Welcome to the UK Branch of the John's Association

Why not join the 50+ Johnsmen who are already part of our organisation in the UK? There is a highly motivated working committee in London and they would love to hear from you.

Included in our ranks are entrepreneurs, diplomats, scientists, doctors, dentists, financiers, technologists, an astronaut, lawyers, a barrister, engineers, a monk . . . the list goes on. The people who are involved in building this community are well educated, successful and respected.

"All these people enjoy a common history and a desire to share their knowledge and experiences with others. St John's as a university college is founded on the ideal of bringing people together to pool knowledge and experience for the advancement of each of us.

Continued involvement in this process through our lives can reward us all. We are looking to grow through the small individual contributions of many people. In this way the UK Association will develop into whatever we make of it, reflecting the community of people who share St. John's College in their history." (Kair Lewis '92)

Several Johnsmen have moved the UK Association forward to a point where it can flourish with your support. Founding members Michael Hintze, Pej Danaee, Trent Koch, Xavier de Viana and Kair Lewis have all given generously of time, effort, and resources. There are many others who are equally committed. It is simplistic to merely say that the results reflect their efforts. More accurately the results reflect their passion for the college and their fellows.

The patron of the UK committee is Michael Hintze ('74) who is also patron of the St John's College 150th Anniversary Capital Appeal and a member of the Council of the UK Association of the University of Sydney, which has far-reaching contacts in the UK, Europe and USA. Michael's generosity towards St John's seems boundless!

In addition to the local team, the UK chapter of the John's Association has the support of the College Rector, Dr David Daintree and the Australian arm of the John's Association under its President, Peter Strain.

It is always our aim to build membership numbers and to develop a calendar of quarterly events, so if you would like to hear more about the UK Chapter, or know of others who have just arrived in the UK, please email alumni@stjohns.usyd.edu.au and we will put you in touch with the current London organisers.

In 2007, a dinner was held on June 6th at the Carlton Club which attracted 19 members. Don't miss out on the next one! Stay in touch, particularly if you are away from home - there's nothing like connecting with other members of the St John's "family" while you're travelling.

The UK committee is looking forward to working with you to develop the John's Association in the UK.

Biographies of some UK Johnsmen in London

Michael Hintze (1974) was resident at St John's for three years where he clearly developed a love of the place. He has shown tremendous support for St John's both financially and in principle, just as he has for his old University. Michael is Patron of the 150th Anniversary Capital Appeal, Honorary member of the UK Sub-committee of John's Association and an active Board Member of the University of Sydney UK Alumni Association. Michael is founder and CEO of CQS Management Limited, a leading hedge fund with over $7 billion under management. The Vatican and the Prince of Wales' Foundation for the Built Environment are recipients of his generosity. He is also a Trustee of the Institute of Economic Affairs and is active in the community both socially and politically.

Pej Danaee (1990) and his wife Emily have recently left London to live in Dubai, but Pej was a founding member of the UK Chapter and they are sure to return to their home in London's St John's Wood one day. Pej is a member of the John's Association Committee and at one time headed the UK sub-committee. Pej was sent on international assignment to London by his company (NCR Corporation) eight years ago and now works for HSBC Bank Middle East Limited as Senior Manager IPO Ececution Services. He still tries to keep up with running in the (faint) hope that one day he will reach the level of fitness that allowed him to train with the Sydney University track team. He met his Canadian wife Emily in London.

Trent Koch (1994) was a founding member of the UK sub-committee but has now returned to Australia and is engaged to be married. While in London, Trent was an Equity analyst for a Global Fund Manager. Still keen on his tennis and golf we are not sure if he ever got to swim the English Channel as part of a relay effort to raise money for a charity... watch this space!!

Xavier Thomas de Viana (1989) works for Tullet Liberty broking interest swaps. After College, Xav returned to Switzerland where he worked for a season at the Cresta run St Moritz. Played a lot of rugby for Nyon rugby club (and two tests for Switzerland vs Croatia and Slovenia). He met his wife in Geneva in 1994 and was married in Connecticut in 2001. Lives in Battersea, London with two very fat cats (saved from the slaughter . . . at least that is what he was told when she brought them home!)

Keir Lewis (1992). Member of the John's Association Committee and UK sub-committee. In 1996 he headed for London with a suitcase and determination to see where fortune led him. He convinced an international broking firm, Cantor Fitzgerald, to employ him and remained there for five and a half years as an inter-dealer broker of Currency Options. "I regrettably lost many friends and colleagues on September 11 as Cantor's NY occupied the 101-105th floors of the North tower WTC". Cantor's lost 658 employees that day. He feels this event and the loss of many good friends influenced his priorities and future directions. He currently works for another broker house, Prebon Marshall Yamane, in London. However longer term plans involve leaving the city where he has lived since 1997, to pursue new challenges and careers.

He feels that many Australians only discover how much of Australia is in them when they move away; and many only discover how much of John's remains within them after they have left its corridors. He also feels those who have left John's have as much responsibility to its future as the current residents.