Ken Chapman APM, JP – Executive Secretary

Executive Secretary

Ken's advice for funeral consumers:

By using a member of the Association the public can be assured that they are dealing with a professional and ethical operator whose company is fully Australian owned and family operated.

Ken took up the position of Executive Secretary of the Association in February 1996 following a successful career in the New South Wales Police Force. When he took early retirement he was the Commander of Sydney District and in control of the Sydney Police Centre. He achieved the rank of Executive Chief Superintendent.

He was in charge of the policing of the bi centennial celebrations in Sydney as well as the security of members of the Royal Family and Heads of State who visited for the celebrations. He was awarded the Australian Police Medal in the Queens Birthdays Honours in 1989.

In the twelve years Ken has been with the Association he has seen membership nearly treble in size and become the pre eminent funeral organisation in New South Wales. The Association is known to all media outlets as the voice of the funeral industry and Ken and members of the Committee are frequently called upon to comment on matters of public interest relating to the industry.

He represents the Association at all meetings and forums relating to the funeral industry and as a result is able to provide members with timely information and advice on industrial matters and funeral industry issues.

In his time with the FDA of NSW, Ken has seen considerable modernisation of the industry with the increasing use of technology streamlining many of the members operations.

Ken finds the most satisfying part of his role is providing advice to members and to the public. He particularly enjoys his regular trips throughout the State attending Zone meetings and talking to members about their problems and offering advice.

In a general comment Ken stated that he has always been impressed by the caring and empathetic nature of the Association's members when dealing with the public in their time of bereavement. He constantly receives calls from people expressing their thanks for the manner in which the funeral director concerned handled their loved ones funeral. This gives him much pleasure and increasing confidence that our members are doing a great job.