OLD TUDORIAN (’89)
Arriving at Tudor House in 1988 as a boarder marked a defining chapter in Joe Lunn’s life. At just ten years old, he had already called ten different towns home from Condobolin to Kuranda, when he was awarded an eight-year, means-tested scholarship from the Packer family. For Joe, Tudor House offered something deeply grounding – a sense of place, a sense of belonging and the beginnings of friendships that would span a lifetime.
Tudor House laid the foundations for his years at The King’s School, where Joe embraced every opportunity with vigour and enthusiasm. Whether on the rugby field or athletics track, in the cadet corps or on stage, he made the most of all King’s had to offer. He represented the School in the 1st XV, playing in a Bledisloe Cup curtain-raiser at the Sydney Football Stadium. He was named Captain of Athletics during King’s victorious AAGPS campaign, led the Cadet Passing Out Parade and even trekked through the Himalayas. Somewhere amid it all, he also met Jane, his future wife, at the age of sixteen.
In his final year, Joe was approached for what seemed like an ordinary career conversation. Several interviews later, he found himself stepping into the highly confidential world of a Federal Government intelligence agency. For the next chapter of his life, he would work undercover while studying part-time balancing academics with the demands of a career that required resilience.
Eventually, Joe transitioned into a more conventional path, joining Saatchi & Saatchi and embarking on a two decade career in advertising.
He served in strategy and leadership roles across London, Paris and Sydney, with Paris becoming home for five years and the birthplace of his first daughter, Lily. His early passion for languages was nurtured at Tudor House and proved invaluable, especially in those early days navigating life in a new country. “I’d always start with ‘I’m not English, I’m Australian,’” Joe laughs, “and we were treated surprisingly well.”
Now based in Bilgola on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Joe is the Head of Media for Asia Pacific at Uber. Alongside his wife Jane, and their two daughters Lily and Eloise, he has embraced the quieter joys of family life. While his rugby days may be behind him, too many hamstrings later, Joe finds fulfilment in supporting his daughters in their own academic, sporting and creative pursuits.
Joe’s journey is one marked by opportunity, gratitude and enduring connection. From his early days on the grounds of Tudor House to his work across the globe, he remains grounded in the values instilled during those formative years.
