Ron Bowden
Encyclopedia
Ronald Henry Bowden is an Australia
n politician. He was a Liberal
member of the Victorian Legislative Council
from 1992 until 2006, representing South Eastern Province.
He was born in Sydney
, and studied at PMG Engineering College and Sydney Technical College, before spending time in the United States
studying at the General Electric
Executive Staff College. Bowden worked with General Electric from 1965 to 1984, serving in several marketing, sales and management positions, and then as a state manager for ASEA Australia from 1984 to 1986. He has also served as a director with numerous companies.
Bowden became involved in politics during the early 1990s, serving as vice-president of his local party branch in 1992, before securing Liberal Party pre-selection to contest the safe Liberal Legislative Council seat of South Eastern Province. He has been a low-profile member of the Legislative Council, though he has actively campaigned for improved transport options in his electorate, such as the improvement of the dilapidated Stony Point railway line. He also served on the Economic Development Committee from 1996 to 1999, and on the Law Reform Committee from 2000 to 2002.
Though he was easily re-elected in 1999, Bowden came under increasing pressure during his second term to resign and make way for a younger replacement. In August 2005, Bowden made the announcement that he would stand down at the 2006 state election
to take up "an invitation from the international business community."
In September 2008 he was elected to the Committee of the Australian American Association (Vic).
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician. He was a Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member of the Victorian Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
from 1992 until 2006, representing South Eastern Province.
He was born in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, and studied at PMG Engineering College and Sydney Technical College, before spending time in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
studying at the General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
Executive Staff College. Bowden worked with General Electric from 1965 to 1984, serving in several marketing, sales and management positions, and then as a state manager for ASEA Australia from 1984 to 1986. He has also served as a director with numerous companies.
Bowden became involved in politics during the early 1990s, serving as vice-president of his local party branch in 1992, before securing Liberal Party pre-selection to contest the safe Liberal Legislative Council seat of South Eastern Province. He has been a low-profile member of the Legislative Council, though he has actively campaigned for improved transport options in his electorate, such as the improvement of the dilapidated Stony Point railway line. He also served on the Economic Development Committee from 1996 to 1999, and on the Law Reform Committee from 2000 to 2002.
Though he was easily re-elected in 1999, Bowden came under increasing pressure during his second term to resign and make way for a younger replacement. In August 2005, Bowden made the announcement that he would stand down at the 2006 state election
Victorian state election, 2006
An election for the 56th Parliament of Victoria took place on Saturday, 25 November 2006. Just over 3 million Victorians registered to vote elected 88 members to the Legislative Assembly and, for the first time, 40 members to the Legislative Council under a proportional representation system...
to take up "an invitation from the international business community."
In September 2008 he was elected to the Committee of the Australian American Association (Vic).