MEET TEC CHAIRS

Biography:

Stephen O'Keefe is a Commerce Graduate who has significantly grown businesses in a career which has spanned a wide range of industries. He now consults to a range of business on marketing and distribution development.

His career commenced in public accounting with Pricewaterhouse Coopers followed by 10 yrs with The Shell Company of Australia Ltd. One of his major roles at Shell was the CEO of a national fuel distribution operation with remote distribution points delivering over 50m litres pa to customers throughout Australia.

At Wesfarmers Ltd he held the position of Sales & Marketing Manager in the Rural Division. The business was expanded to the east coast and this development became the basis for the growth of Wesfarmers Rural outside of its WA base.

During his 10 yrs at the privately owned Peters and Brownes Group he lead the development of the group from a WA only business to a national business with a range of ice cream and dairy products.

His team managed and developed the Cadbury Ice Cream range of novelty and take home ice cream products for all major distribution channels to a business of $100m retail sales in 8 yrs.

AS CEO for Kailis Pearling - the 2^nd largest pearl producer and marketer in Australia Stephen lead the development in licensed branded pearl sales nationally and internationally and the expansion of the pearling farming operations. As an integrated business from hatchery to farming/seeding/ grading/wholesale and retail sales this $30m business competed successfully across international market.

Education and Associations:

Stephen was born in Perth and attended the University of WA where he earned a Commerce Degree (Hons). He subsequently completed a Management program at Harvard Business School (PMD 62). He s a fellow of the Australian Institute of Management (WA) and a member of the AICD - Australian Insitute of Company Directors

Personal:

A life time swimmer and water polo player. He has competed at Fina World Swimming and Water Polo Championships over the past 8 yrs and been placed in top 10 in his age group in freestyle events