Netball Australia Appoints New Chair After Reporting Operating Surplus

Netball Australia has announced two board of directors during the Annual General Meeting, while also reappointing Liz Ellis as chair, Gabbi Stubbs also ascends to the role of deputy chair, to focus on governance and strategic direction after reporting a third consecutive operating surplus.

Vivek Bhatia join as an appointed director and brings a wealth of experience from the corporate and governance sectors, holding leadership roles as CEO and ASX non-executive director in the financial services and insurance industries.

Meanwhile, Louise Eyres joins as an elected director and bring an extensive background in commercial strategy, marketing, and customer engagement, having served as chief marketing officer across various ASX-listed organisations and federal government agencies, including the Australian Sports Commission.

Her connection to netball was strengthened during her tenure at ANZ, where she oversaw the company’s sponsorship of the former Trans-Tasman Netball league and its decade-long partnership with netball at all levels.

Wendy Archer AM (former director) completed her term leaving a notable legacy within the sport.

Ellis, paid tribute to Archer’s significant contributions, acknowledging her leadership since 2018 and her longstanding dedication to the sport from grassroots to administrative roles.

Archer has been recognised for her work with an Order of Australia award and will continue to influence the game.

The new leadership announcements come after Netball Australia reported a third consecutive operating surplus, reaching $650,883 for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, a substantial increase from the previous year.

The organisation has also made significant progress in reducing its debt, CEO Stacey West attributed these positive financial results to the growing popularity of Suncorp Super Netball and the success of the Australian Diamonds.

The 2024 Suncorp Super Netball season saw a 25% increase in spectators, becoming the most attended female league in Australian sporting history, alongside an 18% rise in average viewership on Kayo and Foxtel, highlighting the impact of their media rights agreement with Fox Sports Australia.

Building on this financial stability, Netball Australia is strategically focusing on larger-scale events to further the sport’s growth.

The upcoming 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney is identified as a pivotal opportunity to attract new fans and generate crucial funding for the sport’s ongoing development.

West confirmed the organisation’s commitment to capitalising on this event through planned investments.

Additionally, Netball Australia is implementing improvements for its grassroots Woolworths NetSetGo program and engaging in discussions about the future direction of Suncorp Super Netball.

Collaborative efforts with Member Organisations have also led to the introduction of a National Participation Plan aimed at increasing community involvement in netball.

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