In his business career, he successfully built companies in the marine industry, property development and digital media industries in Silicon Valley.
He was co-founder and chairman of Quokka Sports, a pioneering digital sports broadcast company based in San Francisco in partnership with NBC of America.
In his international sporting career, he skippered the winged keel Australia2 to victory over the US Defender Liberty to win the 1983 America's Cup, ending 132 years of American domination and in the process, breaking the longest-running record in the history of modern sport.
When Australia2 finally crossed the finishing line, after coming from three races to one down, the nation celebrated as never before.
Prime Minister Bob Hawke appropriately summed it up: '... any boss who sacks anyone today for not turning up is a bum!'
The Confederation of Australian Sport voted the Australia2 victory as the ‘greatest team performance in 200 years of Australian sport’.
America’s Cup winner, Olympic bronze medallist and multiple world Etchell class sailing champion, John is a Legend of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
John is president of Swimming Australia, bound for the Tokyo Olympics.
He is also chairman of the Sport Australia Hall Fame and formerly chair of the Alannah and Madeline children’s foundation.
He holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from Monash University, a Master of Science from MIT in Boston and an Honorary Doctorate from Victoria University.
He continues to mentor young aspiring Olympians.