Person
Spurling, Graham George (1938 - )
AM
- Born
- 4 January 1938
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia - Occupation
- Automotive engineer, Company director and Manufacturing executive
Summary
Graham Spurling is an automotive engineer who made a significant contribution to the Australian manufacturing industry during his career at Chrysler Australia and Mitsubishi Motors Australia. He was a member of the Car Industry Council that in 1983 assisted Senator John Button develop the Button car plan. He grew up in the working class suburb of Mile End and his career in the manufacturing industry has been based on the Pico della Mirandola philosophy of 'the Dignity of Man' and the strong belief that doing satisfying work is an essential condition for social cohesion. He was the Chair of the Diocesan Finance Council of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide and completely reformed and revitalised its financial structures.
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Details
Chronology
- 1954
- Career position - Draftsman, South Australian Harbors Board
- 1959
- Education - Bachelor of Technology (Mechanical Engineering) (B Tech) University of Adelaide
- 1960
- Career position - Graduate engineer, Chrysler Corporation, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
- 1962
- Education - Master of Automotive Engineering (MAE) Chrysler Institute
- 1962
- Career position - Engineer, Chrysler Australia, Adelaide
- 1970
- Award - Efficiency Decoration (ED), Officer service in the Citizen Military Forces
- 1976
- Career position - General Operations Manager, Chrysler Australia, Adelaide
- 1978
- Career position - General Operations Manager, Mitsubishi Motors Australia, Adelaide
- 1980
- Career position - Managing Director, Mitsubishi Motors Australia, Adelaide
- 1980 - 1987
- Career position - Member, Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries
- 1982 - 1986
- Career position - Part-time Member of the Executive, CSIRO, Australia
- 1983
- Career position - Member, Australian Car Industry Council
- 1983 - 1984
- Career position - President, Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries
- 1986 - 1988
- Career position - Board member, CSIRO, Australia (resigned November 1988)
- 1987
- Career position - President/Chief Executive Officer, GNB Technologies, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- 1987
- Award - Elected Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
- 1997 - 1999
- Career position - President/CEO Pacific Dunlop Holdings USA, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- 1999
- Career position - Independent company Director, Adelaide, South Australia
- 2001
- Award - Centenary Medal for service to Australian science in manufacturing
- 2013
- Award - Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to busineww, and to the community of South Australia
- 2013
- Award - Knight of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great (awarded by Pope Francis)
Related entries
Thomas Spurling and Gavan McCarthy
Created: 21 May 2025