PRIT Brian Knowles Biography

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An accountant in private practice since 1954, he has specialised in administration of housing and building societies. Since retiring in 1988 he has continued as chairman of Directors of a large group of housing societies and acts as consultant to his former business, which continues to trade as B. H. Knowles & Co. He was President of the Australian Association of Housing Societies for 6 years and served on the Government Advisory Committee for 12 years. Was a member and office-bearer of the Board of Governors of International House at the Queensland University for 18 years and the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association of Queensland for 8 years. A Rotarian since 1960, served as Club President 1963/64, District Governor (D9600) 1969/70 and Director of Rotary International 1986/88, serving also as RI Treasurer in 1987/88. Was vice-chairman of the 1990 Portland RI Convention Committee, chairman of the 1993 Melbourne Convention Committee, vice-chairman of the Council on Legislation in Caracas, Venezuela in 1995 and parliamentarian to the 1998 Council in Delhi. Brian has been appointed as Chief Sergeant at Arms for the 2003 Convention in Brisbane. Served on the nominating committee for President of R.I. on 4 occasions. Served as Chairman, Western Pacific PolioPlus Committee from 1991-2000 and Chairman of WHO's Interagency Co-ordinating Committee for the same period. Since 1990 on behalf of the Rotary Foundation and in conjunction with the World Bank supervised Rotary's US$15 million contribution towards a new polio vaccine facility in Kunming, China. Brian has served as an adviser to the International PolioPlus Committee since 2001 and also heads a committee in Australia, aimed at raising funds from the private sector for polio eradication - as part of a global initiative. Served for 8 years on the Management Committee of Rotary Down Under and 6 years as a Director of the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund.
Married to Nancy in 1955, they had two children - Greg, also an accountant who was tragically killed in France in 1982 and Janelle who served as an intelligence officer in the Australian Air Force, before marriage to a former Air Force pilot, now with QANTAS. There are three grandsons aged 17, 15 and 12. Brian has always maintained a keen interest in sport and served as president of the Queensland Squash Association for 9 years and as an Australian selector for 8 years.