Swimming Australia appoints Rob Woodhouse as CEO
The Swimming Australia Board has officially announced the appointment of Rob Woodhouse as the organisation’s new Chief Executive Officer, effective mid-April.
Woodhouse brings a wealth of experience and respect from the sports, business and swimming communities, with nearly 30 years of successful international sports administration under his belt.
A former Olympian who represented Australia in swimming at multiple Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, Woodhouse retired from competitive swimming in 1990. He went on to establish Elite Sports Properties, a talent management business operating in the UK and Australia, in 1996. Even after selling the business to TLA Worldwide (TGI Sport), Woodhouse continued to contribute to its success.
Woodhouse’s global experience combined with his local connections make him the ideal candidate to lead Swimming Australia into the future, according to Swimming Australia, with a particular focus on the upcoming 2024 Paris and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, as well as the opportunities presented by the Brisbane Games in 2032
With a strong background in high-performance sports and commercial delivery, alongside a deep passion for grassroots sports development, Woodhouse is poised to drive growth for Swimming Australia in both the short and long term.
The Swimming Australia Board, responsible for the recruitment process, expressed their satisfaction with Woodhouse’s appointment, saying in a statement:
“Rob’s appointment is a great coup for our sport and we are delighted to be able to bring him back to Australia to lead us.
“We had an impressive number of candidates throughout the process. Rob was a standout and we are delighted he is joining us.”
Swimming Australia has turned to Emma McKeon’s uncle Rob Woodhouse, one of the most respected figures in the sport, to take over as chief executive officer https://t.co/q4hNYQ0ZtM
— Telegraph Sport (@telegraph_sport) February 7, 2024
Woodhouse himself expressed enthusiasm for his new role, commenting, “Leading and shaping the future of swimming in Australia is an incredible opportunity and I’m excited to return home to take on this role.
“Swimming is, and has always been, my passion and it is an honour to lead Australian Swimming as we head into the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond to the home Games in 2032.
“We are a nation of swimmers. My focus is to build an environment that inspires and enables our entire swimming community to perform to their potential together, in and out of the water.”
The Board also extended gratitude to Steve Newman, who served as interim CEO since Eugenie Buckley’s shock resignation in April 2023, for his dedication and hard work. They commended Newman’s contributions in navigating the organisation through a transitional period, particularly as the Olympics and Paralympics approached.
Additionally, the Board recognised the commitment of Swimming Australia staff during this time of transition, acknowledging their efforts in ensuring continued success for the sport.
