Craig Tiley takes on COMPPS Chair role

Outgoing Football Federation Australia (FFA) Chief Executive, David Gallop, has officially handed over his position as Chair of the Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports (COMPPS) to Tennis Australia Chief Executive, Craig Tiley.

Gallop, who will shortly be leaving FFA, said following his last AGM for COMPPS in Canberra, he is happy with the progress the seven major sports in COMPPS (Australian Football League, Cricket Australia, FFA, Netball Australia, Rugby Australia, National Rugby League and Tennis Australia) have made over the course of his involvement.

Following a meeting with the Federal Minister for Sport, Richard Colbeck, Gallop stated “as a founding member of COMPPS I’m delighted to see the sports working together as well as at any time in the organisation’s history.

“Craig ... will (now) lead the group into a new phase and an appropriate opportunity to meet the Minister and discuss the critical place that the COMPPS sports play in the social, sporting and economic development of our nation.

“The Minister was keen to continue to engage on the many opportunities and issues and that was very encouraging,” he said.

Following the meeting, Tiley, has been the tournament director of the Australian Open since 2006 and the Chief Executive of Tennis Australia since 2013, stated that COMPPS can play a more proactive role with the Australian Government going forward.

Tiley explained “COMPPS represents 16,000 sporting clubs and their nine million players, fans, members and administrators.

“We are some of Australia’s most well-known, respected and loved organisations.

“As the united voice of these seven major Australian sports, we believe that COMPPS can play a more proactive role in working with the government to promote the importance of sport and sport related policy.

“COMPPS believes that sport and club sports are fundamental to enhancing Australian values of teamwork, resilience and community and look forward to continuing to work with the government in promoting those values."

The primary goal of the meeting with Minister Colbeck was reportedly to outline how COMPPS could work more closely with the Australian Government to promote the importance of sport in the Australian public policy landscape.

As a result, Tiley concluded "we appreciate the Minister’s time to learn more about his objectives for the portfolio and to discuss issues that affect all our sports,” Tiley said.

“We had a wide-ranging discussion across participation, the importance of club sports, grassroots infrastructure and how we can continue to work with the government in promoting important social programs.

“The Minister understands how important sport is and the social and economic benefits it provides for Australia.

“We look forward to continuing to work closely together in promoting sport for all Australians."