ESSA appoints former Chief Executive of Collingwood Football Club and Swimming Australia to its Board of Directors

Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) has appointed Mark Anderson, former Chief Executive of Collingwood Football Club, Swimming Australia and Hockey Australia, to its Board of Directors.  

Ahead of the Brisbane 2032, ESSA is playing a pivotal role in supporting the nation’s high-performance athletes with world-class exercise and sports science.

Anderson’s appointment strengthens ESSA’s leadership as it continues to shape the future of elite sport and public health in Australia.

Anderson noted “having worked closely with world class sports scientists and performance teams across multiple sports, I’ve been a strong advocate for the role that exercise physiology and sports science plays in underpinning success in high performance sport.

“As we prepare for Brisbane 2032, ESSA’s work is more important than ever in ensuring our athletes are primed to compete at their peak.

“ESSA Accredited Exercise Physiologists and Accredited Exercise Scientists transform lives, by helping people manage chronic conditions, and improving both physical and mental health outcomes for a wide range of people.”

Anderson brings more than 20 years of continuous leadership experience, across sport including roles with the Australian Institute of Sport’s HP2032+ Capability Working Group and as a non-executive director with Commonwealth Games Australia. He currently leads the tourism division at Phillip Island Nature Parks, overseeing a team of 120 that provide eco-tourism experiences for over one million international and domestic visitors each year.

Beyond elite sport, Anderson is passionate about the broader impact of exercise and sports science in Australian communities adding “ESSA is a peak body that’s really focused on reducing the burden on our healthcare system by using the best form of preventive medicine possible: exercise.”

ESSA President Emma Beckman welcomed the appointment and shared “Mark’s leadership across elite sport and community sectors makes him an invaluable addition to our Board.

“His experience will help guide ESSA’s mission to elevate the role of exercise and sports science across all levels of society.”