THE DIRECTORS

JOHN MURPHY

John is responsible for the operations of Community Connections. He worked for 10 years in the printing industry prior to obtaining a Bachelor of Social Work in 1981 and a PhD in 1992, both from Monash University. John's social work background was in child and family services and community work.

He worked for seven years as a lecturer in the Department of Social Work and Human Services at Monash University where he taught management and community work. During this time he maintained a close association with local communities and worked in a voluntary capacity for a number of grass-roots community groups.

BARRIE THOMAS

Barrie graduated in social work from the South Australian Institute of Technology in 1973 and moved to New Zealand where he worked for three years in the drug and alcohol field before returning to Adelaide. After working with the South Australian Royal Commission into the Non-Medical Use of Drugs, he travelled to England in 1979 where he commenced a new career in franchising. He returned to Australia in 1981 and with a business partner took on the head franchise for The Body Shop retail chain in Australia and New Zealand.

In November 1999 Barrie disposed of his interests in The Body Shop in Australia to further develop his interests in The Body Shop in New Zealand.

Barrie's background in social work and business gives him a strong belief in the social responsibilities that corporations should bear, and he is Adjunct Professor attached to the Corporate Citizenship Research Unit at Deakin University.