John Yates
Director of Security
John joined Westfield in November 2013 in a newly created role as Director of Security for Scentre Group in Australia and New Zealand & Westfield Corporation in the United Kingdom, United States and the emerging markets. He is now the Director of Security Scentre Group following the sale of Westfield Corporation in July 2018.
John retired from the Metropolitan Police (Scotland Yard) in November 2011 after a 30 year career. He held some of the most senior positions in UK policing. His last role was as the UK’s most senior counter terrorism officer and as the senior advisor the Prime Minister and Home Secretary on all law enforcement related security matters. Previous roles included leading the fight against serious and organised crime in London and being the UK policy lead and spokesperson in relation to rape and serious sexual offences. He also led the UK’s response to the South East Asian Tsunami for which he was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal.
In between leaving policing and joining Westfield John spent time in the Middle East advising the government of Bahrain on police reform before joining G3, the Good Governance Group, a leading international strategic advisory firm, as their Group Executive Director.
John is on the Advisory Board for the technology company ‘Callsign’, and a Non-Executive Director for New South Wales Police Legacy and the Domestic Violence Charity, ‘KYUP!’.
John is based in Sydney.