Athletics NSW celebrates confidence in leadership and direction.

Athletics NSW (ANSW) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday 20 July, where members were updated on ANSW’s progress against its Strategic Plan and the incumbent Board was endorsed in full, a sign of confidence in the organisation’s current leadership.
 
“Our Board and staff team are proud of the progress that we have begun to make over the past 12 months, but more importantly are excited to continue what is now an upward trajectory for Athletics in NSW,"  ANSW Chair and President Matt Whitbread said

"We will not shy away from big challenges and we will not be scared of change – instead, we will embrace it and continue to take the hard decisions needed to drive our sport forward. 
 
"We are grateful for the memberships’ endorsement of the current Board and, by extension, for the direction we are taking the organisation in and thank the Athletics community for its ongoing support."
 
Over the past year, ANSW has made significant strides in enhancing the sport's experience and fostering growth and inclusivity through the delivery of its Strategic Plan. Some key accomplishments include:

• Introduction of a paid officiating model to retain and reward technical officials, with more than $200,000 per year invested in our people in a way that is financially sustainable.
• Success of the Treloar Shield, with record-breaking participation week after week, and the introduction of the Grand Final with a strong inter-club focus in NSW competitions.
• ANSW delivery of the Sydney Track Classic became a highlight of the domestic season, attracting close to 4,500 fans.
• Implementation of the Representative Athlete Pathway Program (RAPP) in partnership with and inspired by our Clubs, supporting 14 elite NSW athletes to train and compete on the European circuit for six weeks.
• The World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, the first senior World Athletics Championship event to be held in Australia, showcasing regional NSW.
• NSW athletes excelling on the international stage, with stand-out performances by Eleanor Patterson, Ollie Hoare, Rosemary Little, and Mali Lovell

ANSW reaffirmed its commitment to the establishment of a single pathway through the sport, removing barriers to growth and retention in athletics. To achieve that, ANSW is rolling out new affiliation, membership and competition offerings aimed at making it easier to participate and develop.
 
It is also making an enormous investment into junior skills development coaching with the rollout of the World Athletics Kids program aimed at children 4-14 years – delivered by professional coaches paid by ANSW to provide the program for free to Centres and included for kids and juniors with their ANSW membership. The full implementation of the program will provide more than $1 million dollar per season of investment into grassroots Athletics – the single biggest investment in grassroots athletics ever in Australia.
 
ANSW Chair Matt Whitbread also reiterated ANSW’s commitment to achieving a One Athletics outcome in NSW through the merger of ANSW and Little Athletics NSW to create a single and stronger governing body for the sport in NSW – something ANSW has been committed to for many years. That commitment was also reiterated in the Chair and CEO’s message in the Annual Report.

“We are only one year into rolling out our Strategic Plan and there will be plenty more initiatives that take shape over the next couple of years," ANSW Chief Executive Christian Renford said.
 
"We are confident that with the wealth of experience on our Board, and expertise within our staff and volunteers, we will be able to deliver the changes which will fundamentally reshape Athletics in NSW.
 
"It is an exciting time for Athletics in NSW, and I look forward to continuing work with Matt and the Board, ensuring the future of the sport."
 
The ANSW Board comprises, Chair Matt Whitbread and Directors, Andrew Watson, Lisa Thompson, Peter Higgins, Terry Manns, David Lewis, Karen Mitchell, Lexy Gilmour, Matt Baker and Felicity Colbourne. The organisation has also improved its Board diversity, with the organisation for the first time in many years meeting the Australian Sports Commission’s target for gender diversity on Boards, with women directors now comprising 40% of the Board.
 
To view more information about the board, click here 
 
The ANSW Annual Report and Financial Statements are available here.