Phil Armstrong with Chairman Stephen Palywoda at the AGM
Former Banksia CEO Phil Armstrong was recently honoured at the company’s Annual General Meeting for his outstanding contribution over many years, with members unanimously supporting a motion to confer him with Life Membership.
The proposal to recognise Phil’s contribution came from current Banksia Chairman, Stephen Palywoda, earlier this year and was warmly supported by his fellow Directors. In proposing the motion at the AGM, Mr Palywoda reflected on Phil’s outstanding contribution to Banksia over many years, and the integral role he played both in developing the organisation and creating and embedding the cultural values that continue today.
Phil initially joined Banksia in 1995 as Administrative Manager. Recognising Phil’s management and leadership abilities, Banksia’s Board appointed Phil as CEO when that role became vacant in 1998.
Residents Committee Chair Gordon Wheatley and Phil Armstrong review villa development plans at Banksia in 2009
Committed to excellence
Realising that the aged care and retirement sectors were moving into an environment of continued reform and changing market pressures, Phil devoted a significant portion of his early period as CEO to enhancing his understanding of the legislative and funding frameworks. He also actively encouraged Board members to regularly participate with him in sector forums as a means of gaining further insight into the changing market and emerging opportunities.
It is a mark of Phil’s abilities and the respect in which he was held during his tenure as CEO that he was elected to the board of ACS, the peak industry body now known as Aged & Community Services Australia.
A vision for Banksia’s future
Phil also spent time building an effective peer network both within the sector and more broadly across the Eurobodalla region. In fact, it was through his network contacts that Phil identified an opportunity in early 2001 for the company to acquire an additional four-hectare parcel of land adjacent to the original Banksia site.
In presenting this proposal to the Board, Phil outlined a vision to substantially extend the existing retirement village to meet the rapidly rising demand for high quality alternatives in the market. The outcome was the development of what is today’s Banksia Village, with 121 architecturally designed retirement living villas incorporating embedded adaptability and safety standards, two common centres, fitness hubs, and Banksia’s renowned landscaping and gardens.
The acquisition of the additional land enabled Banksia to offer its three services – independent retirement living, permanent residential aged care, respite and palliative care, and home-based clinical and support services – from the one site at Broulee.
Current CEO Graham Wise (L) and Chair Stephen Palywoda (R) congratulate Phil at the AGM
Graham Smith, Chairman of Banksia during Phil’s tenure, describes Phil as a highly respected, knowledgeable and caring person who never lost sight of Banksia’s purpose to serve and care for its residents and clients. “Phil’s vision for Banksia was always centred around ensuring the best possible care and service outcomes for individual residents, and in this he set the culture and values that remain at the core of the company today. He played a significant role in establishing Banksia’s reputation as a major player in the aged care sector”, says Graham.
Now retired, Phil is a well-known and highly respected figure within the Banksia community and around the region, and continues to spend much of his time actively supporting numerous charities and not-for-profit organisations, in particular through his long standing involvement with Rotary.
The Banksia community warmly congratulates Phil on becoming a Life Member of Banksia Villages Ltd.