Latest changes at Netball Australia sees former Diamonds captain Liz Ellis appointed to board

A year on from her unsuccessful bid to join the Netball Australia board, Liz Ellis been appointed as a Director of the troubled governing body.

The former Diamonds captain, who has been critical of the sport's direction in recent years, led a State of the Game Review in 2020 that assessed where netball was at before making various recommendations to help maintain its status as Australia's number one sport for women and girls.

Speaking of her appointment, Ellis stated “I am deeply passionate about netball and I want to see it grow and thrive.

“It’s time for me to give back to the sport that has given me so much.’’

Ellis went on to tell ABC Sport "I've sat outside the organisation and had an opinion for a number of years but now is the time for me to get in and contribute in my areas of knowledge and expertise.

"You should never waste a crisis and the sport has seen a series of crisis over the past 12 months, but it's actually created an opportunity for some meaningful conversations to happen."

Netball Australia Board Chair Wendy Archer said Ellis’ unrivalled playing career brought new skills and a different insight to the Board as it focused on the future growth of the sport, noting “like all members of the Board, Liz is passionate about netball, both on court and off and brings significant leadership skills as well as a breadth of knowledge gained from her post-career roles in broadcast and business.

“We welcome her to the Board at this exciting time for our sport as the game continues to grow and we look forward to the 2027 Netball World Cup and the game’s 100th anniversary.’’

Australia’s most capped player, appearing for the Diamonds on 122 occasions, Ellis spent 15 years representing her country, appearing at four World Cups and three Commonwealth Games.

Off the court, Ellis studied law at Macquarie University and served on the boards of the Australian Sports Commission, NSW Institute of Sport, Sydney Olympic Park Authority and Players Voice.

She has also forged a media career, previously commentating the Super Netball league for Channel Nine and 10, writing columns for the Sydney Morning Herald, appearing regularly as a panellist on The Project, and winning reality TV show I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here in 2023.

It has been reported that privatisation and the commercial viability of Super Netball are moves that she will be advocating.

Looking to 2027 when Sydney hosts the next Netball World Cup and when the sport will mark its centenary, Ellis added "I still feel strongly that we should have a really good look at privatisation for Super Netball or some other kind of investment.

"If then, after a proper look, it's decided that it's not the right thing to do, then you can explain to the system why and what your alternative plans are.”

Earlier this month Netball Australia announced two other key Board appointments with former MP Gabrielle Upton appointed as a Director and Mo’onia Gerrard renewed as the nominated Athlete Director for a further 12 months.

Image: Liz Ellis. Credit: Netball Australia.