Fitness Australia names Sport Australia executive and Glen Eira Leisure manager as appointed Directors

Fitness Australia’s growing links with the wider activity, recreation and sport sectors has seen it announce Kate Corkery, Director of Sport Governance and Strategy at Federal agency Sport Australia, as an appointed board Director, along with Paige Buse, Manager of Glen Eira Leisure in metropolitan Melbourne.

Advising that the appointed Directors have been selected to complement the current Board composition, Fitness Australia note that both Buse and Corkery have “strong professional backgrounds and experience that will help strengthen Fitness Australia’s foundations”.

Corkery, who is currently the Director of Sport Governance and Strategy at Sport Australia and the Chair of Judo Australia, is also a lawyer, mediator, director and governance professional with a background as a litigator for the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority, and the ACT Office of the Director of Public Prosecution.

Commenting on Corkery’s appointment, Fitness Australia Chairperson, Jayne Blake stated “Kate is a highly sought-out professional across all areas of the sporting, fitness and community sectors for her skills in organisational growth, profile and participation raising and change leadership. Her experience with national and state sporting organisations, government stakeholders and community organisations will be a great asset for Fitness Australia.

“Kate is also a Fitness Australia registered group fitness instructor who delivers Les Mills programs to her community in Canberra, which means that in addition to the skills she brings to the Board, she’s equally engrained in the industry at its grassroots.”

Buse is the Manager of Glen Eira Leisure that encompasses three centres including the Glen Eira Sports and Aquatic Centre (GESAC). The facilities enjoy over 1.6 million visits per year and provide an annual operational surplus to council of $3 million.

Welcoming Buse, Blake added “Paige brings more than 15 years’ experience in the leisure industry to our Board and has a Bachelor Degree in Marketing and Human Resources from La Trobe University.

“In 2019, Paige led GESAC to receiving our highest fitness business accolade being the Top Fitness Australia Quality Accredited Business Award as part of the Australian Fitness Awards.”

The Directors who continue in their appointed positions are Chris Hicks and Jayne Blake.

Hick is the former Chief Executive of Newcastle University Sport, a not for profit company that manages aquatic, gymnasium, group fitness, sporting, and recreational facilities and services in support of the University of Newcastle and the wider community.

Blake, who remains the Chairperson of Fitness Australia’s Board of Directors is also a Director of HeartKids, an organisation which aims to conquer Congenital Heart Disease, the single biggest cause of death of Australian babies.

Blake concluded “I’m proud to have Kate, Paige and Chris working with Fitness Australia and the industry at such a significant time in the organisation’s history; making fundamental changes to the our purpose and realising the potential impact we can have on the health of the nation.”

Fitness Australia’s Board of Directors consists of two elected fitness business members, two elected AusREP members and four appointed members. See the full list of Board of Directors now.

Images: New Fitness Australia Directors Kate Corkery (top) and Paige Buse (below).