Our People
Bill was born and raised in Brisbane, Queensland and attended Brisbane State High School and the University of Queensland. After moving to Melbourne in 1968, Bill worked initially in banking, including investment banking.
In 1976 Bill founded property development company Wilbow Corporation Pty Ltd. Offices were subsequently established in Brisbane, (Australia), Dallas (United States), and Auckland (New Zealand) from 1989-2004. The Australian operations were sold to a major public company in 2006 and the Dallas operations retained and expanded. Bill is Chair of Wilbow Group Pty Ltd, an Australian private investment company that is also involved in property development in USA.
Bill is actively involved in various cultural, community and philanthropic activities and maintains a significant collection of Australian art. In addition to serving as a Trustee on the Bowness Family Foundation Board he is a member of the The Australian Ballet Foundation Board and the Advisory Board of Photo 2021, a Trustee of the Monash Gallery of Art Foundation. Bill has been awarded Life Membership of both the National Gallery of Victoria and the Australian Ballet.
In 2015 he received an Honorary Doctorate of Business from the University of Queensland for his distinguished service to the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of Queensland. In 2017 he received the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the visual and performing arts, and to the building and construction industry.
Natasha has a long association with philanthropy through Chairing the Bowness Family Foundation, as a former Board Member of Zoos Victoria and current Member of the Zoos Victoria Foundation, President of The Australian Ballet’s Annual Giving Program, member of the Monash University Campaign Council and member of the Council of the National Museum of Australia. She has a strong interest in arts and culture, has supported Australian Ballet philanthropic initiatives for many years and serves as Chair of the Monash Gallery of Arts Committee of Management. She has a strong commitment to social justice through BFF’s support of education and disability programs and is a member of the UQ Young Achievers Program Advisory Committee. Natasha is Executive Director of Wilbow Group. She is a Chartered Accountant and was formerly with PricewaterhouseCoopers in London and Melbourne.
Nick has over 30 years experienced in mergers and acquisitions and has advised in both public and private contexts. Nick also has experience in insolvencies and business reconstructions across a broad range of sectors. He is currently Managing Partner of Partners Legal Solutions. Nick’s additional roles include Director for the Perry Foundation, Monash Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Firbank Grammar.
Leonie has extensive experience in strategy, stakeholder engagement and non-profit management in Australia and Asia. She has held executive and senior management roles with not-for-profits, government, and higher education. Her roles to date have focused on the education, arts and community sectors and she brings over a decade of experience leading philanthropy and alumni relations. Leonie is former Deputy Chair and Director of Melbourne City Mission.
