Neil Soullier OAM
Hastings Ambassador
Pursued a 25-year business career with Tandy Electronics that covered most areas of retail management and administration. Established many new branches and divisions and became the company’s principal consultant in the areas of franchise operations, training development, retail operations and special project marketing. After many years working at Head Office in Sydney, decided to return home to Melbourne to establish Tandy’s Flagship Retail Program and Corporate Sales Division.
In 1988, following the murders of Constables Steven Tynan & Damian Eyre, joined a group of people to form the Tynan-Eyre Memorial Foundation that later became the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation. Served as a volunteer and board member for 12 years, before taking over as the foundation’s full-time Chief Executive Officer.
Neil is also a director of the Emergency Services Foundation, an associate member of the Australasian Institute of Policing and advisor to several other community and non-profit organisations.
The background in the competitive business arena, and with the assistance of many experienced and dedicated volunteers, the Blue Ribbon Foundation grew from an annual turnover of $180,000 to almost $1.5 million very quickly.
Neil introduced the concept of Blue Ribbon Day as an annual event and the foundation's flagship product, Constable T. Bear, which is now one of Australia's most popular & collectable bears.
In 2003 Neil developed the Spirit of Sport Awards Program to encourage sportsmanship and fair play in junior team sports across Victoria. Conducted in partnership with Victoria Police the program has achieved outstanding results that has improved adolescent behavior on and off the sporting field.
The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation has gained an institutional awareness among all communities throughout Victoria and is the largest public support organization for police in Australia and possibly the World. In recent years Neil has played a key role in the establishment of the Blue Ribbon Foundation's 15 regional branches in country Victoria. These branches have created many new & improved emergency units in country hospitals with up to date facilities that otherwise might not be available.
Since its inception, the Foundation has provided 25 new facilities in public hospitals that treat over 200,000 patients every year and are permanent memorials to members of the Victoria Police who have been killed in the line of duty.
Neil was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2000 and was a recipient of the Centenary Medal. He is a Life Member of the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation and A Life Ambassador for Australia Day.