Netball Australia has today announced Marina Go has stepped down as chair of the organisation after a planned transition and director Wendy Archer AM has been appointed to the role, effective immediately.
Ms Go has played a pivotal role in driving the commercial turnaround of the sport and its strategic development since taking on the role of inaugural chair of the newly formed majority independent Board of Netball Australia on an interim basis in May 2021.
She will continue her involvement in the sport as a director on the Board and has welcomed the appointment of Ms Archer as Netball Australia chair.
Ms Archer has been a director of Netball Australia since 2018 and is a lifetime member of Netball NSW. She is widely recognised for her outstanding commitment to the sport and in 2015, was awarded an Order of Australia for her services to netball.
“Netball is a sport I have loved since my days as a junior player and I understand both the opportunities and the challenges the game faces,” Ms Archer said.
“It is a great responsibility to be appointed chair of Netball Australia and I am grateful for the confidence and support of my fellow directors. I look forward to driving the continued growth, innovation and performance of netball.”
Ms Archer is a passionate sports follower and firm believer in the power of sport and community to create a sound environment for the nurturing of young people.
She has also 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 InteRisk Pty Ltd, ComplyNet Pty Ltd and Australian Rescue Management Pty Ltd.
Ms Go said her decision reflected the time commitment required for the role of chair of Netball Australia.
“I am truly passionate about netball, and it has been an honour and a privilege to serve this sport over many years in my capacity as non-executive director of Netball Australia, chair of the Super Netball Commission and in May 2021, when I took on the role of chair of the new Netball Australia Board,” Ms Go said.
“I am proud of the position Netball Australia is now in – we have made strong progress on the financial stability of the sport, have secured significant new commercial partners and are continuing to identify and build new opportunities to secure a strong future for the sport, our players and our fans.
“In light of the time commitments of the role of chair, I have chosen to step aside as originally planned, however I will continue to represent the sport as a director of the Board and through that role will continue my support for CEO Kelly Ryan and her team. I want to congratulate Wendy on her appointment. Wendy has netball in her veins and is the right person to lead the sport now.
“My thanks to all of those who have worked hard to support the sport, and me personally, during my term as chair – my fellow directors, our players and coaching staff, the Netball Australia executive leadership team and staff, the state associations and Suncorp Super Netball clubs, our commercial and broadcast partners, and every club member and volunteer who support the sport in our communities.”
Ms Go is chair of Adore Beauty, a non-executive director of Energy Australia, Autosports Group, 7-Eleven and Transurban, a member of the UNSW Business Advisory Council and the ANU Centre for Asian Australian Leadership Advisory Board.
