The Board
HENRY BROWN
Henry represented Wests as both a Junior and Senior player starting in 2003 and playing until 2014, during which time he spent a number of seasons as a fixture in the Premier Grade team. Additionally Henry captained the Colts side in 2009. Whilst completing his studies at QUT, earning a Bachelor of Property Economics, Henry started his professional career at Taylor Byrne & LMW (now Acumentis) where he rose to his current position of Director Commercial Valuations. In this role, Henry is responsible for the strategic direction and performance of the Commercial Valuation team within Queensland, his work includes providing specialist valuation services across a broad range of assets classes for major financial institutions, Government authorities as well as a variety of private and corporate clients.
Henry is also an Associate Member of the Australian Property Institute, a Certified Practising Valuer – Valuer’s Registration Board of Qld as well as a Professional Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
SCOTT HARRISON
Scott has over 30 years’ professional experience including being a former Registered Company Auditor with ASIC and former Registered Tax Agent.
Scott is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Public Accountants, a Graduate with the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce. He has also attained a Certificate in Strategic Leadership from Harvard University, Massachusetts.
Over the last 20 years, Scott has held leadership positions in the Education sector in business management, finance, governance, assurance, risk and policy. He currently delivers a Financial Literacy Program to school Principals.
Scott is a Life Member of Wests and has been an assistant coach with the Premier Grade squad since 2022.
TONY HAWKINS
Tony was for 19 years CEO of WorkCover Queensland which provides workers compensation insurance to over 160,000 businesses across the state covering 2 million workers – a $1.5 billion insurance business. Prior to this, Tony spent 15 years with the AXA group in customer service roles and 15 years in the coal mining and building construction materials divisions of CSR. He is a former Director of Lexon Insurance and the Qld Government State Investment Advisory Board. He was awarded an AM in the 2019 Australia Day Honours list.
Tony is a Life Member of Wests having served as a coach, manager and committeeman of both the junior and senior clubs since 1992.
CULLUM HUGHES
Cullum Hughes is the founder and sole director of CGH Constructions which was established in 2005 and specialisers in high-end bespoke architectural homes. Cullum studied at the University of Technology, graduating in 2000 with a Bachelor of Applied Science, majoring in Construction Management. After graduation Cullum worked for large constructions firms in Australia, and also worked internationally, including Aspen (USA) and Japan.
Cullum was previously on Western District Rugby Football Club Limited board from 2019 to 2021. Cullum represented Wests and was club Captain from 1998 to 2000.
PETER SCHMIDT
Peter is a Senior Consultant at international law firm Norton Rose Fulbright, having recently stepped down after nearly 25 years as a partner. Peter was the head of the Brisbane office of NRF (with a staff of over 150 people) for 5 years.
Peter has mostly worked in litigation and commercial disputes, specialising in restructuring of solvent and insolvent companies. He also advises large public and private companies on risk management and corporate governance. Peter was recently appointed by the Qld Attorney General as a member of the Council at the Queensland Law Society. Peter also sits on the board of the Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association which is the peak industry body for lawyers and accountants that practice in that field.
Peter’s association with West’s extends back to when after leaving school he played intermittently with the then lowest senior team at the club, back when training was optional or occurred at the Regatta. Peter’s three sons all played junior rugby at West up to under 11’s. Peter was the president of the junior club for a number of years and was part of the working committee that obtained funding to install irrigation on the second oval for the first time.
DEVYN SMITH
Devyn played at Wests in the Colts program in 2009 and 2010, he then went on play in eight seasons in senior grades representing premier grade on 80 occasions. Devyn also spent an off season playing semi-professionally in Scotland in 2014-2015. Additionally, Devyn is a current juniors coach at Wests.
Devyn holds a Bachelor of Business Management degree from the University of Qld and has worked in the property sector for the past 10 years with -Colliers International, Jones Lang LaSalle, Geon Property, CBRE and Real Asset Management.
Devyn is currently a Director of Asset Advisory Group, an independent real estate agency focusing on leasing, property management, asset management and occupier services.
GEOFF WESSLING
Geoff has been connected with Wests since 1970. Initially playing with the U15 to U19 teams and then from 1976 – 1982 in first grade. In 1977 he was appointed captain of first grade who went on to win West’s initial first grade premiership. Over many years Geoff has kept a keen interest in the Club, taking on coaching responsibilities as well as serving as a Director on the Club’s Board over a period of 5 years. During this period he held the positions of President, Treasurer and Secretary.
Other governance responsibilities include directorships for Jigsaw Training Group Pty Ltd, Professional Counsellors Association Australia and as a committee member of the Lang Park PCYC.
Geoff is currently the CEO of TCCW Consulting Pty Ltd, a company specialising in international educational management and partnerships. As a consultant he has acted in leadership positions for the PGA International Golf Institute, Russo Business School, Careers Australia and Royal Brisbane Institute of Technology. He has also brokered successful partnerships between Australian and overseas universities and colleges.
Prior to the mentioned responsibilities, he held the position of COO for C Management Services, an international education management company and was the CEO of the International School Suva. His qualifications include a Master of Educational Administration, a Graduate Diploma of Strategic Leadership, a Graduate Diploma of Project Management, as well as other qualifications. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Managers and Leaders and is also a certified carpenter and joiner.