I welcome the appointment of Mr Peter Conde as the new Director of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).
Mr Conde assumes the position at an important time for Australian sport and the AIS will play a critical role in the development and implementation of our National Sports Plan.
The Plan will help shape the future of Australian sport across pillars of participation, high performance, preventive health and integrity.
Sport is of great value to the Australian community and the athletes who represent our country are an enormous source of pride. The AIS provides ongoing leadership, support and investment to help our athletes and sports achieve their best.
Mr Conde has great experience in sport and business strategy, the essential skills required to lead and influence Australia’s high performance sporting system.
Mr Conde was an elite sailor, twice achieving podium finishes in World Championships – Laser and Etchells.
Having built an impressive career as a business consulting strategist, including senior roles with AT Kearney, Mr Conde has dedicated himself to transformational change of Australian Sailing’s high performance program.
He was appointed to do a review of Australian Sailing’s high performance program after the 2004 Athens Olympics, where Australia did not medal. The sport has since become a beacon of Australian sporting success at Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Mr Conde has been High Performance Director of Australian Sailing since 2009. Australian Sailing has claimed a total four gold medal and four silver medals at the past two Olympic Games, including being the leading sailing nation at the 2012 London Olympics.
Next year will be a busy period for the AIS and high performance sport, with the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
I would like to congratulate Mr Conde on his appointment and I look forward to working with him in his new role.
(ENDS)