New Director appointments address gender imbalance on Australian Paralympic Committee Board

The Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) has announced the appointment of four new directors to the Board, including former News Limited Chief Executive John Hartigan.

In addition to Hartigan, new additions to the Board include Rosie King - General Manager, People and Culture at Geelong AFL Club; PwC Partner Jock O’Callaghan and Dr Helen Nott - National Manager of New Markets at Insurance Australia Group.

The appointment of two women to the APC board has also addressed criticism of the APC by the Australian Sports Commission earlier this year for the board only having one female member.

As the business continues to strive towards the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, the APC’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee responsible for making recommendations to the Board, has carefully elected new candidates with a diverse range of skills and expertise to ensure the organisation continues to grow.

Hartigan, who is currently on the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust and the Chair of Destination NSW, has prolific experience in business, media and sport, which made him a strong candidate, said APC President Glenn Tasker.

 Tasker explained “John’s leadership qualities and business acumen are widely renowned and his experience will not only help us drive Australia’s ongoing success at a Paralympic Games but will help take our organisation to an entirely new level.

"Myself and our existing board members are looking forward to tapping into his wealth of knowledge to assist our work to keep building the profile of the Paralympic movement across Australia.”

Like Hartigan, King has extensive experience in sports administration. Having previously acted as Chief Executive at the Geelong Football Club, and having worked for Sport New Zealand as Manager of Organisational Development.

King has demonstrated an acute understanding of high performance sport, and her strong background in business management is expected to complement the Board’s interest in developing the APC’s commercial operations.

A Partner at PwC, a key supporter of the APC, O’Callaghan has already proven himself to be an asset to the Board. With a degree in commerce and associated awards in accounting, he will assist in leading the organisation’s financial future.

O’Callaghan has a strong history with the APC, through his son, an elite skier with cerebral palsy.

 Dr Nott will complete the Board with her vast experience in strategy and risk management acquired throughout her corporate and consulting career both in Australia and internationally.

Her desire to positively influence change will assist in governing the organisation in the lead up to each Games.

The appointments to the APC board demonstrates its commitment to good governance by increasing the gender representation as per the Australian Sports Commission’s governing principals.

Tasker has expressed his delight in welcoming each of the new directors to the Board as well as the depth of experience each will bring with them, adding "the APC has undergone significant operational change in recent months and I am confident that the appointment of our new Board Directors and CEO will further aid us in our push towards advancing Australia’s Paralympic Team.

“Our new Directors bring with them a diverse set of skills and views which will only strengthen the organisation. Together with our remaining members’ wealth of experience, I believe we have a strong foundation to drive our movement forward.”

APC Board of Directors

• Glenn Tasker (President)
• John Croll (Vice President)
• Joyce Parszos (Vice President)
• David Baker
• Nick Dean
• John Hartigan 
• Rosie King
• Steve Loader
• Jock O’Callaghan
• Helen Nott

Lynne Anderson has also taken joined the APC as Chief Executive, commencing in her role on Monday 24th August.

Prior to joining the APC, Anderson served as Managing Director of Repucom International, Australia and New Zealand for eight years.  During this time, Repucom grew quickly from a market leader in Australia and New Zealand, to become a global powerhouse in sport and sponsorship research and consulting, with a client list including some of the largest corporate partners, broadcasters and professional sports in the world.

Anderson replaced Jason Hellwig, who stepped down from the role after five years. Hellwig had been with the APC for 12 years.

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