Gymnastics Australia (GA) CEO, Kitty Chiller, has announced her resignation from the organisation, after leading the sport in Australia for the past four years.

Chiller, who will depart the organisation in March, leaves the organisation in a time of an independent review of culture and practice at all levels, which is led by the Australian Human Rights Commission into a reported culture of physical, emotional and sexual abuse in the sport.

A statement from Gymnastics Australia said Chiller is leaving the organisation for a new opportunity in sports leadership, with Chiller saying she feels the organisation is now well positioned to transition to new leadership.

“It has been a great privilege to be involved in Gymnastics over the last four years both in Australia and globally through a seat on the FIG Executive Committee,” Chiller said.

“With our operating and governance framework running well, our Strategic and High Performance Plans embedded, and with the implementation of the Change the Routine project plan and adoption of the National Integrity Framework, GA is in very good shape for the next era.

“I would like to thank the GA board, GA team and all our gymnastics stakeholders, especially the clubs, for their hard work and support over the last four years,” she said.

Gymnastics Australia president, Ben Heap, said: “On behalf of the GA board and the broader gymnastics community I would like to thank Kitty [Chiller] for her considerable contribution to the leadership of the sport of gymnastics in Australia.”

“Under Kitty’s leadership, GA has greatly improved its financial, operating and governance discipline and has also developed and implemented a whole of sport Strategic Framework and refreshed High Performance Plan to maximise opportunities in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

“Kitty’s commitment to a culture of transparency and trust and the empowerment of the athlete voice through implementing policies and behaviours as part of a transformational cultural change project will have a positive effect on the sport for decades to come,” Heap said.

Defending Chiller’s role throughout the independent review, Australian Olympic Committee president, John Coates, said: [Chiller] met the challenges faced by the sport with great candour and insight, commissioning the Australian Human Rights Commission Report into the sport’s culture and practices then acting on the report’s recommendations.”

“She has placed athlete protection at the forefront,” Coates said.