R.I.P. Philip John Turley

Philip John Turley, well respected and highly regarded Managing Director of Ivoclar Vivadent Australia, sadly passed away on Wednesday, August 27 at the age of 55 after fighting a courageous battle with cancer.

Born in Dunedin, New Zealand, Phil commenced his career with KMS (Kempthorn Medical Supplies) as a sales representative. He later moved to Auckland following a promotion to Sales Manager and progressed to become the Operations Manager for KMS. In 1985, KMS was sold to Stevens KMS Corporation where Phil was appointed as the Special Projects Manager. A dental division at this company provided Phil with his first exposure to the dental industry while doing special projects.

Stevens KMS Corporation and Shalfoon, sister companies that shared the same premises, relocated in 1987. During the relocation, Phil stayed at Shalfoon, and in 1988 took on the role of running this company as a 6 month project in order to get them back up and running. He was to perform this role for the next 3 years.

In 1991, Phil accepted the position as Managing Director for Ivoclar (Australia) Pty Ltd as it was known back then. This was the beginning of a long and distinguished career with Ivoclar Vivadent where Phil would be Managing Director of the Australian subsidiary for 17 years. Over this time, Phil and his team developed and expanded the company to be a major player in the Australian dental industry. Responsible for numerous achievements and involved with many changes, Phil was on the exhibition committee with the ADIA from 1992 to 2000; played a major role with the introduction of Straumann implants into Australia; opened the ICDE - Sydney (International Centre for Dental Education) in 2000; helped change the corporate identity of Ivoclar (Australia) to Ivoclar Vivadent (Australia) in 2001; and headed Ivoclar Vivadent Australia's involvement with a number of major stands at FDI - Sydney in 2003, just to name a few. In recognition of Phil Turley's achievements and service to the dental industry, the ADIA awarded Phil a 'Certificate of Appreciation' and conducted a presentation day in his honour.

Phil Turley was also renowned for participating in and contributing towards charitable and fund-raising organisations such as the tsunami disaster in December 2004 and the Variety Club Bash in Australia. Phil personally took part in the Variety Club Bash to help raise funds and made plenty of friends along the way.

As testimony to Phil Turley's grand stature in the dental industry and the community at large, tributes and condolences have poured in to the head office of Ivoclar Vivadent Australia) from all over the nation and around the world. As stated by Mr Robert A. Ganley, the CEO of Ivoclar Vivadent AG - Corporate Headquarters in Liechtenstein, "...Phil and his team built a very successful company and earned the respect and admiration of our employees and the industry. I had the pleasure to know Phil for all of those 17 years and I can say that he was an excellent business person, a dedicated leader and a good friend to all of us. He will be missed".

In accordance with Phil Turley's personal wishes he was laid to rest at his favourite countryside property in Australia, the country which he fondly described as his new home. May he rest in peace.