Harry Perks
Founder / Executive Chairman
Harry graduated from Flinders University with a Bachelor of Economics in 1970 before becoming a member for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in 1974. Between 1970 and 1981 Harry worked as a Chartered Accountant as both an employee and later as a partner at Gaffney Harvey & Ryan before co-founding the firms Perks & Ortmann in 1981 and finally Perks & Associates in 1983.
At Perks & Associates Harry advised clients on business performance, tax and financial structuring for businesses and individuals, the use of self-managed superannuation funds and the acquisition and disposal of businesses. Despite its humble beginnings, Perks & Associates, now under the management of Harry's brother Greg and 16 other partners, is Adelaide's largest independent accountancy practice and was ranked 31st in BRW Magazine's listing of the Top 100 Accounting Firms in Australia in 2009.
In 1990, seeing the opportunities that were emerging in the commercial property market, Harry formed a syndicate of like-minded associates to purchase his first asset: the Westlands Shopping Centre in Whyalla, South Australia. This acquisition signified the unofficial formation of PPI. Over the following eight years Harry syndicated several other properties and in 1998 Harry retired from Perks & Associates so that he could completely focus his attention on the management and development of the property syndicates he had started.
Since 1998, Harry's depth of accounting and property knowledge as well as his "co-investment" philosophy has seen PPI emerge as a quiet achiever in the Australian unlisted property market. PPI currently manages 21 commercial properties valued at approximately $600 million.
Harry's other passion is breeding and racing thoroughbred racehorses. Harry has had an ongoing involvement in breeding since purchasing his first racehorse over 35 years ago, and was a Director of the Australian Breeders Cooperative Society ("ABCOS") from 1987 to 1990, a Committee Member for the South Australian Thoroughbred Breeders Association from 1991 to 1997, and has served two terms as a board member of the South Australian Jockey Club ("SAJC"). Harry has enjoyed much success in the Australian horse racing arena having bred and raced the following Group 1 winners:
- Gold Guru - Champion Australian 3 year old, won the AJC Australian Derby, VRC Australian Guineas and Ranvet Stakes;
- Southern Speed - Won the VRC Caufield Cup;
- Rebel Raider - Won the VRC Victorian Derby, SAJC Derby;
- Devil Moon - Won the VRC Turnbull Stakes, MRC WH Stock Stakes (G2), VRC Let's Elope Stakes (G3);
- Serious Speed - Won the MRC Thousand Guineas, STC Hobartville Stakes (G2), 2nd in the VRC Oakes;
- St Clements Belle - Won the WATC Fruit & Veg Stakes, MVRC Champagne Stakes (G2), Bill Stutt Stakes (G2);
- Undoubtedly - Won the MRC Blue Diamond Stakes.
Harry also served on the Prince Alfred College Foundation from 1998 to 2007, holding the position of Vice President from 1998 to 2001 and President from 2001 to 2007.