Softball Australia appoints Rosie Williams as its new Chief Executive

Softball Australia has appointed of Rosie Williams as its new Chief Executive. Williams has a very strong sporting background and is anticipated to make a significant contribution to the growth of Softball in Australia – both with her knowledge of sport at grassroots level and her commercial acumen.

Williams brings many years of senior sports leadership experience to Softball, with an impressive track record of growing participation and delivering sustained improvement in High Performance pathways and national team results.

She was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2013 for her contribution to rugby in England, and previously held the position of Managing Director of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) for Women. She also played an instrumental role in the success of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2010 and operated as the RFU's Head of Local Delivery for more than six years. In 2018 she set up her own successful consultancy business working across sporting and commercial landscapes.

Chair of Softball Australia Richard Lindell says the board is pleased to have attracted a leader of Williams’ experience and demonstrated success and notes "Rosie is an exceptional leader with a track record to match. She has a deep understanding of the dynamics and drivers of sport, and a proven ability to bring all stakeholders on a journey to deliver the outcomes we’re all striving for in participation and High Performance – with a laser focus on member value and experience, along with the athlete journey.

"We're at a really exciting point for Softball as we build on the work of recent years and start to formulate our next strategic plan so it's fantastic to have Rosie with us as we prepare for our next phase.”

Williams added "I'm thrilled to be returning home to join the team at Softball Australia. It’s a sport I've always loved having played a lot at school and university, and I think it has great potential for growth and high-performance success in both the women’s and men’s programs in Australian and international competition.

"What excited me the most is seeing the impact that the game of Softball has on young people and how it has the ability to unite people from many different backgrounds.”

Current Chief Executive David Pryles, who has accepted a position as Chief Executive of Hockey Australia and departed Softball Australia on 10th December,  congratulated Williams on her appointment, “over the last three and a half years, we’ve enjoyed significant growth as an organisation. I’m pleased that a leader of Rosie’s standing is joining Softball to collaborate with our many stakeholders who have been critical to our success. The level of passion and enthusiasm in the Softball community is infectious, and I will always be a supporter of the game.”

Williams will officially step into the role at the end of February 2022 and will return to Australia in time for the Summer Slam and International Series at Blacktown NSW.

National Operations Manager Bron Parry has been appointed Acting Chief Executive in the interim period.