Mr Phil Hayes-Brown

Phil Hayes-Brown was appointed CEO of Wallara Australia in May 2010. An organisation with a rich, 56-year history, Wallara is a leading social purpose organisation that provides support to more than 500 adults with differing abilities. the.

Based in Melbourne's southeast, Wallara has transformed from an outdated congregate facility to modern and professional community-based agency. The organisation delivers services from 30-plus sites and boasts an in-house, award-winning media team that produces television specials for national broadcast.

Over the past five years, the makeover has seen Wallara’s annual turnover more than double to $18 million. In 2015, WallaraTV was recognised by the Victorian state government for rights promotion and advocacy.

Before joining Wallara, Phil was a commercial lawyer with Freehills. He also held senior executive roles from 1994 to 2006 with the American National Basketball Association. His final role as MD Asia Pacific saw assignments in Australia, Singapore, Paris, London and Hong Kong.

On returning to Australia in 2006, Phil was appointed general manager, commercial operations, with Hawthorn Football Club. There he led the team responsible for membership, retail operations, sponsorship, corporate hospitality sales, events and community programs.

Since joining Wallara, Phil has forged innovative partnerships with Chisholm TAFE, Monash University, Myer, Oxfam, RACV, Crabtree & Evelyn, Hawthorn Football Club and Mary Kay Cosmetics. He’s also worked with aged care provider Wintringham to address the challenge of ageing carers who are no longer able to support adult children with special needs.

Phil believes his role at Wallara is the most important of his career. As a parent of a child with a disability, he feels a responsibility to apply his experience and skills to make a positive difference, and is actively seeking like-minded organisations to join him.