Jane Flemming OAM steps into role of Athletics Australia President

Athletics Australia heralds a new President, with Olympian and Commonwealth champion Jane Flemming OAM unanimously appointed to the role today following the organisation’s Annual General Meeting.

The Australian and Commonwealth Games record holder in the heptathlon succeeds outgoing President Jan Swinhoe, who ends her nine-year maximum term on the Athletics Australia Board today.  

A distinguished and respected figure within Australian athletics, Flemming brings a wealth of experience, leadership and passion to her new role.

“It’s an absolute honour and a privilege to be elected as President of Athletics Australia. It has been wonderful to give back to the sport that is so close to my heart over the last four years in my role as Vice President, and it is incredibly exciting to be able to step up and contribute even more on the eve of another Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Flemming said.

 “The sport of athletics has everything going for it - the biggest participation sport in the world, a truly global sport, diverse and inclusive, with literally no barriers to participation. It is also a sport that has led the way with regard to gender equality.

“It’s been exciting to see the likes of Nina Kennedy and Madison de Rozario, amongst others, celebrated as world leaders in what has been a breakthrough few years for our Australian Team. Athletics has long set a great example with the same events at the same meets, with equal prize money – true equality for women in sport, 100 years before other sports introduced or elevated their women.”

“The priority of the Board now is to maximise all that is great about our sport on the runway to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond. The opportunity of a home Games enables a reset for all within our sport – a chance for athletes, coaches, officials, along with key stakeholders, alumni and management to align and work in unison to one shared vision.”

Outside of her work with Athletics Australia, Flemming is the founding Managing Director of sponsorship and marketing company, Flemming Promotions. In 2013, Flemming became a founding Director of community health initiative, Live Life Get Active and a director of Sydney North Health Network.

Additionally, she has worked across all of Australia’s commercial free-to-air television networks, the Olympic Broadcast Service and radio in Olympic, Commonwealth and World Championships commentary roles.

Along with Flemming as President, two Vice Presidents were appointed today, with existing Board Members Jill Davies and Brian Miller taking up the positions. Read more about both Vice Presidents here.

Two new Directors were also confirmed at the Athletics Australia Annual General Meeting held in Melbourne this morning, in John Lamont and Dr. Anna Cicognani appointed.

A legal practitioner with more than 30 years’ experience in the public and private sectors, Lamont brings with him an extensive background in government policy and stakeholder engagement. He is one of the principal architects of the Sport: Powering Australia’s Future – 10+10 submission made on behalf of both organisations to the Federal Government’s 2021 Intergenerational Report and is the current Secretary-General of the Queensland Olympic Council.

Cicognani is currently the CEO of Orbx, a leading flight simulation Company, and has served as CEO and in other C-level roles in public and private Companies, such as APN, PMP, Telstra, and Fairfax. She has been involved in digital media and technology projects of all sizes, as an operator and an investor, for over 25 years. She was awarded a PhD from the University of Sydney, she's been an Honorary Professor at the University of Wollongong in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, and is a Director on the Board of Basketball Australia.

“We thank outgoing President Jan Swinhoe for her valuable contribution, and we are thrilled to have Jill and Brian continue in Senior positions, and welcome John and Anna to our Board of Directors,” Flemming said.

“This refreshed Board is looking forward to working alongside Athletics Australia’s experienced and committed management team and staff as Australia continues to fall in love with our sport and grasp onto all the benefits that athletics has to offer.”

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 20/10/2023

Athletics Australia is the national governing body for the sport of athletics in Australia and is the only organisation recognised as such by World Athletics, Australian Olympic Committee, Paralympics Australia, Commonwealth Games Australia and the Australian Sports Commission.

Together with our State and Territory-based Member Associations, we are charged with ensuring the encouragement, pathway and promotion of athletics in Australia and acting in the best interests of the sport of athletics across the full spectrum of ages and levels – from children through to masters athletes and from participation through to high performance.

Our vision: inspiring, empowering and supporting the athlete inside of everyone.