AST Oceanics (formerly trading as Gardline Australia Pty Ltd up until August 2017) establishes, manages and provides in service support for marine assets, including ships and offshore installations (non O&G), for commercial maritime industry and Government clients across the Asia - Pacific region. ASTO is a subsidiary company of the UK based Applied Satellite Technology group which is represented on all continents.

McAree Group Pty Ltd (MCGPL) is a provider of business development and management services to Governments and the commercial maritime industry with special focus on businesses operating in the Asia Pacific Region. MCGPL is represented in Canberra, Australia and Manila, Philippines.

John was contracted on a non-ongoing basis to serve within the Australian Customs Service (now known as the Australian Border Force as the inuagural Director of Project Implementation for the Joint Offshore Protection Command (JOPC) . The JOPC was an Australian Government proof of concept initiative designed to test the viability of a joint Customs and Australian Defence Force command arrangement that focussed on the protection of Australian offshore assets from terrorism and criminality. The JOPC proof of concept succeeded and is now known as the Maritime Border Command.

The AVECS Asia Pacific Group was a wholly owned subsidiary of AVECS AG, Germany, a Schleiter Company. AVECS AG specialised in the development, manufacture and distribution of high functionality whole ship management integrated software applications. AVECS also designed and manufactured voyage data recorders. AVECS Asia Pacific Group was headquartered in Hong Kong and maintained its software optimisation facility in Manila. Regional sales and support offices were located in Singapore and Sydney and managed sales and support agencies across the region. AVECS was acquired by Interschalt AG in 2004.

Win Win, MARPAC and MSM were private companies co-founded, co-owned and operated by John and his fellow Director, Geoff Hart-Davies. These companies were involved in a range of businesses that operated in Australia and across the region and which focussed mainly on software based ship management systems designed to comply with IMO standards and Flag State regulations. In year 2000 these companies were sold to AVECS AG and the founding directors engaged by AVECS AG to establish and operate the AVECS Asia Pacific Group.

John enjoyed a full career in the Royal Australian Navy spanning 27 years, joining at age 15 as a Junior Recruit in 1968 and retiring from the Permanent Naval Forces (PNF) in 1995 as a Commander. In his service as a sailor, John qualified as a sonar operator and shallow water diver and as an officer he qualified as a Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officer (MCDO) and Principle Warfare Officer specialising in Anti Submarine Warfare. John's appointments in the final years of his career included: service as the Fleet MCDO in Maritime Headquarters, Sydney; Commanding Officer of the patrol vessel HMAS DUBBO; a member of the Directing Staff of the RAN Staff College, Sydney; Defence Attache South Pacific based in Fiji; Commanding Officer of the destroyer escort HMAS DERWENT; and service as Commander Sea Training managing the RAN Sea Training Group in Maritime Headquarters. For his service as Defence Attache, John was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal. Upon retirement from the PNF, John continued to serve in the RAN Reserve whilst also pursuing a commercial career. John's reserve time included an appointment on full time service with Navy Logistics as manager of the Navy's explosive ordnance and fuels inventory. For this service he was awarded two commendations by the Deputy Chief of Navy. John reverted to the RAN retired list in 2017.