Netball Australia has announced it has begun its global search for its new chief executive officer after the departure of former CEO, Marne Fechner, late last year.

The organisation has today opened applications for the role, which Netball Australia chair, Paolina Hunt, said is an incredible opportunity for a leader who values strong organisational culture, innovation, and collaboration.

“Netball is in great shape, but we know we can be even better,” Hunt said.

“Our recent initiatives in governance reform, the new broadcast deal and growth in critical commercial, digital, and participation metrics means our new CEO has an outstanding opportunity to make their mark.

“We are delighted to be working with EgonZehnder on this vital recruitment and look forward to finding our next transformational leader,” she said.

Former CEO, Marne Fechner, who departed Netball Australia at the end of 2020 to become the inaugural CEO of AusCycling, spent almost five years in the role after being Netball Australia’s head of commercial and chief executive of the Netball World Cup Sydney in 2015.

Netball Australia’s current interim CEO, Ron Steiner, who has 40 years of executive experience in sport and business, has previously said he will not be a candidate for the permanent role.

Suncorp Super Netball will also be searching for a new CEO in 2021, after CEO Chris Symington announced his resignation from the role in December following two years in the top role.

Netball Australia is yet to reveal any information on when they will begin the search for a new Super Netball CEO following Symington’s departure.

Elsewhere in netball, Netball Tasmania has confirmed it is seeking entry into the Super Netball competition, with an official bid process to begin targeting the 2023 season.

Netball Tasmania CEO, Aaron Pidgeon, said the organisation believes the time is right following the approval of a multi-million-dollar indoor sports facility at the Derwent Entertainment Centre in Launceston.

“The door’s open for us to put in a submission,” Pidgeon said.

“We believe the modelling is right and we have a sustainable enough model to get us through at least the first four years of the licence period.

“Expansion isn’t our only avenue, we just need to put in the best submission we possibly can and if they believe that warrants an opportunity in the league, then we will be lucky enough to have a team.

“We’ve had this in our strategy in a little while, so we feel we’re ready to run a program, we feel we have the future talent, and we don’t want to wait until 2027,” he said.