Mark Arbib elected to the AOC Executive

Former Federal Sports Minister Mark Arbib has been elected to the Australian Olympic Committee executive.

The former Federal Senator’s election follows the retirement of Vice President Peter Montgomery in September and subsequent election of longtime Australian Winter Games Chef de Mission Ian Chesterman as an AOC Vice President.

Arbib (pictured) is the current President of Athletics Australia and served as Federal Sports Minister from 2010 to 2012.

Since leaving politics he has carved out a corporate career and is currently a senior executive with James Packer's private investment company, Consolidated Press Holdings. He is also a board member of the Packer Family Foundation and the South Sydney Rabbitohs and has served as a board member for Sydney FC.

Arbib was elected ahead of three other contenders for the role: Football Federation Australia board member Cheryl Bart, three-time Olympic hockey gold medallist Rechelle Hawkes and Equestrian Australia director Gillian Rolton.

In a statement on the appointment, AOC President John Coates advised “he knows us as a former Minister for Sport and will be a great help in Canberra.

“Importantly, he understands the needs of athletes at both the elite and grassroots levels of sport.”

Welcoming being confirmed for the AOC position, Arbib added “it’s an honour to be elected as a representative on the AOC Executive.

“As a former Federal Sports Minister, I have had a long association with the AOC, it’s an outstanding organisation that works hard for Australian sport.

“I look forward to working with President John Coates, the other members of the Executive and management team for the betterment of our athletes, coaches and the sports community.”

The AOC describes Arbib as being “very familiar with the workings of the Olympic Movement” having travelled to Switzerland to participate in an IOC forum on illegal betting in sport during his time as Federal Sports Minister.

During his time as Sports Minister he was also instrumental in securing the support of the Australian State and Territory Governments to the National Policy on Match Fixing, established at a National Council meeting of Sports & Recreation Ministers in February 2011. The policy established uniform laws and definitions to fight match fixing and the establishment of Integrity Agreements, between sports and betting agencies.

Arbib was also instrumental in securing the $12 million in Federal Government funding to establish the AIS’s European Training Facility at Varese, Italy which provides state of the art facilities to many Olympic sports and elite athletes training and competing in Europe.

Since leaving politics, Arbib conducted a major review into the Australian Rugby Union’s (ARU) corporate governance. The recommendations contained in Strengthening the Governance of Australian Rugby (the Arbib Review), were endorsed in full by the Board of ARU in October 2012.

In December 2012, the ARU's State and Territory Member Unions voted in favour of a new constitution adopting Arbib's recommendations.

The changes from the Arbib Review established an independent board of directors and reformed the membership of the ARU to better reflect the rugby union community across Australia, both amateur and professional.

10th October 2016 - AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE CHIEF EXECUTIVE MOVES ON

23rd September 2016 - AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE BACKS SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND’S 2028 OLYMPICS BID

27th November 2015 - ATHLETICS AUSTRALIA NAMES MARK ARBIB AS ITS NEW PRESIDENT

10th December 2012 - HISTORIC CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE FOR AUSTRALIAN RUGBY

31st October 2012 - RUGBY GOVERNANCE REFORM IN UNION

3rd January 2012 - ARBIB WELCOMES OLYMPIC EFFORTS TO TACKLE GAMES FIXING 

3rd March 2011 - GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES EUROPEAN BASE FOR AUSTRALIAN ATHLETES