Hylton Mackley

In 1969 Hylton Mackley AM (Hon) FVAS founded what is now New Zealand's largest marketing communications group. That company (Colenso) was merged into the Clemenger Group and relocated to Melbourne in 1987. Hylton remains a significant shareholder and director of the Clemenger Group.

In addition to being Treasurer of the Victorian Artists Society, Hylton is also a director of the Barnett Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation involved in the affordable housing sector.

Hylton continues to be active in owning racehorses. Breeding and racing thoroughbreds has been a life-long passion of his.

His business life has been predominantly in the advertising industry with the emphasis on management and directorship on many Company Boards.

Hylton has a strong supporting interest in the Victorian Artists Society and is delighted that this generous Award will carry his name.

Being nominated VAS Treasurer in 2016, he was instrumental in guiding VAS through the restoration program of the building, ensuring costs were in a sound position to support the project.

At this point, he also introduced a pro bono legal team to VAS for providing advice on legal matters. This position had lapsed over the years.

On becoming Chairman of Fundraising, he assisted in introducing Trusts, Foundations, and Philanthropists together with loyal VAS Members to support the building restoration. $2,500,000 was raised which included a $1,500,000 donation from Eileen and Hylton Mackley to assist with covering restoration costs.

As Chairman of the VAS Restoration Committee, he worked with the team from Heritage Victoria together with the architect and builder, ensuring costs and protocol were closely followed.

Under his guidance, a special resolution was presented at the VAS AGM and passed by the membership, ensuring donations for sponsorship are tax deductible.

He also ensured good governance continued during the Covid lockdowns between 2019 and 2022, and financial stability was maintained despite there being nil income to the Society.

Other personal donations have been undertaken, e.g. providing initial finance for upgrading the VAS Permanent Collection and funding the 150th Anniversary Book.

Hylton has been noted for his fundraising and financial abilities, significant donations and support to the completion and restoration of the VAS Heritage Victoria building, together with the financial stability of the Victorian Artist Society.

Hylton received an Order of Australia (AM) for his contribution to the Advertising Industry and the Arts.