Published on: 26 May 2014

Dick PorterOld boy Dick Porter (1967), the co-founder of STA Travel and Director of STA Travel Group, was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Commerce by the University of Western Australia in April. Dick, who has been living in the UK for the past 40 years, also delivered the graduation address at the ceremony. In his citation, Dick claims to have been “an average student” at Christ Church (better at sport, art and socialising) and continuing “the weak academic performance” at UWA, where he began his studies in Medicine before moving to Commerce. Before completing his degree, Dick embarked on a trip to the UK and has remained there ever since. By 1976, suffering from the huge oil shock flowing from the 1973 ‘Yom Kippur’ War, much of the European travel industry had failed or required government subsidy to continue. Seizing the opportunity, Dick co-founded STA Travel in 1979, which has continued to advise young people on holidays and adventures abroad, offering a unique range of flights, accommodation, tours and expeditions in 90 countries. Today, STA Travel has more than 400 branches worldwide and sends more than six million passengers away each year. Dick, who continues to be a director and adviser to other companies and tertiary education institutions reflecting his private interests, maintains a home in WA with wife Tina.