JT tries field of business
RETIRED rugby league champion Johnathan Thurston will apply the same determination he showed on the field to the boardroom as he transitions to business life.
The former Australian, Queensland and Cowboys star was the guest of an Australian Institute of Company Directors dinner in Townsville this week.
Thurston, who played his final season this year, spoke about his extensive business and community interests, plans to undertake a company directors course and hopes to play a mentoring role with the North Queensland Cowboys.
But much of his time will be as a television commentator with Channel 9.
“It’s all a learning curve for me. I don’t have a degree like everyone. I feel like I’m a small fish in a big pond,” Thurston said.
“I worked hard ( in foot- ball). That was my strength. I’ll try to apply that to my businesses.”
Thurston is a shareholder in Collings Aviation Holdings which operates regional airline Skytrans, has invested in residential and commercial property in Cairns, Townsville, Brisbane and Sydney and is a board member of State Government’s tourism and events organisation.
He is also managing director of employment and training provider the Johnathan Thurston Academy and supports several indigenous-focused organisations including the Deadly Choices kindy campaign and Queensland Reconciliation Awards.
Thurston said the success of his academy, which had sourced almost 250 jobs for people around Australia, and Skytrans, which employed 136 people, was very satisfying.
“People come up to you, shake your hand and say ‘ thank you, I now have a job’. I get a lot of satisfaction out of that,” Thurston said.
He claimed “a small part” in securing Townsville’s new stadium and backed more involvement of indigenous people in tourism.
“That’s something I spoke about in my first ( Tourism and Events Queensland) board meeting,” Thurston said.
“( Tourists) want to engage with local indigenous people and the culture of Australia. That’s something we can be better at, driving that cultural aspect of tourism throughout the country.”
AICD Queensland manager Melanie Mayne- Wilson said it was pleasure to host the sporting great and to hear about his plans for life after football.
AICD provides professional development and networking opportunities for company directors and executives and programs across business, government and the not- for- profit sector.