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AN UPDATE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF ATHLETICS AUSTRALIA, MARK ARBIB

Published Fri 27 Nov 2020

I am writing on behalf of the Board of Athletics Australia with an update following our Annual General Meeting on October 30. Firstly, I want to thank all that were able to attend this year’s AGM, which shone a light on the excellent work that Athletics Australia is doing in a challenging year, not least the great forward progress around OneAthletics, which has been made evident through this weeks’ OneAthletics Public Forums. The minutes of the AGM are available on the Athletics Australia website here.

As tabled at the recent AGM, Brenda LaPorte has resigned from her position as Athletics Australia Vice President. Brenda has served on the board since 2014 with roles on the High-Performance Advisory Group, Nominations, and Ethics and Integrity Committees, as well as Chair of the Local Organising Committee for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships. I want to thank Brenda for her service to Athletics Australia and the athletics community.

In the week following the AGM, Eugenie Buckley has also advised of her resignation as a Director on the Athletics Australia board, where she has served since October 2019. I want to also thank Eugenie for her contribution to our sport.

This week we were delighted to announce the appointment of Kate Palmer AM to the Athletics Australia board of Directors, effective immediately. Kate is an experienced and highly regarded executive in the sporting community having formerly held the positions of Chief Executive Officer of Sport Australia (2017-2020) and Netball Australia (2007-2017). We are delighted to welcome someone of such outstanding calibre to our Board.

I am also especially pleased to be able to congratulate Geoff Nicholson on his appointment to the position of Vice President. For Geoff, it is a well-deserved recognition of his work on the Athletics Australia board and long-term commitment to our sport.

In addition to Geoff’s appointment as Vice President and Kate’s appointment as Non-Executive Director:

  • Jane Flemming OAM joins the OneAthletics Governance Committee; and,

  • Chris Wardlaw has been appointed to the Board of the Local Organising Committee for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in an interim capacity until new Board members are appointed.

I would like to congratulate Geoff, Kate, Jane and Chris on these appointments. Jeff Cook will Chair the Nominations Committee. Athletics Australia Vice President, Jan Swinhoe will join this Committee. Jeff, Jan and the Committee are now arranging a process of filling vacant board positions.

I also want to pay special recognition to Anne Lord, who having served her full nine-year team on the Athletics Australia Board has resigned from her board position. Anne has been an outstanding contributor to Athletics Australia and the athletics community, including her involvement in the development of our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and Special Awards Committee’s. We know Anne is not lost to Athletics, but I want to thank Anne for her service on our Board.

I am pleased to serve as the President of the Athletics Australia Board alongside Jan Swinhoe (Vice President), Geoff Nicholson (Vice President), Jeff Cook, Jane Flemming OAM, Chris Wardlaw and Kate Palmer AM and look forward to welcoming up to two new representatives on our Board.

Regards,

Mark Arbib

President

Athletics Australia

ABOUT GEOFF NICHOLSON, VICE PRESIDENT, ATHLETICS AUSTRALIA

When asked about his love of athletics, Geoff describes how he’s been involved in the sport since he was in ‘short pants’, lists marathon’s and distance running as his favourite events to watch, and that the great Herb Elliott is his all-time favourite Australian athlete.

“I’m very humbled to be appointed to the role of Vice President,’ said Geoff.

“I joined the Athletics Australia Board in 2015 and in that five years I’ve been proud of the work that has been done. A real highlight for me was seeing our athletes perform well at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the work that Athletics Australia is now doing as part of OneAthletics is the most important to the future of our sport.”

Geoff has chaired the Athletics Australia Finance, Risk and Audit Committee since 2015 and is a member of the OneAthletics Governance Committee.

Outside of Athletics, Geoff is a Non-Executive Director and Consultant currently contributing to the efforts of the R E Ross Trust, Hillview Quarries, United Energy Distribution Group, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman, Endeavour Energy and Bourne Digital.

BOARD MEMBER EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Athletics Australia (AA) is seeking to appoint up to two Non-Executive Directors to its skills-based Board. As a Director at Athletics Australia, you will play a critical role in the strategic leadership of the sport of athletics.

Athletics Australia has a skills-based Board. With Board retirements and an update to its Strategic Plan further specific skills that would bring value to the organisation as it enters the next phase of its growth and development have been identified.

Specifically, the Board is looking to recruit Directors with expertise in:

  • Event management, sponsorship acquisition and fundraising;

  • Product strategy, commercialisation and licensing;

  • Marketing and branding;

  • Technology, digital and social media.

Notwithstanding the desire to attract candidates with these skills, the Board reserves the right make appointments from outside these skill areas.

Athletics Australia’s vision: One sport with well supported, seamlessly connected competitions, programs and events delivering athletic activities to all Australians.

If you are interested in assisting Athletics Australia to achieve this vision, please send your resume with a covering letter outlining your relevant experience to Athletics Australia via email company.secretary@athletics.org.au no later than December 18, 2020. Please quote in the subject line: Non-Executive Board Director application.

For more information about Athletics Australia please visit www.athletics.com.au

One of the key tenets of the Board is to operate within the best practice governance principles set by Sport Australia, which can be found here.

All applications will be considered by the Athletics Australia Nominations Committee, which will make a recommendation to AA’s Member Associations (State / Territory bodies) and the Board.

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