Australian Sports Commission's Kieran Perkins delivers a vision for sport

Presenting the NSC oration at the opening of the National Sports and Physical Activity Convention (NSC) in Melbourne yesterday, Australian Sports Commission (ASC) Chief Executive Kieran Perkins

Having just passed 100 days in the role, Perkins outlined a desire to achieve a vision to have more Australians playing more sport, underpinned by three supporting pillars: helping Australians understand the significant benefits of sport; enabling sports organisations to be able to deliver; and driving involvement and inclusion in sport.

Referencing the 10-year “green and gold runway” of Australia hosting multiple international sporting events up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Perkins emphasised that he is in his role “here to deliver for sport”.

Having worked in senior roles in banking for more than a decade before taking on the role of Chief Executive at the ASC (for which he was a Commissioner/board member from 2001 to 2007), Perkins explained he sees his responsibility as being about “making sure that our athletes and coaches are absolutely given the best opportunity to be ready to perform.”

In a well received address, Perkins expressed concern that, in his experience, “politicians don’t understand how sport works”.

Perkins also joined a panel discussion with Raelene Castle from Sport New Zealand, Naomi Shearon from Sport England, Robyn Smith OAM from Sport Inclusion Australia, Robyn Monro Miller AM from International Play Association (IPA World), Oliver Vanges from The Danish Foundation for Culture and Sports Facilities and Hock Woon Chiang from Sport Singapore.

Sport Australia's involvement in the Convention continues with presentations from Dr Lindsey Reece on volunteering and Cameron Tradell on building capability in volunteer coaching, a session to be chaired by Australasian Leisure Management's Nigel Benton.

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