennett, helped him to become the Chairman of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, after Walker helped deliver Melbourne the hosting rights for the event from Adelaide in 1993. However, it was Labor Premier Joan Kirner who appointed Walker as Chairman of the Melbourne Major Events Company, the body which managed both the bids for the Grand Prix and the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Walker was also the Chairman of Melbourne 2006, the organising body for the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
During his business career he has held large stakes in companies such as People Telecom, Primelife and Buka Minerals.
In 1976 he held a partnership with another Melbourne businessman, Lloyd Williams. The pair formed a property development company called Hudson Conway, which developed the Crown Casino complex in Melbourne and was the casino's first operator. In 2000, Walker resigned from Hudson Conway, netting approximately A$86 million from the sale of his shares. In 2003 he co-founded, and remains chairman of Evolve Development, a private property development and investment group based in Melbourne.
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