John George

Position: Chair, Australian Cambodian Foundation
Chair, ACF Education Sub Committee

John is an Adelaide boy, born in 1947, and educated at Rose Park Primary and Adelaide High School.

He commenced a career in the insurance industry in 1964, and in 1975 founded what has now become one of Australia’s largest insurance broking and strata management businesses, the MGA and Whittles group, of which he is managing director.

John is married to Margaret, has 2 children and 4 grandchildren.

Through her brother-in law, Geraldine met John in 2000 and he was immediately impressed with her efforts to help underprivileged children in Cambodia. It was still early days for the foundation, and John agreed to accept the office of secretary/treasurer with his company providing office facilities and backup, a service that is ongoing today.

John believes that all children deserve an opportunity to succeed in life to their full potential, and to this end formed the ACF Education Sub Committee which he chairs. At this time Sunrise has eight students, five boys and two girls in Australia undertaking a variety of courses in private colleges and universities, not available to them in Cambodia. It is early days, but results thus far are encouraging and inspiring.

John expresses the view, 'when I first met Geraldine Cox there were around 40 children in Sunrise. Since that time we have grown to over 200. Of the 160 extra maybe 20% would not be here today but for the Foundation. This is a potent driver for me to continue to work toward saving and educating these kids, who through no fault on their behalf find themselves in dreadful circumstances. We must continue to offer our hand to them.'