Ron Wilhelm is a Stream Lead in Operations at Westpac, where he leads a team of 11 within the Know Your Customer stream in Business & Wealth. With 18 years at the bank, Ron brings strategic insight shaped by over 30 years of prior military service. He serves as Acting Chair of the Military & Mates Employee Advocacy Group (M&M EAG) and plays a pivotal role in shaping Westpac’s veteran, reservists and emergency services inclusion efforts. Ron also contributes to national youth development through his volunteer leadership efforts in the Australian Defence Force Cadets.
Ron is a committed advocate for veteran and partner employment, bringing three decades of lived military experience to his work. As a long-standing member and now Acting Chair of the Military & Mates Employee Advocacy Group, he has been instrumental in advancing Westpac’s support for the M&M community—driving initiatives that are practical, inclusive, and impactful. All of Ron’s contributions in this space are voluntary, performed on top of his day-to-day responsibilities. His dedication, going above and beyond, reflects a deep personal commitment to empowering veterans and their families.
A key achievement under Ron’s leadership has been the rebranding from ‘Veterans EAG’ to ‘Military & Mates’ EAG, broadening its focus to include all Defence members and emergency first responders—including ADF, police, fire, ambulance, lifesaving, marine rescue, and volunteer rescue services—to better represent and support the entire community. Expanding the reach saw membership grow by 50% within the first few months of the rebranding launch.
Ron is the current point contact for the M&M Buddy Program—a structured, one-on-one mentoring initiative that supports veteran applicants through the Westpac recruitment process. By overseeing mentor training, matching processes, and applicant engagement, the Program has enhanced candidate preparedness and improved application outcomes.
Ron is widely respected for his genuine care and steadfast support for colleagues and community members, often providing critical guidance on mental health wellbeing for those in moments of crisis. His empathy and calm presence has earned him a reputation as a trusted advisor within Westpac. Further, Ron established a dedicated communication channel for Defence partners and spouses to connect, share experiences, and access peer support in a safe environment.
Beyond Westpac, for the past 10 years, Ron volunteers for ADF Cadets in defence youth development, leading eight units across regional South Australia.