AIS alumni bring legal and business smarts to NA Board

Friday, June 1, 2012

Netball has injected an extra dose of business smarts and legal expertise to its Board following the Netball Australia General Meeting on Friday 1 June 2012.

Kevin Roberts, a former Senior Vice-President of adidas and former CEO and Managing Director of Fusion Retail Brands/Colorado Grouphas joined ex-state level netballer, lawyer and MBAA Paolina Hunt on the Netball Australia Board.

A business leader with an outstanding track record domestically and globally, Roberts brings significant Board experience and corporate governance expertise to the NA Board. A former AIS scholarship holder, Roberts earned acknowledgement as one of the most influential people in Australian sport, and is also known for his outstanding financial acumen, commercial skills and leadership competencies. 

As the father of five girls, Roberts seems destined to have forged a strong relationship with the sport; his two eldest have already participated in San Remo NetSetGO!, netball’s junior development program.

“As a former professional sportsperson with five daughters, I believe passionately in the propensity for netball to help players pursue their dreams in sport and in life,” Roberts said.

Paolina Hunt, also AIS alumni, has represented NSW, Victoria and South Australia at open state level in netball.  A strategic and critical thinker, Hunt has a record of achievement across all business functions – sales, marketing, human resources, organisational development, finance, technology, administration and operations – on both a  strategic and ‘hands on’ basis.  

“I am looking forward to making a contribution to an organisation that I have had a long association with, particularly at a time when it is undergoing a period of strategic renewal,” Hunt said.

Roberts has been appointed as Director for a two year term, while Hunt fills a vacancy on the Board that occurred at the last AGM.

Netball Australia President Noeleen Dix said that both Roberts and Hunt would bring strong skills, expertise and networks to the Netball Australia Board and would complement an already highly capable governing body.

“Kevin and Paolina will add enormous value to our Board and ensure that the organisation moves toward the delivery of our major strategic priorities, including the staging of the World Netball Championships in Sydney in 2015.”

Netball Australia’s Board of Directors consists of a President and five Directors and two Directors appointed by the Board.