Malcolm Speed recognised for outstanding contribution to Victorian sport

Vicsport has announced that Malcolm Speed will receive the most prestigious honour to be bestowed at the upcoming Victorian Sport Awards, the Outstanding Contribution to Victorian Sport Award.

Speed will receive the Award, presented to an individual or organisation in recognition of outstanding achievement in, or contribution to, sport in Victoria.

Speed has had a long and distinguished career as lawyer, sports administrator and company director and was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2012 for his tireless work in shaping cricket and basketball as well as his invaluable involvement in various sports including cycling, golf and AFL..

Commenting on the Award, Victorian Minister for Community Sport, Ros Spence stated “Malcolm Speed has played a key leadership role in shaping the nation’s sporting landscape across a period of more than 40 years.

“As executive chairman of Basketball Australia and CEO of the NBL he helped oversee a golden age for basketball in Australia.

“Then, as CEO of the Australian Cricket Board and later CEO of the International Cricket Council he was instrumental in the introduction of the Twenty20 format of the game.

“Malcolm has made an invaluable contribution to sport and on behalf of the Andrews Labor Government I would like to congratulate him on his outstanding career and receiving this award.”

Vicsport Chief Executive, Lisa Hasker added “Malcolm has been an outstanding leader in sport for many years and has provided leadership and mentoring to a number of current leaders in the sporting industry. This award is so well deserved and we are very pleased to be formally recognising his achievements.”

Speed was executive Chairman of Basketball Australia and Chief Executive of the NBL from 1980 to 1997, a period in which the sport emerged as a major force on the court while gaining a national audience and unheralded commercial support off it.

He was then recruited to the Chief Executive role of the Australian Cricket Board from 1997 to 2001 before transitioning into the role of Chief Executive for the International Cricket Council. Speed held that position from 2001 to 2008, during a tumultuous phase of dramatic growth on the sub-continent, a rise in gambling on cricket and allegations of match fixing. In this environment, Speed’s legal training and his reputation for independence and integrity were undoubted assets.

Among his other many achievements are:

• Chairman of Cycling Australia

• Director of the Victorian Major Events Company

• Director of Golf Australia

• Director of Sports Environmental Alliance

• Director of Richmond Football Club

• Executive Director of the Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports (COMPPS) which represents AFL, Australian Rugby Union, Cricket Australia, FFA, National Rugby League, Netball Australia and Tennis Australia

• Lifetime member of ANSZLA and awarded the ANSZLA’s Outstanding Service to Sport Award

Speed is currently a Director of Athletes for Hope and the Australia Golf Foundation Ltd and lectures at Melbourne University and Deakin University in Sports Law and Sports Administration respectively.

Speed’s Award will be presented at 2020 Victorian Sport Awards being held at Marvel Stadium’s Victory Room on Thursday 3rd June.

For more information go to www.vicsport.com.au/2020-victorian-sport-award-finalists