John Leece, AM

Mr John Leece, AM

Member

John Leece is a Partner of Boroughs Chartered Accountants (40 years), specialising in Corporate Advisory activities for successful prominent Australian families. Industry experience includes fashion; hospitality; Property Investment and Development; Professional Services – legal and radiology; Mineral Exploration; IT; Investment and many others. He has served for many years on Committees’ and Boards of the Australian Accounting Profession and served as a Captain in The Australian Army Reserve.

Became a member of the World Baden-Powell Fellowship in 1993 and joined the WSF Board in 2011

John’s community activities include being a Board member of the World Scout Foundation based in Geneva; a Trustee of the Charlie Perkins Scholarship Trust which awards scholarships to indigenous Australians to attend university at Oxford and Cambridge; a Trustee of the Charlie Perkins Trust for Children and Students (an organisation for indigenous persons); Councilor of the Australian Geographic Society; a Life Benefactor of the Westmead Medical Research Foundation; Patron of the Australian Chamber Orchestra (25 years); the Art Gallery of NSW and many other organisations. He is the initiator of The International Defence and Security Dialogue.

Scouting: Services include being a past National Treasurer for Australia; a member of the committee awarding annual Queen Scout Scholarships for Tertiary Education; Advisor to the New South Wales Branch; past Deputy Chairman of the Australian Scout Education and Training Fund and the Vincent Fairfax International Study Programme; Co Chairman of the WSF 69th Reception held in Melbourne in 2016; Deputy Chairman of the WSF 41st Reception held in Sydney in 1999; John established the Nepal Nature Project travel scholarships for Venturer Scouts to assist in the reforestation programs with Nepalese Scouts to benefit the local communities: Author on a number of papers to assist for the Strategic development of Scouting in Australia (1) National Structure Review “Restructuring for Growth”; and (2) Integrated multifaceted Initiatives Programs for Leaders & Youths.

World Scout Foundation contributions:

  1. HM King Carl XVI Gustav of Sweden Royal Birthday Benefactor Award;
  2. Benefactors Circle Award;
  3. International Circle Award;
  4. Chairman’s Circle Awards.

Scout Association of Australia Awards:

  1. International Explorers Award;
  2. Silver Arrow Award;
  3. Presidents Award.

 
John was quite instrumental in the implementation of the significant sculpture known as “Windlines”: The Scout Compass of Discovery erected prominently near the Sydney Opera House in recognition of 100 years of Scouting in Australia at the benevolence of Dick and Pip Smith who are both Baden Powell World Fellows.
 
John is also a member of the Explorers Club of New York; has been awarded the Australian Geographic Silver Medallion Spirit of Adventure and is a helicopter pilot.
 
John has also been recognised by the Australian Government in the Order of Australia as a Member in the General Division for significant services to the Community, particularly to the Scouting Movement and to Philanthropy as well as receiving the Order of Australia Medal for services to Scouting, Antarctic and Arctic Exploration.