AUSactive names Emmett Williams as next Chair

AUSactive has announced the early appointment of current Director and Managing Director of Myzone APAC Emmett Williams as Chair, ahead of Jayne Blake’s term end in July 2025.

The interim appointment will ensure business continuity at a time of considerable strategic momentum for AUSactive.  

Having reached the maximum term under rules of the Constitution, Blake’s term as AUSactive Chair must end by the 25th of July 2025.

Following an internal nomination process, the Board unanimously voted to appoint existing Director, Williams, as the next Chair of AUSactive after Blake exits the role in early 2025.

To ensure an orderly transition of Chair, a Deputy Chair role has been created as a new governance support for the Board. Williams will assume the new Deputy Chair role effective from the 2024 AGM and will commence as AUSactive Chair in early 2025 with Blake stepping down to Deputy Chair to continue to support the transition until her maximum term on the Board is reached.

AUSactive Chief Executive Barrie Elvish said the Board and Executive were thrilled to confirm the appointment of Williams to spearhead the association from 2025.

Elvish advised “Mr Williams brings many years of deep industry experience, both in Australia and globally, and is exceptionally well connected and respected across the industry and we are thrilled he has accepted the Chair position from 2025.

“We are very confident Mr Williams will be an excellent choice to take over from Jayne, leading the Board in the next phase of delivering on the strategic objectives.

“Mr Williams has been an extremely engaged and active AUSactive Board Members since 2022, also serving on two Board Committees.”

Williams said he was honoured to be offered the opportunity to chair the AUSactive Board and looked forward to playing a key role in improving the health and wellbeing of all Australians.

Williams added “the AUSactive Board and the Senior Management Team led by Barrie Elvish are built on incredible talent, so I very much look forward to pursuing the vision of activating everybody, every way, every day. Given the concerning state of the nation's health, our purpose of supporting the industry to improve the health and wellbeing of Australians has never been more critical.

“I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Jayne Blake, who not only managed the CEO seat during a transition but was Chair during both the critical rebranding and the turbulent days of COVID-19. Jayne's professionalism, governance capability, and broad experience were exactly what our peak body needed at that time, and we will forever be grateful to her.”

As a result of the launch of the 2023 Fit for Office campaign, Williams has been working hard with Elvish to drive the Advocacy agenda and has become an instrumental part of the Government Advocacy efforts that have recently become incredibly successful.

Williams is a graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors and takes his AUSactive governance obligations extremely seriously, including meticulously managing any real, potential or perceived conflicts of interest.

Williams is currently in the process of establishing an AUSactive Supplier Advisory Group (ASAG), to ensure a range of industry suppliers have a strong voice into AUSactive. Williams will Chair this Advisory Group and during Q1 2025, will identify a replacement Chair of that Group.

Once Williams has handed over the Chair ASAG role, he will step into the Board Chair role with Blake stepping down into the Deputy Chair role to continue to support the transition until her maximum term on the Board is reached.

The new Deputy Chair roll will provide governance support for the Board with the specific purpose of:

• Supporting the Chair in fulfilling their responsibilities

• Serving as the Chair when the Chair is unavailable, due to absence or for matters where the Chair has a real, potential or perceived Conflict of Interest

• Assisting the Chair in leading the Board of Directors and ensuring effective governance and strategic oversight of AUSactive.

For more information about AUSactive visit ausactive.org.au