World Athletics confirms commission and Executive Board committee members

Four Australians have been appointed to World Athletics commissions and Executive Board committees confirmed for the 2023-2027 period, following approval from the World Athletics Council and Executive Board respectively.

On Sunday (5), the Council approved the recommendation from the Nominations Panel that the following individuals be appointed as Members of the Competition Commission, the Development Commission and the Governance Commission.

The role of the World Athletics commissions is to provide expertise and to advise the World Athletics Council, but if requested, they may also advise the President, Executive Board, Chief Executive Officer, senior management/directors, and other commissions.

Among the four Australians, Athletics Australia's Adam Bishop (General Manager - Growth and Development) and Samantha Culbert (Group General Manager - Delivery and Partnerships), as well as former Athletics Australia President David Grace were appointed. 

"I'm very humbled and super excited to have been appointed to the 12 person World Athletics Development Commission! From a 7 year old discovering a love for running alongside my dad, to competing in the US collegiate system, representing Australia at University level, being Vice President of my athletics club, and working at an Executive level in Australian athletics for the past 15 years, athletics has provided me with some incredible opportunities and experiences," Bishop said.

"With 214 Member Federations, World Athletics has more members than the United Nations and is among the world’s largest sporting organisations. The opportunity to actively contribute to and help shape the global growth and development of athletics across such a diverse cohort of Members over the next 4 years is one that I'm incredibly grateful for." 

Culbert also emphasised the significance of the opportunity:

“Australia has long been a leader with regard to athletics competition innovation and delivery, from the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games through to the Nitro Athletics Series featuring Usain Bolt in a high energy teams competition, and most recently, the Maurie Plant Meet – Melbourne which is the first World Athletics Continental Tour Gold Meet in Oceania," she said. 

"I’ve been fortunate to learn from some of the world leading competition officials here in Australia whilst involved in the delivery of these meets. And now this opportunity has presented to join the World Athletics Competition Commission to continue this learning from other nations, whilst sharing some of the insights and ideas from Australia and Oceania. I am excited to be a part of any discussion that helps improve athletics as an entertainment product, as well as for the athletes.”

Competition Commission

The purpose of the Competition Commission is to develop athletics events worldwide. Members are directly involved in topics such as competition programme formats, new events, innovation within events to make them more appealing, developing the skills of officials and more.

Chair: Raul Chapado (ESP)

Members:
Cydonie Mothersill (CAY)
Antti Pihlakoski (FIN)
Anna Riccardi (ITA)
German Pablo Chiaraviglio (ARG)
Jasmine Todd (USA)
Samantha Culbert (AUS)
Gavin Feng Yang (CHN)
Siddiq Ibrahim (SUD)
David Katz (USA)
Ellen Van Langen (NED)
Libor Varhanik (CZE)
Michael Whittingham (GBR)
Mariko Yamada (JPN)

Development Commission  

The Development Commission exists to support the growth, development, and administration of athletics at all levels of the sport aligned to the World Plan for Athletics 2022-2030.

Chair: Geoff Gardner (NFI)

Members:
Beatrice Ayikoru (UGA)
Annette Purvis (NZL)
Donna Raynor (BER)
Adille Sumariwalla (IND)
Anna Ryzhykova (UKR)
Adam Bishop (AUS)
Nick Bitel (GBR)
Marco Luque (BOL)
Karin Grute Movin (SWE)
Edith Skippings (TKS)
Tendayi Tagara (ZIM)

Governance Commission

The Governance Commission is involved in a wide variety of governance-related initiatives. Members are passionate about governance and improving and upholding the highest integrity, promoting better governance and ethical compliance standards, including through the development of educational materials, and ensuring that these are implementable, aligned, and embedded in World Athletics, Area Associations and Member Federations.

Chair: Francis Dodoo (GHA)

Members:
Yuko Arimori (JPN)
Sylvia Barlag (NED)
Aisha Praught-Leer (JAM)
Gerardo Acosta (PAR)
Carlota Castrejana (ESP)
Dagmar Freitag (GER)
Inaki Gomez (CAN)
David Grace (AUS)
Jinaro Kibet (KEN)
Alexander Leung Hong Shun (HKG)
Norman Wain (USA)

The Executive Board also recently confirmed the appointment of the members to each of the EB Committees for the 2023-2027 period: the Audit & Finance Committee, the Risk Committee and the Remuneration Committee.

These committees are established by the Executive Board to carry out some of its roles and responsibilities, and advising the Executive Board on audit & finance matters, on the remuneration and expenses policies and on risks faced by World Athletics.

Executive Board Audit and Finance Committee

The Audit and Finance Committee assists the Executive Board in fulfilling its responsibilities for financial reporting and internal control and in considering matters relating to financial management in order to safeguard financial stability and strengthen transparency and accountability.

Chair: Sunil Sabharwal (USA)

Members:
Adille Sumariwalla (IND)
Julie Asante (GHA)
Riaan Cloete (AUS)
Mary Hardy (GBR)

Executive Board Risk Committee

The Committee’s primary role is to review and advise the Executive Board on risks faced by World Athletics.

Chair: Hasan Arat (TUR)

Members:
Ximena Restrepo (COL)
Joanne Mortimore (CAN)
Jonathan Brown (GBR)
Maria Clarke (NZL)

Executive Board Remuneration Committee

The Committee’s primary role is to review and advise the Executive Board on the remuneration and expenses policies applicable to the President, Vice Presidents, Executive Board Members, Council Members, members of Commissions and Working Groups, the Chief Executive Officer and any related matters as may be decided by the Executive Board.

Chair: Abby Hoffman (CAN)

Members:
Jackson Tuwei (KEN)
Rob Clarke (GBR)
Renee Washington (USA)

By World Athletics
Posted: 9/112023