I am pleased to announce the appointment of three new directors to the Board of the Australian Sports Commission (ASC).
Gabrielle Trainor, Andrea Mitchell and Mark Textor will add broad and extensive experience to the ASC Board, chaired by John Wylie AM.
I am also delighted to announce the extension of ASC Board member Andrew Plympton’s term for a further three years.
The appointments have been made at a pivotal time for Australian sport as the ASC plays a lead role in the development of the Turnbull Government’s National Sport Plan.
Following extensive consultation, the National Sport Plan is currently being drafted and will be released in 2018.
It will provide a unified, long-term strategy for Australian sport across four key pillars; Participation, Performance, Prevention through physical activity and Integrity.
These ASC Board appointments will add value to the implementation of the National Sport Plan given their impressive backgrounds.
Ms Trainor was a founding member of the Greater Western Sydney Giants and appointed an AFL Commissioner in 2016.
A former lawyer, journalist and public sector executive, Ms Trainer has served on boards in the public and private sectors for more than 20 years across areas such as sports, infrastructure, urban development, public transport, tourism, construction, arts and culture, Indigenous advancement and welfare.
Ms Mitchell served the electorate of Kingsley as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 2008-2017.
Her working career began in physical education, before moving on to managerial positions with the WA Department of Sport and Recreation. Ms Mitchell was awarded an Australian Sports Medal in 2000 for her leadership of tennis, as President of Tennis West from 1996-2008 and a Director of Tennis Australia from 1997-2008.
The ASC has worked hard to advance the number of women on Australian sport boards and lead by example with six females among the 11 Directors on their Board.
Mr Textor is internationally regarded for his strategic insights, which will be an asset to the ASC and sport. He is the Chair of the Amy Gillett Foundation and, as the founder of the CT Group, has led many successful Government and commercial campaigns that are defined by market research, corporate intelligence and strategic communication.
Mr Plympton, a former President of St Kilda AFL club and Yachting Australia, was appointed to the ASC Board in 2011. The Chair of three ASX listed companies, Mr Plympton has been a strong contributor to the ASC Board, particularly as Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee.