The biggest rugby lunch of the year is now just two months away!
Our annual Finals Lunch is SUFC’s most important fundraising event of the year and one of the biggest rugby lunches in Australia, with over 700 like-minded rugby fans and business executives under one roof there’s no better place to be on Friday 3rd August than the Westin.
The 2018 KPMG Finals Lunch will be the 18th iteration of this event that features cutting edge content relevant to business and rugby and is anticipated to be bigger and better than ever! ABC sports presenter, Stephanie Brantzwill lead the panel discussion which features Former New Zealand Prime Minister, Rt Hon Bill English along with sporting heavyweights Ash Hewson and Pat Howard.
Following the formalities a networking area will open featuring whiskey, beer, champagne & cheese bars where guests can connect or reconnect with each other into the evening.
We hope you can join us for what promises to be a highly entertaining and informative afternoon.
Australian Sports Presenter, Stephanie Brantz will discuss all things business and sport with our star panellists
Rt Hon Bill English
Bill English was Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister from October 2008 to December 2016 and Prime Minister of New Zealand until the change of government in October 2017, prior to standing down from politics in March 2018. Bill English guided the New Zealand economy through the global financial crisis to be one of the faster growing developed economies with sustainable government surpluses. He initiated tax reforms, partial floats of four government companies and financing the rebuild of Christchurch after the 2010 earthquakes. As Minister for Infrastructure he set up the National Infrastructure Unit and initiated New Zealand’s first PPP programme.
Bill English also focussed on public sector reform, balance sheet management and led the development and implementation of Social Investment, a world leading policy innovation for large scale social services.
He oversaw significant investment in digitalising government and improving customer experience of public services.
Along with his love for rugby, Bill is also a handy shearer as evidenced here in his competition with ten times world champion shearer Sir David Fagan.
Ash Hewson
Ash is one of Australia’s most decorated Wallaroos, receiving her first cap in 2009 against Samoa. In 2016 she was named Women’s XV Player of the Year and in 2017 she led Sydney to their third consecutive national title, scoring an unrivalled 19 points in the Championships, all marks that show her prolific contribution to the sport over her 10 year career.
Ash’s dedication to her sport of Rugby and to the Wallaroos team, comes with a financial burden. She is not a paid athlete as female Rugby players in the XV version are not considered professional. To be able to play in the 2017 World Cup in Ireland Ash had to take unpaid leave from her job as a prison guard.
Most recently, Ash was the hero for NSW in the Inaugural Buildcorp Super W final. She made the try saving tackle which denied Queensland the lead, before kicking the winning penalty in extra time to seal it for the Blues. You can relive the moment here.
Ash has since announced her retirement from international rugby but continues to play for Sydney Uni in the Jack Scott Cup.
Before her illustrious rugby career started Ash also represented her country in soccer, athletics and cricket!
Pat Howard
Pat is a former player at SUFC, who represented the Wallabies on 20 occasions between 1993-97. Throughout his career he played for the Reds, Brumbies, English Premiership giants Leicester Tigers and French side Montferrand. Pat comes from a long line of professional rugby players, his father Jake Howard played prop for Australia as well as SUFC, along with his grandfather Cyril Towers who also played centre for the Wallabies.
After retiring as a player at the end of the 2004 season, Pat returned to Leicester Tigers, becoming Backs Coach. In 2005 he was appointed as Head Coach, he guided them to the Guinness Premiership and EDF Energy Cup finals in 2007, winning the domestic double.
Since 2011, Pat has been the Executive General Manager, Team Performance – for both the men’s, women’s and underage Australian Cricket Teams.