By Greg Blood

Since 2000, I have been tracking changes in CEO’s and Chairs/Presidents of major national Australian sports organisations. Listed are changes that have occurred in 2025 in CEO’s and Presidents/Chairs.

These changes hopefully provide an insight into stability, renewal and diversity in national sports organisations (NSOs).

With the re-election of Albanese Government in May 2025, Anika Wells remained as the Federal Sport Minister but took on the significant communications portfolio. Stability in the Federal Sport Minister does assist the development of sport from a national government perspective. There were frequent changes during the Fraser Government (1975-1983) and this likely hampered the development of the modern sport system started by the Whitlam Government (1972-1975). Anne Ruston remained as the Coalition’s Shadow Minister for Sport.

The Brisbane Organising Committee for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games (BNEOCOG) led by Chair Andrew Liveris and CEO Cindy Hook had its Board reduced from 24 to 15 members and from six Vice Presidents to two by the Queensland Government. I have been editing frequent changes to the original BNEOCOG Board though their Wikipedia article.

Australian Olympic Committee transitioned from Matt Carroll to Mark Arbib, a previous Federal Sport Minister (2010-2012) and Chair of Athletics Australia (2015-2021). Paralympics Australia appointed wheelchair basketball gold medallist Grant Mizens as its Chair – the second Paralympian to hold this position. It is interesting to see in recent years several NSOs announce a CEO transition period.

This list focuses on permanent appointnments.

                                                President/Chairs

New Chairs/ Presidents appointed in 2025:

• Paralympics Australia: Grant Mizens (replacing Alison Creagh 2023-2025)
• AFL: Craig Drummond from 2026 (replacing Richard Goyder AO 2017-2026)
• Croquet Australia: Patricia Habner (replacing Jim Nicholls 2021-2024)
• Diving Australia: Hayden Collins replacing Elizabeth Jack 2022-2025)
• Equestrian Australia: Nicholas Ballard (replacing Zac MIles 2025)
• Lacrosse Australia – Abbie Brice
• Pony Clubs Australia: Mary Lou Hodges ( replacing Heather Disher 2020-2025) 
• Shooting Australia: Deserie Baynes (replacing Andrew Simms 2022-2025)
• Skate Australia: Miles Stewart (replacing Phil Hamdorf 2022-2025)
• Softball Australia: Tiffany Allen (replacing Richard Lindell 2021-2025)
• Surf Life Saving Australia: Peter Agnew (replacing John Baker 2021-2025),
• Swimming Australia: Chris Fydler OAM (finally replacing Michelle Gallen 2022-2023)
• Triathlon Australia: Paul Stevens (replacing Michelle Cooper (2018-2024)

Significant Australian Athletes that are Chairs of their sport in 2025:

• Jane Flemming OAM, Commonwealth Games dual gold medallist (1990) & Olympian (1988 & 1992) – Athletics Australia
• Andrew Trim, Olympic medallist (1996 & 2000) – Paddle Australia
• Sam Offord, Commonwealth Games dual gold medallist (2010) – Gymnastics Australia
• Liz Ellis AO , Three time World Champion (1995, 1999, 2007) – Netball Australia
• Grant Mizens OAM. Paralympic wheelchair basketball gold medallist (2008)
• Dan Herbert, World Cup Champion Wallaby (1999) – Australian Rugby Union
• Miles Stewart, Olympic triathlete (2000)
• Deserie Baynes, Olympic medallist (1996) – Shooting Australia
• Chris Fydler OAM, Olympic gold medallist (2000) – Swimming Australia

Women as Chairs/Presidents:

• Kate Jenkins AO – Australian Sports Commission (2024-)
• Jane Flemming OAM – Athletics Australia (2023-)
• Julie McDonald – Badminton Australia (2023- )
• Patricia Habner – Croquet Australia (2025-)
• Liz Ellis AO – Netball Australia(2024-)
• Mary Lou Hodges – Pony Club Australia (2025- )
• Shevaun Bruland – Australian Sailing (2024- )
• Deserie Baynes – Shooting Australia (2025- )
• Tiffany Allen – Softball Australia (2025- )
• Jayne Hrdlicka – Tennis Australia (2017-)

Chairs/Presidents that have held the position since 2020:

• Ben Houston – Commonwealth Games Australia (2018-)
• Les Young – Combat Institute of Australia (2020 – )
• David Hynes – Baseball Australia (2012- )
• Peter V’landys – Australian Rugby League Commission (2019-)
• Graham Symons – Table Tennis Australia (2019-)
• Jayne Hrdlicka – Tennis Australia (2017- )
• Craig Carracher- Volleyball Australia (2013- )
• Trent Birkett – Water Polo Australia (2019- )
• Sam Coffa – Weightlifting Australia (2019- )

Chief Executive Officers

New CEOs formally appointed in 2025:

• Sport Integrity Australia: Dr Sarah Benson (replacing David Sharpe 2017-2024)
• Australian Olympic Committee: Mark Arbib (replacing Matt Carroll 2017-2025)
• Cricket Australia: Todd Greenberg (replacing Nick Hockley 2020-2025)
• Lacrosse Australia: Anna Carroll (inaugural CEO)
• Australian Sailing: Malcolm Page OAM (replacing Ben Houston 2019-2025)
• Skate Australia: Alex Annason (replacing Caitlin Honey 2023-2025)
• Special Olympics Australia: Jamie O’Connor (replacing Pierre Comis 2021-2025)
• Sport Climbing Australia: Rebecca Hamilton  (inaugural CEO)
• Touch Football Australia: Marcus Ashcroft (replacing Jamie O’Connor 2019-2024)

Vacant as of 3 December 2025: Equestrian Australia, Football Australia, Judo Australia, Surfing Australia. List does not include interim CEO’s.

Significant Australian Athletes as CEOs in 2025:

• Kieren Perkins OAM, Olympic Gold medallist (1992 & 1996) – Australian Sports Commission:
• Simon Hollingsworth, Olympian (1992 & 1996) – Athletics Australia:
• Sarah Cook, Olympian (2008 & 2012) – Rowing Australia
• Phil Waugh, Wallaby captain (2006-2007) – Australian Rugby Union:
• Malcom Page OAM, Olympic Gold medallist (2008 & 2012) – Australian Sailing:
• Rob Woodhouse, Olympic medallist (1984) – Swimming Australia
• Marcus Ashcroft – Three Brisbane Lions AFL premiership player – Touch Football Australia

Women as CEOs/Directors :

• Matti Clements – Australian Institute of Sport (2023- )
• Dr Sarah Benson – Sport Integrity Australia (2025- )
• Dinah Glykidis – Boxing Australia (2021-)
• Marne Fechner – AusCycling (2021-)
• Alex Newton – Diving Australia (2022-)
• Stacey West – Netball Australia (2024- )
• Kim Crane – Paddle Australia (2024- )
• Sarah Cook – Rowing Australia (2023-)
• Alex Annason – Skate Australia (2025-)
• Sarah Loh – Softball Australia (2023-)
• Rebecca Hamilton – Sport Climbing Australia (2025- )
• Robyn Smith – Sport Inclusion Australia (1991- )
• Nicole Adamson – Table Tennis Australia (2023-)

Note- Heather Garriock  has been interim Football Australia CEO since May 2025.

Held Multiple National CEO Roles over time:

• Simon Hollingsworth: Athletics Australia (previously Australian Sports Commission 2012-2016)
• Peter Bromley: Archery Australia (previously Athletics Australia 2021-2024)
• Alex Vallentine: Combat Institute of Australia (previously Judo Australia 2015-2020)
• Craig Phillips: Commonwealth Games Australia (previously Australian Olympic Committee 2005-2014)
• Todd Greenberg: Cricket Australia (previously National Rugby League 2016-2020)
• Marne Fechner: AusCycling (previously Netball Australia 2016-2020)
• James Sutherland: Golf Australia (previously Cricket Australia 2001-2018)
• Jamie O’Connor: Special Olympics Australia (previously Touch Football Australia 2019-2024)
• Rebecca Hamilton: Sport Climbing Australia (previously Judo Australia 2023-2025)
• David Pryles: Hockey Australia (previously Softball Australia 2018-2021)
• Josh O’Brien: Taekwondo Australia (previously Boxing Australia 2018-2021)
• Andrew Dee: Volleyball Australia (previously Rowing Australia 2003-2014)

CEO’s that have held the position since 2020:

• Craig Phillips – Commonwealth Games Australia (2015- )
• Alex Vallentine: Combat Institute of Australia (2020- )
• Phil Harper – Deaf Sports Australia (2019- )
• James Sutherland – Golf Australia (2020- )
• Andrew Abdo – National Rugby League (2020- )
• Peter Doyle (Motorcycling Australia 2016- )
• Michael Kennedy – Snow Australia (2002-)
• Robyn Smith – Sport Inclusion Australia (1991- )
• Adam Weir – Surf Life Saving Australia (2018-)
• Craig Tiley -Tennis Australia (2013-)
• Chris Thomas – Transplant Australia (2007 – )
• Andrew Dee – Volleyball Australia (2018-)
• Ian Moir – Weightlifing Australia (2018-)

Information obtained from NSO websites and feedback from Richard McInnes, ASC. Not all NSOs may been included as historical information has been difficult to obtain from the organisation. Happy to accept corrections and relevant ommissions. Contact

Further reading:

• Changes in Australian Sport Leadership Positions in 2024
• Stocktake of Australian sport Presidents/Chairs 2000-2025 – Updated 3 December 2025
• Stocktake of Australian sport CEO’s 2000-2025 – Updated 3 December 2025
• History of Leadership – Chairs, CEOs, Head Coaches and Captains in Eighteen/Nineteen AFL Clubs : Examining Stability and Diversity -Updated 22 October 2025