Former Governor of South Australia, Rear Admiral the Honourable Kevin Scarce AC CSC RAN (Rtd), has been appointed to the Seeley International Board of Directors.

Seeley International founder and Executive Chairman, Mr Frank Seeley AM, said he was delighted that Mr Scarce has accepted his invitation to join the Board of Australia’s largest air conditioning and heating manufacturer, and that he brings qualities and skills which will further enhance the calibre of what is already a high-powered Board of Directors.

“Seeley International is indeed pleased that Kevin has accepted the invitation to join our great Board, and we look forward to his strategic input and wise counsel, at the level where it will count the most,” Mr Seeley said.

“I have known Kevin personally for a number of years and have been most impressed with his integrity, vision, passion and commitment to South Australia, because it aligns so closely to Seeley’s own Core Values,” he said.

“Kevin has played key roles in growing new industries, attracting new business and raising the profile of South Australia on a national and global level, and I am confident that his wisdom and advice will play a key role in taking Seeley International through to the next stage of our journey.”

Mr Scarce welcomed his appointment and said he was excited at the opportunity to help shape the strategic direction of an award-winning manufacturer that shares its success by making significant contributions back into the community.

“I have known Frank and Kathy Seeley for many years, and as I have watched Seeley International go from strength to strength, I have remained impressed at the organisation’s unwavering philanthropic commitment in regularly giving back to the community through a number of very worthy causes,” Mr Scarce said.

“In addition, Seeley International remains a leader in the industry through its significant investment in automation and innovation,” he said.

“I have spent a significant proportion of my career working with businesses and governments and hopefully bring an understanding of what is happening in the broader market – and look forward to offering an independent view to this very successful South Australian company.”

“There is no doubt that our state is facing tough years ahead as our manufacturing activities change and evolve, but we need to draw on the experience of clever, innovative business leaders like Frank Seeley to challenge our mindset, encourage innovation and focus on advanced manufacturing activities that incorporate automation. I am quietly confident that we are up to the challenge,” Mr Scarce said.

Adelaide-born Rear Admiral the Honourable Kevin Scarce AC CSC RAN (Rtd) was the 34th Governor of South Australia from 2007 to 2014. He served in the Royal Australian Navy from 1968, on HMAS Sydney during the Vietnam War and as the Commanding Officer of HMAS Cerberus between 1995 and 1997.

He also specialised in military logistics and procurement, rising to the rank of Rear Admiral and head of Maritime Systems at the Defence Material Organisation. As head of the South Australian Defence Unit, he led a government team that contributed to ASC winning the contract to build air warfare destroyers for the Australian Defence Force.

He was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in 1994, the Knight of Grace in the Venerable Order of Saint John in 2007 and a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2008.

Rear Admiral Scarce completed a Bachelor of Financial Administration from New England, Masters of Management Economics at the University of New South Wales (Australian Defence Force Academy campus), and a Masters Degree in National Security Strategy at the US War College (National Defence University) in Washington, DC. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Flinders University in 2009 for distinguished service to the public of South Australia and an Honorary Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) from the University of New England in 2014.

In addition to his role on the Seeley International Board, Mr Scarce is also the 16^th Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, and was also recently appointed Chair of Cancer Council SA and President of Novita Children's Services.

About Seeley International

Seeley International is Australia’s largest air conditioning manufacturer and is market leader in the design and manufacture of ducted and portable heating and cooling products for the domestic, commercial and industrial markets in Australia.

Renowned for its innovation, Seeley International’s brands include Breezair, Braemar, Coolair, Convair and Climate Wizard. Based in Adelaide’s south - and with factories in Adelaide (evaporative coolers) and Albury (gas heaters and commercial cooling) - the company was founded in 1972 by Frank Seeley AM, who remains Executive Chairman.