Paul has served with distinction for over twelve years (since 2003) across leadership roles in the Royal Victorian Association of Honorary Justices (RVAHJ) as Vice President, President, and most recently Immediate Past President. He is honoured to accept nomination for the role of President of the Australasian Council of Justices’ Associations (ACJA), bringing a wealth of experience, strategy, and service to the role.
Paul brings calm, considered leadership and the capacity to bring people together through shared purpose. He is widely respected for his ability to inspire collaboration, implement reform, and deliver results that benefit members, stakeholders, and the broader community. His focus on relevance, training, and engagement has helped re-energise RVAHJ’s role to the community in Victoria, and he is committed to continuing this work across ACJA.
Paul is a Chartered Professional Engineer, Fellow of Institute of Manages and Leaders and Graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors and business leader, having held CEO and executive roles across global companies in the Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America. He is the founder of Kotan Australia, a business consulting and coaching company, and has been recognised for his work in leadership, personal development, and martial arts education at the international level.
As President of RVAHJ, Paul introduced and led several high-impact initiatives including the launch of the RVAHJ Training Academy, the development of remote witnessing protocols during the COVID pandemic, the rebranding and digital relaunch of the Association’s communications, and the successful attainment of registered charity status in 2021. His work has improved visibility, engagement, and member value across the board.
Paul attended his first ACJA meeting and Conference at the RVAHJ sponsored conference in 2019 in Melbourne. He has since been a regular ACJA Councillor since, and received a Certificate of Appreciation for service in November 2024. He has provided presentations on Remote Online Witnessing Services, Unlocking the Power of Podcasting, Governance - for Honorary Justices Associations (an ongoing series).
Volunteering and service have been at the heart of Paul’s life—both professionally and personally. He has served as a Councillor for the Australian Industry Group (for 7 years) and Standards Australia (for 4 years). He has supported some of the most vulnerable in society through his work as an Independent Third Person and Independent Person. He provides life skills, coaching, and self-defence programs to victims of family violence and bullying.
As a Councillor for the International Martial Arts Coaching Council, Paul has championed integrity and development in the security and martial arts sectors since 2011.
Paul has been a longstanding and active member of the RVAHJ Board and remains committed to ethical governance, emerging leader development, and equitable access to justice across jurisdictions.
Paul believes that the ACJA has a crucial role to play in lifting the standards, unity, and recognition of Justices across Australia and New Zealand. Looking to the future he sees that further potential lies in enhancing national collaboration, increasing training accessibility, and building a stronger advocacy voice for the future of the justice community.
With his blend of strategic thinking, frontline experience, and genuine dedication to service, Paul looks forward to being able to continue to build on the great work to date