Dale Hunt’s path to becoming the CEO of Mounties Group was anything but conventional. From disability nursing to corporate roles in the medical industry, his early career may not have pointed directly to the club sector, but the underlying motivation remained constant: helping people.
“I found myself gravitating towards clubs because they combine the best of both the community support and business worlds in my opinion: delivering exceptional experiences, while making tangible differences in the lives of members and the broader community,” Hunt explains.
His journey in the club industry began in 1999 as a doorman at Richmond Club. Over the next decade, he climbed the ranks, gaining experience across various roles before joining Mounties Group as operations manager in 2009, before moving on to general manager, and ultimately to CEO. In Mounties Group’s 56-year history, Hunt is only the fourth person to hold this position.
Returning to familiar ground
Prior to becoming CEO of Mounties Group, Hunt left the business to take on the role of CEO at Blacktown Workers Club. However, his return a year later underscored his deep connection to the organisation.
“Mounties Group is more than just a workplace; it’s a community of amazing people, and its commitment to community impact is unparalleled,” he said.
“The organisation has a rare ability to integrate business success with genuine care for its members and the wider community, so returning felt like coming home to continue unfinished work for the greater good. The people at Mounties Group are what truly makes it a special place to work: the level of care and commitment shown by everyone, every day, is inspiring.”
His stint at Blacktown Workers Club, however, wasn’t wasted.
“The staff and board were wonderful, but the challenges were different so that was a great learning experience,” he said, reflecting on his time there.
“I think it gave me a wider view, a different perspective and a better understanding that delivering to a community’s needs can take a number of different approaches and still be effective. And the success we enjoyed at Blacktown was a great indication of the importance of the basics, and that when you put people at the centre of all you do, the success is even greater.”
“When 82 per cent of your members record themselves as ‘very loyal’ to the club, it’s important that we’re consistent and show up for them every day.”
Showing up
With over 265,000 members and more than 1,500 employees, Mounties Group is one of the most successful club groups in the country, and so Hunt acknowledged that leading the organisation is both a privilege and a significant responsibility.
“We’ve built a profit-for-purpose organisation that truly resonates with our members and their communities,” Hunt said.
“When 82 per cent of your members record themselves as ‘very loyal’ to the club, it’s important that we’re consistent and show up for them every day.”
Under his leadership, Mounties has undergone significant growth, from major redevelopments like the transformation of Harbord Diggers into Australia’s first intergenerational club through to amalgamations, business acquisitions, and expanding the group’s social inclusion programs and health services.
One of the greatest achievements that stands out most for Hunt is Mounties’ leadership in domestic violence awareness and prevention.
“In 2024, we created the Domestic Violence Action Committee and held training for clubs around the country to enable employees to recognise signs of domestic violence and to take action appropriately,” he said.
“It’s an initiative that already has wonderful support, and rightfully so – the stats around domestic violence are just too large to ignore.”
Beyond this, Mounties has also been a longtime supporter of CareFlight, Australia’s lifesaving aeromedical charity. In November 2024, the group announced a five-year extension of its sponsorship partnership with CareFlight that will see it commit another $10 million to help the charity continue to provide lifesaving care for those in need.
At the centre of the sponsorship extension will be the continued operation of the Mounties Care CareFlight helicopter, which rescued more than 250 patients in 2024. It builds on a 14-year history between Mounties Group and CareFlight, bringing Mounties Group’s commitment to CareFlight to a total of $18.7 million.
“But the true highlight,” Hunt added, “would be working alongside our people, from our staff and leadership team to over 68,000 of our members carrying out volunteer work in the local community.
“People like our club directors take on the responsibility and accountability that comes with being one of the largest businesses in one of the most legislated industries, but they do so as volunteers without payment or financial reward.”
This is an excerpt from Club Management Autumn. To read the article in full, see below.