John McCourt

John McCourt was chief executive of RSL WA from August 2016 to August 2022. He joined RSL WA after 24 years of service in the Australian Defence Force, preceded by a career as a business and media professional. Mr McCourt undertook full-time and reserve duties with the Royal Australian Air Force including service in Iraq, Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea and East Timor where he was the the senior military public affairs officer for the International Stabilization Force.

He began his professional career as a print journalist in Perth and regional WA and was a former chief-of-staff at Seven Network Perth, director of news at the Golden West Network, and Skynews correspondent for Northern Australia.

Mr McCourt has lectured in undergraduate and postgraduate disciplines including business studies, public affairs, journalism and media law at the universities of Notre Dame Australia, Curtin and Edith Cowan. He also completed a certificate course in Cybersecurity Studies through Harvard University, and is pursuing a Master of Business Law.

Mr McCourt is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management, member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, life member of Surf Life Saving WA, a practising Justice of the Peace, and recipient of a Chief of Defence Force Unit Commendation for active service.