The Netball Australia Board is responsible for the governance and strategic leadership of Australian netball. The Board comprises six elected Directors and two Directors appointed by the Board. The Board meets at least six times each year, and works to guide netball’s future growth and to uphold the overall strategic vision of the organisation. The Chair is appointed by the Board.
Board of Directors
PAOLINA HUNT | CHAIR
Paolina Hunt is a Business Manager with operational and strategic experience across a number of industries. The combination of her business and law degrees, extensive business background and creative approach make her a valued member of the Netball Australia Board. Paolina currently chairs the Board and is a member of the Governance Committee and the Nominations Committee, both of which she has previously chaired. Paolina is passionate about the contribution netball makes to the social fabric of communities and the support network it provides for young girls and women at every level of the sport. A former Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder, she grew up in Sydney, has spent time in Canberra, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne, and was involved in netball at some level in each of those locations. Paolina has a law degree and a Master of Business Administration.
Director appointed to fill a casual vacancy on 1 June 2012. Elected to the Board in April 2013 and appointed Chair in April 2017.
WENDY ARCHER AM | DIRECTOR
Wendy’s lifelong passion for netball started in her days as a junior player, and her achievements in senior ranks include being awarded the National A standard in umpiring and excelling in administrative roles. Wendy is currently the Patron and a Life Member of her local association, a Life Member of Netball NSW and a Director of Netball Australia. Wendy’s strong leadership has been recognised through being named Sportsperson of the Year within the Port Stephens LGA and as a finalist in the Administrator of the Year category in the NSW Sports Federation Awards. In 2005, NSW Governor Marie Bashir, AD, CVO, made Wendy a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her services to netball. Wendy’s vision during her time as President of Netball NSW included working closely with the NSW Swifts, and the creation of GIANTS Netball. Wendy received a Parliamentary commendation for her outstanding service to netball and her work helping to establish the state-of-the-art Netball Central in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct. Wendy is currently the Executive Director of Australian Rescue Management Pty Ltd and InteRisk Pty Ltd. A passionate sports follower with strong community values, Wendy believes in the power of sport and community to create a sound environment in which young people can be nurtured.
Director elected 21 April 2018.
PETER LEGG | DIRECTOR
Peter Legg is a Chartered Accountant who has spent over 20 years as a Senior Finance executive in the sporting industry. Starting as the Chief Financial Officer for Sydney Turf Club, then one of Sydney’s two metropolitan horse racing clubs, from 1998 and leading to his current role as the Chief Finance Officer for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL competition. The Sydney Turf Club as well as being a sporting club was a major venue operator and Peter was part of building and refurbishing two racecourses, including grandstands and exhibition spaces. He was then the Merger Integration Executive tasked with combining Sydney’s two racing Clubs into one, forming the Australian Turf Club. After 13 years in Racing he became the Chief Finance Officer for the NRL at the time of the formation of the new Commission structure which now runs the game of Rugby League in Australia. His time at NRL included the game’s first billion dollar broadcast deal. Peter has spent the last five years at the Rabbitohs helping the Club to being profitable and highly competitive on the field. Peter’s passion for netball comes through his daughter’s involvement at grass roots level. Peter is a member of the Audit and Risk committee since his election and is currently the Chair of that committee.
Director elected 13 April 2019.
JOHN LEE | DIRECTOR
John Lee has enjoyed a highly successful career working in Tourism, Professional Sport, Major Events, and Transport. He has extensive experience in leading organisations in areas including Operations, Asset Management, Venue Leasing and has a detailed understanding of both the private and public sectors.
Lee’s leadership experience includes previous CEO roles at Australian Sailing, two NRL Clubs (Rabbitohs & Roosters), and the Tourism & Transport forum (a national advocacy body).
John has previously held a number of senior positions at the State Government level including as Director-General of the Premiers Department, Department of Commerce & Transport for NSW from 2003 -2010. In 2018, John chaired the Queensland Government’s Stadiums Taskforce which reviewed the hiring practices for all major venues in Queensland. His interim and final reports contained a series of recommendations which are being implemented by the Government.
John is a former Australian Sports Commissioner, who has extensive experience in governance having served on the Australian Advertising Standards Board, Events NSW Board, and the Qld Cross River Rail Authority Board.
He is currently a Director of Melanoma Patients Australia and the North Queensland Cowboys.
Director appointed 29 January 2020.
TERRI MEADMORE | DIRECTOR
Terri Meadmore is a marketing executive with more than 20 years’ experience with building brand and sponsorship strategies across multiple industries. Terri joined the board with experience within the marketing and sponsorship disciplines, working across a diverse range of executive roles including sponsorships, brand, content strategy and customer experiences for the entire Suncorp network of brands over the past decade.
Sport has remained a constant throughout Terri’s career and has given her extensive insights and experience in negotiating commercial rights across multiple sporting codes and broadcast partnerships. Based in Brisbane, Terri is currently an independent consultant working with brands and sporting bodies on their strategic approach in optimising sponsorship portfolios and partnerships. Terri has a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Marketing. She is a Director of the Confident Girls Foundation and is a member of Netball Australia’s Audit & Risk Committee.
A true believer in the significant role sport plays in people’s everyday lives. Growing up in regional Queensland she felt lucky to have a family who valued sport and all the benefits that come with it.
Director appointed 9 March 2020. Director re-appointed 26 July 2020.
MITCH CATLIN | DIRECTOR
Mitch Catlin is a former journalist who has worked across the media, marketing and government landscape for 25 years. Prior to starting up his own company in 2020, Mitch held a number of senior executive roles with global and national brands.
In 2014, Mitch created Catchy Media Marketing and Management which provides strategic marketing, brand and media consulting services, and he continues his weekly spot on 3AW analysing major issues and “news of the day.”
Mitch is also the Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of ‘Buy Aussie Now’ which launched at the height of the pandemic is Australia’s first marketplace for Aussie owned businesses selling Aussie made products.
Mitch is a taskforce member of the proposed 2030 bid for regional Victoria to host the Commonwealth Games and a member of Netball Australia’s Audit & Risk Committee and Broadcast Media Rights Steering Committee.
Mitch grew up with the sport of netball with his late aunt, Carole Sykes, an award winning coach. The Swifts and Giants play annually for the honour of holding the Carole Sykes Memorial Trophy. He is thrilled to be giving back to a sport he, and millions of Australians love.
Director elected 18 July 2020.
JANE SEAWRIGHT | DIRECTOR
Jane has extensive experience as a corporate, commercial and sports lawyer, in private practice and in-house in the sport, health, research and technology start-up and not for profit sectors. She is also highly qualified in marketing, and has previously run a marketing consultancy offering specialist advice to professional service providers across a wide range of sectors.
Jane is highly respected as a sports administrator and company director, having led netball at every level of the sport in Queensland. Prior to joining the Board of Netball Australia, she was Chair of Netball Queensland for five years, and was the QSport Volunteer of the Year in 2018. She is currently a non-industry Board Member of Racing Queensland and a Cricket Australia Conduct Commissioner, and is an inaugural Member of the National Sports Tribunal.
Jane’s other current board roles include the Australian Festival of Chamber Music and QCN Fibre Pty Ltd, a Queensland Government-owned communications technology provider. Jane is a member of Netball Australia’s Audit & Risk Committee.
Director elected 18 July 2020.
ELIZABETH HUNTER | DIRECTOR
Elizabeth Hunter has a business background across ASX listed, private founder and consulting businesses. With professional expertise in human resources, she has more than 15 years senior leadership experience, working with executives, Boards and Board Committees as a member of the Executive Team of ASX 100 companies. In those corporates, she held cross functional roles providing strategic and operational leadership, including major whole of company change programs in a range of complex business contexts. She has deep understanding of people, culture and organisation development, risk management and the shift to digital environments.
Elizabeth has worked internationally, including a period of expatriate appointment in the UK/Ireland. She is a Partner at Dealside, a specialist firm dedicated to the people dimensions of Mergers & Acquisitions, and also Executive Director of Domus Private Clients, a niche private asset insurance broker for high net worth clients.
Her industry sector experience covers manufacturing, industrial services, financial services (banking and funds management), information technology and health. Elizabeth holds an MBA and is a Member of the AICD.
Elizabeth regularly spends time netball courtside at school, club and junior representative games initially in NSW, and now in Victoria. Elizabeth is a member of the Governance Committee and Chairs the Netball State of the Game Review Steering Committee.
Director appointed 25 September 2020.