GRIDD has a Development Board to assist in managing and guiding the Institute's growth, funding and advancement.
Mr Peter Johnstone
Chair, GRIDD Development Board
Development Board
GRIDD’s Development Board harnesses the passion and commitment of its members to identify, develop and deliver new funding opportunities to maximise the Institute’s work tackling devastating diseases.
The Board Chairman is Mr Peter Johnstone, who is also CEO at The Clem Jones Group. Peter’s background in philanthropy includes six years as CEO at the Leukaemia Foundation in Brisbane and The Clem Jones Group for more than 5 years. The Clem Jones Group is a Queensland funding organisation that manages the activities of The Clem Jones Foundation, based on the philanthropy of the remarkable Brisbane Lord Mayor (1961-75) who passed away in 2007.
Members of the Development Board include Ms Rhonda White AO and Mr Gary Toomey.
Ms White is co-founder of the Terry White Chemists Group and has been integral to the success of the brand. She is currently a board member of the Terry White Group Limited, a Trustee of the Queensland Performing Arts Trust (QPAT) and a member of the National Gallery of Australia Council. She has been a director of government and private companies, including Ergon Energy and Energex Retail, and was Foundation Chair of the Queensland Cancer Fund Volunteers Committee.
Mr Toomey has worked as both a Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer for several large multinational companies. He is currently Executive Chairman of CTOB Management Pty Ltd and CEO of the Bangarra Group. He has been a Director of several large listed companies including Australia New Zealand Banking Group Ltd and Qantas Airways Ltd.
The Board members’ voluntary work includes advocating for GRIDD, developing strong networks and laying foundations for improved philanthropic ventures, including identifying those who want to make a financial difference in bringing new drug treatments to people globally. The Board’s Terms of Reference emphasise the importance of its role as a fundraising and philanthropy support to GRIDD.
“GRIDD has the experience, infrastructure, resources and maturity to lead new drug discovery. The Development Board will bring its connections into play to help GRIDD identify and deliver new funding sources to support its work in tackling devastating diseases globally.” Peter Johnstone, CEO of Clem Jones Group, Chair of GRIDD Development Board.