2010 LEAD DINNER CHAIRMEN

The American Australian Association Limited is pleased to announce its Dinner Chairmen for the 2010 Benefit Dinner honouring Jeanne Pratt AC, Anthony Pratt, and the Pratt Family.

The Dinner will be held at the Crown Palladium, Southbank, Victoria on Thursday 8 April.

Mark Leibler AC is one of Australia's leading tax lawyers and corporate strategists. As the senior partner of law firm Arnold Bloch Leibler, and head of its taxation practice, Mark has, for over 35 years, acted in the tax affairs of Australia's largest businesses and many of the nation's corporate leaders.

Mark joined Arnold Bloch Leibler in 1966 and became a partner in 1969. He graduated from The University of Melbourne¹s Law School with first class honours, sharing the Supreme Court Prize awarded to the year's top law graduate, and later obtained a Master of Laws with honours from Yale University.

Under Mark's leadership, Arnold Bloch Leibler's taxation practice has developed an unparalleled reputation in Australia. It has achieved outstanding results, particularly in the areas of complex tax audits, corporate tax strategy, and tax, estate and trust planning.

John Hartigan heads News Corporation’s Australian operations as chairman and chief executive officer of News Limited, Australia’s largest media company.

Mr Hartigan began his career as a cadet reporter at John Fairfax & Sons. He joined News Limited in 1970 and worked with various international papers before returning to Australia, where he served as editor, then editor-in-chief of several major Australian papers, including The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph.

In 1997, Mr Hartigan was appointed group editorial director, responsible for the editorial direction of all of the company’s newspapers. He was appointed chief executive officer of News Limited in 2000 and chairman and chief executive officer in 2005.

Mr Hartigan is a director of News Limited and its subsidiary companies, Queensland Press, Advertiser Newspapers and The Herald and Weekly Times Limited. He is also chairman of Australian News Channel, which owns and operates Sky News and a director of FOXTEL.

Among his external board and community responsibilities, he is a director of The Bradman Foundation, the NSW Wine Industry Council, and serves on the Advisory Council of the American Australian Association Ltd.

Craig Drummond
Chief Executive Officer and Country Head
Bank of America Merrill Lynch Australia

Prior to joining Bank of America Merrill Lynch in October 2009, Craig spent 23 years at Goldman Sachs JBWere, and, on his retirement, was Executive Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer.

Craig is a fully accredited member of the Securities & Derivatives Industry Association, a Senior Fellow of FINSIA and is a Chartered Accountant.  Craig is a Director of Scotch College, The Australian Davos Connection and the Florey Neuroscience Institutes.

IAN SAINES
Group Executive, International Banking and Markets
Commonwealth Bank of Australia

Prior to joining the bank in 2004, Ian was a management committee member of Zurich Capital Markets Asia. Mr. Saines spent sixteen years in various leadership positions at Bankers Trust Australia and headed the investment bank’s Global Metals and Mining Industry Group.

Mr. Saines is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a Certified Finance and Treasury Professional (CFTP).

TERRY CAMPBELL AO
Senior Chairman
Goldman Sachs JBWere

Mr Campbell is Senior Chairman of the Goldman Sachs JBWere group, having stepped down as Chief Executive in February 2007.

With 50 years experience in Australian securities markets Mr Campbell has been a leader in the promotion and development of Australian equities on a global basis. Mr Campbell is chairman of Mirrabooka Investments Limited, deputy chairman of Australian Foundation Investment Company Limited and a director of Djerriwarrh Investment Limited and AMCIL Limited.

Mr Campbell was awarded an Officer (AO) in the General Division of The Order of Australia in the 2006 Queen’s Birthday Honours and was a recipient of the Centenary Medal in 2003.

SIR ROD EDDINGTON
Non-Executive Chairman
J.P. Morgan

Sir Rod Eddington is Non-Executive Chairman of J.P. Morgan Australia Ltd., and New Zealand of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. He has been Chairman of Infrastructure Australia since February 2008. He serves as the Chairman of  Victorian Major Events Company Ltd.

Sir Rod Eddington was Chief Executive Officer of British Airways PLC from May 2000 to October 2005, was Executive Chairman of Ansett Airlines from 1997 to 2000, and Managing Director of Cathay Pacific Airways from 1992 to 1996. He has served on numerous boards and councils.

He was conferred a knighthood in 2005 for his contribution to the aviation industry.

DICK HONAN
Chairman
Manildra Group

During his time as Chairman of the Manildra Group, Dick Honan has successfully grown the Company to be one of the largest wheat starch & gluten producers in the world.
Dick obtains immense loyalty due to his hands on approach to the Company and his involvement in all aspects of the business, and encourages this throughout his staff.