John Longley Event Director Perth 2011
John Longley has been involved with sailing for most of his life – from dinghies as a boy, through to ocean racing and onto the Amercia's Cup.
He competed in five of the latter, including being Project Manager and a member of the crew of Australia II when she won the Cup in 1983.
After his Cup involvement, John led the team that constructed the replica of Captain James Cook’s ship of discovery, the HMB Endeavour.
He was also Chief Executive Officer of the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce before taking up his new role as Event Director of the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships.
In 1984, John was made a member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his services to yachting and in 1994 was recognised as Fremantle Citizen of the Year. He was also awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 and the Centenary Medal in 2003.
In 2009, he was inducted into the America’s Cup Hall of Fame and is the seventh Australian to be so honoured.
John Longley was announced as the Western Australian Citizen of the Year in 2011 for the category of sport.