24 | THE SEAHORSE
ALUMNI AWARD FOR INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP FINALISTS
DR DAVID OKELLO
MR MARK VASSELLA
DR WAYNE IBLE
Master of Medical Science (Clinical Epidemiology) 1994
Bachelor of Commerce 1985
PhD (Education) 2007
Mr Mark Vassella is CEO of BlueScope Steel Australia and New Zealand, overseeing businesses with revenues of approximately AUD $5.5 billion at more than 100 sites with over 7,500 employees.
Dr Wayne Ible’s 35-year education career began as a NSW science teacher in 1978. Wayne is currently leading GEMS Education Solutions across SE Asia in the role of Regional Director/Chief Academic Officer, based in Singapore. His achievements in this role include assisting the Asia Development Bank in Manila to identify innovative Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) for education and find solutions for capacity issues in the Philippines education sector, opening new international schools in China and Singapore, and reviewing Myanmar’s education system and developing decentralisation reform proposals for government on behalf of UNESCO.
Dr David Okello is a leading health specialist and diplomat in the World Health Organisation (WHO) working across Africa. The Ugandan national is currently serving as Head of Mission and Representative of WHO to Zimbabwe, acting as a diplomatic liaison and providing policy advice and technical support to health programs. During a 13-year career with WHO, David has served as the representative in Nigeria, Kenya and Swaziland; the Regional Advisor on Health Research and Promotion; and oversaw the WHO country office in South Africa during 2006. In 2010-11 David was Director of WHO Cluster on AIDS, TB and Malaria in the African region, supervising WHO’s work in contributing to the reduction of burden due to these diseases. Earlier in his career, David worked as a medical officer and an academic in the Faculty of Medicine at Makerere University, Uganda. David is widely published in journals, books and research reports, and is sought after to share his knowledge through international consultancies and national board appointments across Africa.
Mark began his career as a commerce trainee in finance at BHP Steelworks in Newcastle. He worked his way from accountant to General Manager at Palmer Tube Mills before relocating to the UK as General Manager Europe for ANI Structural Steel Products Group. Following the takeover of ANI by Smorgon Steel Group Mark spent almost seven years as CEO of Smorgon Steel Distribution, which was later acquired by BlueScope Steel. During his career Mark has worked and lived in the UK and USA, and has managed joint ventures in countries including the USA, India and Saudi Arabia, and completed an MBA and other postgraduate qualifications in Australia and Switzerland. Mark sits on the Board of Family Life, an organisation that assists at-risk youth and families. He has also worked as Chairman of the Australian Steel Institute.
Prior to holding this position, Wayne was Director of PPPs with GEMS in Abu Dhabi, where he led a company of 160 international education consultants to deliver a PPP contract with Abu Dhabi Education Council to improve public schools. Wayne has also worked as a School Principal in Papua New Guinea and NSW, and spent four years as School Education Director/Superintendent for the Hunter and Central Coast regions of the NSW Department of Education and Training.