ARU announces first woman on board
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Australian rugby’s governance review is still months from completion but the game took an historic step on Thursday when it was announced a female director would join the ARU board for the first time.
Ann Sherry joined ARU Chairman Michael Hawker as the second independent director nominated by the board.
Sherry, the chief executive of cruise ship operator Carnival Australia and a former CEO of Westpac New Zealand, will vacate a board position on the Australian Sports Commission to take up her new role in rugby.
Hawker said the governance review being headed by General Peter Cosgrove and former federal senator Mark Arbib was still a long way off, but said Sherry’s appointment to the board was a significant moment for rugby.
“The first female director of the Australian Rugby Union (has been appointed) and it shows we’re trying to move the governance of the organisation,” Hawker said.
“We’ve got a governance review and this is a forerunner of what is going to come through the governance review.
“But we felt it was very important our sport moved further forward in having a more balanced board.
“They’re (Cosgrove and Arbib) are in the process of talking to as many people as they can and making sure that every stakeholder that has an interest in rugby has an opportunity to provide their views and we’re in the middle of that process.
“That’s going to take another couple of months until that process is finished. We don’t want to miss anyone out and then Mark Arbib will put a report together and that will come back to the board for publication.”
Sherry said she had experience in sport from a commercial perspective and believed she could bring a fresh set of skills to the ARU board, which had long been viewed as a boys’ club.
Her main objective was to increase participation in the sport, particularly amongst women leading into the entry of Sevens Rugby, including women’s Sevens, to the next Olympics.
“It’s a fantastic signal I think about rugby in the 21st century. Changes to the game both as an Olympic sport with the advent of Sevens and more women playing rugby but also more contemporary governance and I’m very pleased to be part of that,” Sherry said.
“Clearly I’ve never been a player or a coach … but I’ve been engaged in sport at a whole lot of levels over a long period of time.”
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The Crowd Says (40) | Page 1 of Comments
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July 20th 2012 @ 3:58am
Matthew Skellett said | July 20th 2012 @ 3:58am | Report comment
While it’s nice for the ARU to announce “window dressing lip-service ” to gender equality in the workplace while we all know the game administration is dominated by rich middle-aged white men, the fundamental reforms necessary for the game to advance in this country are routinely ignored -i.e. a truly national competition- equitable accessability to all levels of australian society for selection and participation and concerted grass-roots/development funding. Until these fundamental issues are addressed my vote is for the next guy
July 20th 2012 @ 8:24am
formeropenside said | July 20th 2012 @ 8:24am | Report comment
Well, she cant be any worse than Arbib, can she? Why would you hire a former politician to do anything? They have no skills of marketable worth.
July 20th 2012 @ 8:28am
Jutsie said | July 20th 2012 @ 8:28am | Report comment
FOS thats just silly arbib and general cosgrove are conducting a review of the corporate governance of rugby in aus, hopefully it results in a long overdue overhaul.
I thought you would be one of the biggest cheerleaders for a review into the incompetence of the ARU.
July 20th 2012 @ 9:27am
formeropenside said | July 20th 2012 @ 9:27am | Report comment
Well yes, but I really dont see that a politician – especially one from NSW – has any real skill or ability to add any value to the process.
July 20th 2012 @ 9:36am
Jutsie said | July 20th 2012 @ 9:36am | Report comment
Arbib wasn’t even a good polly but he was a good trade union head kicker so hopefully he utilises some of those skills when dealing with JON and co lol.
Also points for making it a QLD vs NSW issue. Ur dedication to ur state is to be applauded
July 20th 2012 @ 9:52am
formeropenside said | July 20th 2012 @ 9:52am | Report comment
No, I was simply pointing out that NSW leads the country in corrupt politicians, although up here we have a few former pollies in jail too – and one released to run the NBN.
July 20th 2012 @ 9:56am
Jutsie said | July 20th 2012 @ 9:56am | Report comment
As a victorian I wholeheartedly endorse your comment regarding NSW pollies.
July 20th 2012 @ 10:03am
Cattledog said | July 20th 2012 @ 10:03am | Report comment
Cosgrove will be a good buffer for Arbib and will keep him focussed and on the job. That’s one of his strengths…rather than his refereeing…lol.
July 20th 2012 @ 5:18pm
Carnivean said | July 20th 2012 @ 5:18pm | Report comment
A corrupt polly is an effective polly. Not at his job, but effective none the less. Apply that to something positive and you should get good results.
There was a drug runner who’d done his time and advertised his skills. He’d run international logistics operations of impressive precision. Got hired right quick.
July 20th 2012 @ 1:21pm
tonysalerno said | July 20th 2012 @ 1:21pm | Report comment
A fresh perspective for the ARU, something that is needed as the organisation is becoming stale.
July 20th 2012 @ 3:24pm
AndyS said | July 20th 2012 @ 3:24pm | Report comment
Interesting that this is news, where Cheryl Soon joining the IRB rugby committee isn’t. That would just about give WA more useful influence internationally than they get domestically.
July 20th 2012 @ 7:37pm
Irene Watt said | July 20th 2012 @ 7:37pm | Report comment
While this is a very much needed step in the right direction, rugby in Australia has a long way to go until women are represented at an acceptable level. I for one, would like too see more women commentating on the game.
July 20th 2012 @ 8:07pm
Emric said | July 20th 2012 @ 8:07pm | Report comment
A few woman in New Zealand has commented on the game but I want it to go the next step and have one call a game.
July 20th 2012 @ 8:12pm
Irene Watt said | July 20th 2012 @ 8:12pm | Report comment
It would be awesome to see a women calling the game. Sadly, I can’t see Fox Sports here in Australia doing it for many years to come. Maybe not even in my lifetime, which makes me a bit sad. At least South Africa held a ‘Lady Rugga’ competition last year to get a female personality for during the RWC. A small token, but one that is needed here in Australia.
July 21st 2012 @ 12:05pm
Emric said | July 21st 2012 @ 12:05pm | Report comment
Irene.. do you read the articles by Carolyn Hitt.. I really enjoy her articles and tend to troll Walesonline with a tendency to tell it like it is.
A good read if your looking for a female rugby reporter who has a true knowledge of the game
July 21st 2012 @ 12:32pm
Irene Watt said | July 21st 2012 @ 12:32pm | Report comment
Thanks Emric, I’ll check her out
July 20th 2012 @ 11:11pm
liquorbox_ said | July 20th 2012 @ 11:11pm | Report comment
Why is it a step in the right direction? Your short comment seems to indicate that gender is going to move the ARU in the right direction, not the skills of a person.
If she had the skills to run Wespac in NZ then it is a step in the right direction because she is competant at running a big time business
July 21st 2012 @ 10:31am
Irene Watt said | July 21st 2012 @ 10:31am | Report comment
Of course she has to have the rights skills to be accepted onto the board, which is obviously the case here;
‘Sherry, the chief executive of cruise ship operator Carnival Australia and a former CEO of Westpac New Zealand, will vacate a board position on the Australian Sports Commission to take up her new role in rugby.’
There also has to be gender balance otherwise rugby will continue to ignore a huge audience and fan base that is increasing every year. Whether we like it or not, women are the ones who have the purchasing power in the majority of households (statistical data proves this). They are the ones who decide what sport their children play and whether a family buys memberships, merchandise and even pay TV subscriptions. If we get women on board, the game will grow at all levels in Australia from grassroots through to the elite.
July 21st 2012 @ 11:38am
Cattledog said | July 21st 2012 @ 11:38am | Report comment
Irene, I certainly don’t disagree with your perspective of getting more females involved at the administrative level to grow the grass roots aspect. However, is there data to suggest that it is the wife / partner who decide what sport their children play, or is this just an assumption? I ask the question because rugby and any of the other ‘contact’ sports are often played by sons in particular because of a fathers or male influence.
It was certainly my influence that my son plays rugby now. It was also his choice but certainly my influence. I was also interested to read that it’s the female who buys the memberships, merchandise etc. I don’t dispute this is correct, only I’m surprised it’s the case.
I could say ‘what’s the world coming to’, but that could appear sexist, so I won’t…
July 21st 2012 @ 12:19pm
Irene Watt said | July 21st 2012 @ 12:19pm | Report comment
I do believe there have been a few studies undertaken that concluded mothers do play a dominant role in shaping the participation decisions of their children. It’s one of the reasons that soccer is one of the most popular sports for young children in Australia. Of course fathers play a part but in Australia rugby is not the no 1 sport so there are more fathers pushing for their children to play either AFL or league which is a shame.
As a female who is fanatical about rugby, I can tell you that having more women love the game will certainly sell more merchandise and tickets. We love to shop
July 21st 2012 @ 11:47am
liquorbox_ said | July 21st 2012 @ 11:47am | Report comment
Why does there need to be a gender balance? If the entire board of the ARu was women, do you think men would stop watching? Do you think that overnight the number of female supporters and players would increase?
Skills are all that is required
July 21st 2012 @ 12:32pm
Irene Watt said | July 21st 2012 @ 12:32pm | Report comment
If skills are all that is required, then why haven’t the all male ARU boards of the past done more to grow the game in Australia?
Nothing happens overnight and it would be unrealistic to think that by appointing one female to the board that we would see this happen. What I want is to see a steady increase until support and participation in rugby rivals that of AFL and rugby league. The AFL have done an amazing job and started involving women heavily in 2009 which is why they have the highest member base with over 40% being female. Rugby has a long way to go before we see figures like that.
July 21st 2012 @ 7:57am
Kuruki said | July 21st 2012 @ 7:57am | Report comment
My issues are
1. She was CEO of a Bank. Her job was to mislead members while emptying their pockets at the same time.
2. She probably earns more money per year then it would take to fund an entire rugby competition at grassroots level.
3. I don’t understand the need to pay more money to people to make poorer decisions for Australian rugby. Just hire an All Blacks fan, we will make poor decisions on your behalf for free. Then you can invest all that cash into the grass roots of Australian rugby where it will make a difference.
July 21st 2012 @ 2:22pm
Working Class Rugger said | July 21st 2012 @ 2:22pm | Report comment
Kuruki,
She’s replacing an outgoing board member. No ‘new’ positions are being created to accommodate her arrival. She has the business credentials and has made it clear as a former member of the board of the Australian Sports Commission she wants to focus on developing and growing grassroots Rugby. How can that ever be a negative?
As for mother’s influencing the sport’s their children and more specifically sons play. Well, while I grew supporting both Rugby and League yet I played Soccer. Why? Because my mother wanted me too. The same went for many. I played until I was 12 and the opportunity to play Rugby came up at school. Out of the 16 guys I played Soccer with growing up as kids only 5 played on after 12/13. The club I played for went from fielding 3 teams per age group to just 1 before settling in at 2 teams a few years later but only after cannibalizing their local rivals to the point they could only field one team.
While in some cases the father’s choice may prevail in the majority from experience mother’s decisions rule the roost. Getting more women onside with Rugby will greatly assist with getting more kids into the game. Come on guys, it’s the 21st century for heaven’s sake.
July 21st 2012 @ 3:36pm
AndyS said | July 21st 2012 @ 3:36pm | Report comment
My main concern is that it is yet another banker. She knows how to run a service industry that thrives on focusing on the top end of the business, soaking the bottom end and chasing short-term profits by cutting both services and staff alike. Does she actually know anything at all about managing public perception, selling a discretionary and dispensible product, growing a people-oriented business that has to develop and nuture talent, and one that can’t be effectively managed by simply sitting at the top table just telling people what to do and sacking them if they don’t or can’t do it?
July 21st 2012 @ 10:40pm
Cattledog said | July 21st 2012 @ 10:40pm | Report comment
What current members of the board have that skill set you have alluded to? I would suggest none of them, but they all bring something to the board and it’s these strengths which are then tapped into IOT further the game in a sustainable manner.
Whether that has occurred is reflected in the overall development of the game under a particular board. That progress isn’t measured by whether the Wallabies are 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the IRB rankings. It would be measured against KPIs and reported, usually annually.
Generally speaking, IMO and I suspect the opinion of many on this forum, Australian rugby, whilst not going backwards, could perhaps have made greater gains against some of the KPI’s (without knowing exactly what those KPIs may be).
Therefore, the addition of a female, well credentialed for the position, could well be a step in the right direction. Only time will tell but one thing is for sure, many have been calling for change so perhaps this could be a part of that change and we hope it’s for the better.
July 21st 2012 @ 1:47pm
nickoldschool said | July 21st 2012 @ 1:47pm | Report comment
As long as she still has time to fulfill her household duties and take care of her kids & husband, I see nothing wrong with that! We are in 2012 for God sake! Welcome to rugby, Ann!
July 21st 2012 @ 1:57pm
Emric said | July 21st 2012 @ 1:57pm | Report comment
I’m with you Nick – Its great that a woman is placed in charge, she will bring new ideas and a new energy to the board.
I laugh because everyone is calling for a massive clean out of the ARU old boys club so they introduce a woman and everyone gets up in arms about it.
July 21st 2012 @ 2:13pm
nickoldschool said | July 21st 2012 @ 2:13pm | Report comment
Was actually kidding (re her cleaning/wife duties…doesnt always work online, sorry
but more seriously i do really have no problem with that. I want the best in the ARU. If a woman is better than the guys, let’s give her a chance.
July 21st 2012 @ 2:17pm
Irene Watt said | July 21st 2012 @ 2:17pm | Report comment
Hahaha I wasn’t sure Nick, so I’m glad you cleared it up
July 21st 2012 @ 2:08pm
Irene Watt said | July 21st 2012 @ 2:08pm | Report comment
Oh Nick, I truly didn’t want to respond to your comment but feel I have to. Are you joking about the household duties etc or do you really believe it is solely her responsibility to take care of the family? Maybe her husband looks after the kids and the home? It is, as you say 2012 and anything can happen.
July 21st 2012 @ 2:12pm
Johnno said | July 21st 2012 @ 2:12pm | Report comment
anything can happen Irene. But as you know some woman truly do want to be home makers. They have not all been seduced by shows like what was it that s**x and the city show, and alike. Maybe he wants to be a deadbeat dad and stay at home all day let him. You are career woman Irene not all woman are as independent and as talented and good looking as the modern woman like you Irene. I support the appointment of this female board member. In fact i wanted to go even more far and have 50% of the board being woman why not a woman’s touch would be really actually quite nice. And a sport like rugby where girls are playing a lot the more woman on the board the better Irene i think.
July 21st 2012 @ 2:21pm
Irene Watt said | July 21st 2012 @ 2:21pm | Report comment
Umm thank you, I think! Yes I am a career woman but I also want to have a family and think you can do both in this day and age. Also if the woman earns more money than her partner, what’s wrong with him staying at home to look after the family? It doesn’t mean he is a deadbeat!
It would be a dream to have women represent 50% on the board but I don’t think that will ever happen. It’s definitely a good start though and can only get better from here.
July 21st 2012 @ 2:37pm
Johnno said | July 21st 2012 @ 2:37pm | Report comment
it’s a pleasure Irene. You like many woman will be able to have it all. A successful career, a handsome husband lol, who is exciting, and wonderful children for all those kodak moments.
i am liking the increasing lady content on the roar. You irene ,Jocelyn, and Elisha have really freshened up the roar, with all of your beauty and natural good looks, and intelligence. It is refreshing to get woman’s touch on sport. And breaking down stereotypes that only men are sports fans. It is good to see woman actively taking interest in sports form a fan’s angle not just playing sports.
Yes deadbeats dads are a common sometimes in our couch potato society but all dads are deadbeats dads luckily. If a man wants to step up to the plate and leave the boardroom , and go to the bedroom, to do domestic duties with his days, then ce la vey let him, your right it doesn’t mean he is a deadbeat dad you are right Irene.
If 50% of woman can get on board on the board i think it would be fantastic, and woman clearly like some sports or there a passionate woman out there that truly love watching sports and woman represent 50% of the tv viewers so cash in which rugby is doing more and more now trying to appeal to woman’s accidence to as well as men.
Kristina kenneally everyone has been appointed CEO of basketball australia or the NBL, now this ARU board thing, julia gillard is PM, plus julie bishop is deputy opposition leader, germany has a female PM, the Queen of england of course, so woman are making a contribution around the world more. Also helen clark in NZ to was a recent former PM before John Key. So woman at the board level is really happening not just a tv sitcom.
July 21st 2012 @ 2:17pm
nickoldschool said | July 21st 2012 @ 2:17pm | Report comment
yes was obviously joking… (i thought i was being quite heavy but apparently not!!!).
July 21st 2012 @ 2:27pm
Working Class Rugger said | July 21st 2012 @ 2:27pm | Report comment
Nick,
It can often be difficult to translate humour over the internet that otherwise would be simply face to face, but, don’t worry. I got that you were kidding so your attempt wasn’t too bad.
July 21st 2012 @ 2:42pm
nickoldschool said | July 21st 2012 @ 2:42pm | Report comment
very true WCR, online banter isnt easy. tx mate
July 21st 2012 @ 10:57pm
Cattledog said | July 21st 2012 @ 10:57pm | Report comment
Irene, as a fresh member of the Roar family and obviously from a females perspective, you may like to outline in an article what you would like the board to focus on (specifically the newest member), to develop rugby in Australia further. You appear to have some strong and significant views. I could suggest an open letter to the Australian Rugby Board although these ‘open letters’ have attracted some adverse comments, although I think it may be a good vehicle to get your thoughts across.
There have been a significant number of articles written concerning the need for a competition above Premier rugby and below Super 15 (like the NZ NPC and SA Currie Cup) as well as many articles on the expansion of the S15 within Australia and the further development of the grass roots level of rugby.
I suppose I would be interested to hear a female fan’s thoughts on how she would see the development of rugby and perhaps how this new board member may be able to advance those thoughts.
No pressure of course, but interested in your ideas nonetheless.
July 23rd 2012 @ 1:35pm
Irene Watt said | July 23rd 2012 @ 1:35pm | Report comment
Great idea, I think I’ll put something together this week.
July 23rd 2012 @ 1:52pm
Cattledog said | July 23rd 2012 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
Look forward to it