Gymnastics Australia appointment looks to strengthen organisational governance and stakeholder relations

Gymnastics Australia has announced the appointment of Hannah Barnes as General Manager - Governance and Executive Services, a move the sport says is aimed at "reinforcing our commitment to strong, transparent, and member-focused governance across all levels of the sport".

An experienced executive leader and legal professional, Barnes brings strong expertise in governance, integrity, privacy, risk and policy to the role.

Gymastics Australia further states that "with a proven track record in both higher education and professional sport, she has held senior roles with cricket and tennis, including Chief Governance and Integrity Officer, Head of Integrity, Risk and Legal and Company Secretary.

Furthermore, Gymnastics Australia notes that "Barnes has demonstrated success in working with Directors and members to uplift governance standards, improve organisational integrity processes, and embed ethical practices across sport. Her comprehensive understanding of the Australian Sports Commission’s Sports Governance Principles positions her to support Gymnastics Australia’s continued efforts to deliver best-practice governance on behalf of its members. She is also passionate about ensuring sporting environments are safe, welcoming and inclusive and is driven to uplift professionalism and standards that are best in class."

In her new role, Barnes will provide Company Secretary support to the National Chief Executive and Board and oversee governance services delivered to select state and territory associations. She will also support the National Integrity Unit and establish a new function to strengthen international and government relations giving Gymnastics Australia greater voice, presence and ability to serve members.

Advising of the appointment, Gymnastics Australia Chief Executive, Alistair Edgar stated “Hannah’s strong governance expertise is central to our commitment to providing our members with a well-governed, and sustainable peak body for gymnastics in Australia. Her leadership will help ensure we have the right frameworks in place to support our members and guide the sport into the future.”

Looking forward to her new role, Barnes commented “it’s a privilege to join Gymnastics Australia and contribute to an organisation focused on uplifting governance, integrity and inclusion. I am deeply committed to ensuring that our governance frameworks serve the needs of our members, support transparency, and foster environments where all voices are heard and respected.”

The appointment reflects a key part of Gymnastics Australia's INSPIRE 2032 strategy – which aims to strengthen the organisation’s capacity and capabilities, building trust, integrity, and good governance across the sport.

Image: Hannah Barnes. Credit: Gymnastics Australia.