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The president and CEO of non-bank lender La Trobe Financial, Greg O’Neill, has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to business and to basketball.
The Order of Australia is the principal means of recognising “outstanding members of the community” at a national level and comprises four levels: Companion of the Order (AC), Officer of the Order (AO), Member of the Order (AM), and Medal of the Order (OAM).
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In any calendar year, there are up to 35 people who are appointed as ACs, up to 140 AOs and up to 605 AMs. There are no quota limitations for OAMs.
Announcing the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove stated: “On behalf of all Australians, I congratulate the recipients. They have made an enormous contribution to their local communities and to the entire nation and deserve our thanks, admiration, and to be celebrated.
“I encourage all Australians, if ever you see someone with an Order of Australia medal, or see an Order of Australia post-nominal after their name, to recognise that the person is extraordinary and has served their community and nation."
Several members of the finance industry were recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, including FBAA managing director Peter White (who was made an AM) and La Trobe Financial’s president and CEO Greg O’Neill, who has been named as an OAM.
Mr O’Neill was awarded the medal for “service worthy of particular recognition” in honour of his service to business and to basketball.
He has been an employee at La Trobe Financial since 1984 and assumed the position of CEO in May 1997, succeeding his father, Ray O'Neill, who founded the company in 1952.
La Trobe Financial now has $7.8 billion of assets under management and more than 380 staff. It is currently 80 per cent owned by US-based asset management firm Blackstone.
In a written statement, La Trobe Financial noted Mr O’Neill’s leadership in business, “enduring ‘people first’ approach” and his work in building an “others before self” philosophy at the non-bank lender.
“We are deeply proud of Greg for having been honoured by our government and Her Majesty in this manner,” the statement read.
The new OAM recipient is also a senior fellow and life member of the Financial Services Institute of Australia and a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
As well as his service to business and finance, Mr O’Neill was also recognised for his personal contribution to elite level Australian basketball. He is the inaugural chairman of the Australian Basketballer Players’ Association and was previously chairman of the Melbourne Tigers Basketball (now Melbourne United) between 2005-2009.
