Neil Conn

The Honourable Neil Conn
Lord Prior of the Order of Saint John
In office 24 June 2014 – present
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Preceded by	Anthony Mellows
14th Administrator of the Northern Territory
In office 17 February 1997 – 30 October 2000
Governor-General	Sir William Deane
Preceded by	Austin Asche
Succeeded by	John Anictomatis
Personal details
Born	Neil Raymond Conn 17 August 1936 Sydney, New South Wales
Nationality	Australian
Spouse(s)	Lesley Jennifer née Flood
Alma mater	University of Sydney Duke University
Profession	Economist
Awards	Officer of the Order of Australia Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of St John
Military service
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Australian Army
Rank	Lieutenant

Neil Raymond Conn AO (born 17 August 1936) is an Australian economist and former Administrator of the Northern Territory (1997-2000).

Since his appointment by Queen Elizabeth II in 2014, Conn has served as Lord Prior of the Order of Saint John.^[1]

Life and career

Conn studied economics at the University of Sydney, graduating BSc and later MEc. He studied for his doctorate (PhD) at Duke University in the United States, before lecturing in economics at Sydney University from 1961 to 1975. He left the university in 1975 to work for two years as Principal Administrator with the OECD in Paris, followed by four years as Deputy Secretary of the New South Wales Treasury.

Conn was appointed by the newly independent Northern Territory government as Chief Executive Officer of the territory's treasury and was the Administrator of the Northern Territory from 17 February 1997 to 30 October 2000.^[2]

Following his retirement as administrator, Conn became foundation chairman of Original IT Investments Pty Ltd,^[3] an information technology incubator. From 2001 to 2004 he was the deputy chairman and lead independent director of the publicly listed company International All Sports Ltd.

Conn lives in Sydney with his wife Lesley, also a Member of the Order of Australia and a Dame of the Order of Saint John.^[4] They have three children.

Order of St John

Conn was appointed a deputy prior of the Order of Saint John in Australia in 1997. He served as chairman of St John Ambulance Australia from 2004 to 2007.

At the 2007 St John Ambulance Australia National Priory Conference, he was nominated as chancellor of the St John Priory in Australia, replacing Villis Marshall.

In 2014, Conn was promoted as the Lord Prior of the Order of Saint John, becoming its most senior non-royal figure.^[5]

Honours

	Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)	26 January 1996[6]
	Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of St John	2012[7][N 1]
	Knight of the Order of St John	21 March 1997[8]
	Centenary Medal	1 January 2001[9]
	Australian Defence Medal
	Anniversary of National Service 1951–1972 Medal
	Service Medal of the Order of St John (Most Venerable Order of Saint John)	2009[N 2]
	Cross pro Merito Melitensi (Sovereign Military Order of Malta)	2014

See also

• The Alliance of the Orders of Saint John of Jerusalem
• Government of Australia

References

1. "Lord Prior of St John", Order of St John website.
2. "Neil Raymond Conn", Government of the Northern Territory website.
3. www.australianethical.com.au
4. www.gg.gov.au, Governor-General of Australia website.
5. Fullarton, Donald (7 January 2014). "Lord Prior Designate appointed". News. St John Scotland. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
6. It's an Honour – Officer of the Order of Australia – 26 January 1996
7. St John Ambulance Australia - 2012 Annual Report – Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of St John – 2012
8. The London Gazette: no. 54712. p. 3484. 21 March 1997.
9. It's an Honour – Centenary Medal – 1 January 2001

Notes

1. The post-nominals of the Venerable Order of St John were recognised in the Australian Honours Order of Wearing prior to 5 October 1992. From 6 October 1992 the post-nominals are no longer recognised and cannot be used outside of the organisation.
2. The Service Medal of the Order of St John was recognised in the Australian Honours Order of Wearing prior to 5 October 1992. From 6 October 1992 the medal is now no longer recognised for wear.

External links

• Conn's profile on the Northern Territory Government website
• Order of St John website
• Who's Who in Australia