Former Lake Macquarie mayor John Kilpatrick today retired after 16 years of service with Hunter-based Greater Building Society, stepping down as the chairman and a director of the Greater Charitable Foundation.

Inaugural Charitable Foundation director and another former Greater Building Society chairman, Ian Nelmes, replaces John as Foundation chairman. Current Greater Building Society chairman and partner at Maitland-based Pitcher Partners, Wayne Russell, will join the Foundation Board.

Ian thanked John for his long service to The Greater’s customers and the broader community.  John served as a Greater director for 13 years, three as chairman. He then served as inaugural Foundation chairman for three years.

Ian has a total 34 years of service on both boards. He was a Greater director for 31 years, 22 as chairman.

The other Foundation directors are Anne Thurlow, Bruce White and Greater staff appointed representatives Kristy Bagnall and Vicki Rowett.

The Greater Charitable Foundation was established in 2011. It is funded from the profits of the Greater Building Society. The Foundation has already allocated almost $4 million to support 12 charity partners to help improve the lives of families in The Greater’s area of operations.

Partners include HMRI, Starlight Children’s Foundation, Cerebral Palsy Alliance and Hunter Institute of Mental Health.

Image | John Kilpatrick and Ian Nelmes