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John Hooke graduated from Sydney University in the early Messel years, with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Physics, followed by a Bachelor of Engineering with First Class Honours and University Medal. In his thesis he devised innovative engineering techniques and used them to examine aspects of semiconductor physics, and he was awarded the prize for the best thesis in five years. He joined Amalgamated Wireless (A/sia) Ltd where he was involved in the production of transistors.

He became Chairman and Chief Executive of AWA, which grew strongly during this period, in spite of the progressive elimination of the Australian components and consumer industry. Mr Hooke was heavily involved in manufacturing policy issues and served on several government committees, including the Australian Manufacturing Council, and was Chairman of the Defence Industry Committee.

He was Chairman of Tubemakers of Australia and a director of a number of companies, including BHP, National Australia Bank, AMP General Insurance, Channel Ten, Crane Group, and Interscan Australia, the government company charged with the commercial development of CSIRO's Interscan. He was a member of the Williams Committee of Inquiry into Education and Training.