John Spence Thomas Email & Phone Number

John grew up in the Welsh borders and after attending Kings School Bruton and Bristol University, joined Stewarts & Lloyds as a management trainee. He worked in all areas before moving in to Export Development. After 20 years international experience in the steel and engineering industry rising to director level with British Steel International and then Distington Engineering Contracting, John moved to Australia and worked as a consultant to the Commonwealth Government responsible for the review and restructure of Australia’s Antarctic operations and then for the Boral group assessing noncore operations following the takeover of BMG. He then set up his own engineering management business in Queensland. He sold this to New Zealand interests and joined Gibsons Consulting, becoming Managing Partner as this grew to be the largest Queensland based consulting group. In his own practice, John specialised in assisting new start-ups, supporting growth and assisting local and export market development. He focused on economic development in regional areas with projects such as the Qantas Founders Outback Museum, Exmouth Information Centre, Australian Mango Exports, Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame - Stage 2, Mitchell Sawmill, Museum of Tropical Queensland and Tambo Sawmill and Industrial Estate. He also assisted in the start-up and growth of companies such as G&S Engineering and Macs Engineering. He presided over the merger of Gibsons with the Citadel group, one of Australia’s fastest growing private companies. With others he then established the Gravelroad Consulting Group with the Australian based entity specialising in systems development and upgrade and the New Zealand based entity on risk analytics. John served as non-executive Chair and also took on a number of other non-executive directorships and advisory roles. John retired in 2019 and occupies himself in pro bono business mentoring and non-executive Director roles and time with his family, all of whom live and work in the Noosa area.