John Farago, MSc, FIMGT, FRSA

John Farago was for thirty four years (until 1989) with Bunzl PLC, an international company in the paper and packaging sector - ten years as an executive director of the U.K.-based public company's parent board. From 1981 to 1988, as Chairman and Chief Executive of Bunzl Australia, based in Melbourne, he was responsible for establishing an Australia-wide group of paper and packaging products wholesale distribution centres. After returning to the U.K. he was adviser to Australian companies planning to set up European operations.

During 1990 he became the first Executive Director of Third Age Network, a not-for-profit organisation supported by British industry and public sector organisations to encourage men and women leaving their main careers to take up opportunities for earning, learning and voluntary activities. (During that period he was a member of the Alliance against Ageism administered by Age Concern England.)

In 1992 he gained a MSc degree at London University in Life Course Development, a new discipline at the University of London, dealing with sociological and psychological aspects of the development of adults, focusing particularly on mid-life planning and on later life. His research paper was on the role of television in encouraging more men and women over fifty to participate in education and training. He is active in the fight against unfair age discrimination in recruitment, employment and training.

As an enthusiastic Fellow of the RSA ( the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) since 1987, he has contributed a report on the 1992 Conference: Making sense of Quality to the RSA Journal. Since 1993, he has participated in the Tomorrow's Company Inquiry Network looking at 'the role of business in a changing world'. He was convenor of the 'New Definitions and Measures of Success' group and and served on the Inquiry Network Coordinating Committee. He was a founder member of LILO: 'Learning individuals in learning organisations' for professionals interested and active in the field of organisational learning and development.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Management, member of the Institute of Directors, member of AMED (Association for Management Education and Development) and Affiliate of the Institute of Management Consultants.

Although retired, John remains an active networker in learning organization circles.

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