Voted in for their extensive and specialised skill sets, Seawright and Catlin, will expand the board’s expertise and help drive the next phase of Netball Australia’s growth strategy.
Respected lawyer and sports administrator, Seawright brings a wealth of law and board experience from across a wide range of industries, but most prominently, a familiarity with the netball landscape, having chaired the Netball Queensland board for the past five years.
“It’s a challenging time for all national sporting bodies, but the COVID-19 crisis has hit women’s sport particularly hard. I’m really excited to have the opportunity to contribute to the conversation at a national level and to play a role in putting our sport, and all women’s sports, where they should be,” Seawright said.
A former journalist, Catlin has worked across the media, marketing and Government landscape for 25 years. Prior to launching his own company, Catlin worked in executive roles at both Swisse Wellness and Myer.
“I would like to thank the member organisations for their vote of confidence in me in such a challenging time for many sports, given the hurdles presented by COVID-19. I am honoured to join so many wonderful and passionate Australians in a sport that is steeped in such success and history as netball. I would like to acknowledge my late Aunt Carole Sykes who did so much for the sport, and I am so proud to join the netball family in her honour and continue our family history with this wonderful sport,” Catlin said.
Netball Australia Chair Paolina Hunt is delighted to welcome Seawright and Catlin to the board.
“I look forward to working with both Jane and Mitch. Jane brings a wealth of netball system knowledge, most recently as Netball Queensland Chair, as well as an extensive background in governance; and Mitch also has connections to the game through his aunt, the much loved Carole Sykes, and will inject an entrepreneurial perspective to the Board as Netball Australia continues to drive an innovation, digital and customer-led growth strategy.”
Seawright and Catlin were voted on to the board with former directors Marcia Ella-Duncan and Cheryl McCormack choosing not to nominate for re-election.
Hunt thanked the duo for their respective contributions to Netball Australia over the years.
“Marcia was not only the first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Diamond, but also the first Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Board member. During her tenure, Marcia brought her passion to see systemic blockages addressed and helped create a far greater awareness and understanding within the Board of cultural barriers to participation as they exist in netball, across all levels. I look forward to Marcia continuing her involvement with Netball Australia through our Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group,” she said.
“Cheryl was an independent thinker, and as a past Diamonds and AIS athlete, contributed a strong knowledge of the netball system – both at grassroots and the high-performance program. Cheryl was an inaugural member of the Confident Girls Foundation when it was established in 2015, providing guidance and support to getting the new entity off the ground. She was also Netball Australia’s delegate to the Australian Olympic Committee. We wish Cheryl the very best for her future plans.”
The Netball Australia board will next meet at the end of July.
