On Monday, a new board for Women Onside was confirmed at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting and subsequent board meeting. Long-time Women Onside board director Kerry Harris FCPA GAICD has been appointed chair, while Sarah Druce, Patrick Clancy and Olivia Roney have joined the board.
Harris, who previously served as chair in 2022-23, was re-elected to the board and subsequently appointed as chair. Harris has long-standing experience in the women’s game in Australia, including in a range of board and governance roles. Serving deputy chair, Kieran Pender, a writer, lawyer and academic, will continue as Harris’s deputy.
“I am delighted to return to the role of chair, at such an exciting moment in the organisation’s history,” said Harris. “Women Onside has big plans for the year ahead to make an impact for women in football everywhere.”
At the Annual General Meeting, existing board member Kate Anthonisz and incoming director Druce were elected. At the subsequent board meeting, Clancy and long-time director Heather Reid were appointed to the board, while Roney was also appointed to fill a casual vacancy.
The newly-elected and appointed board members join ongoing board members Pender, Matt Bradley and Christina Chipman to complete Women Onside’s governing body for 2024-25.
The Annual General Meeting marked the end of outgoing chair Cheryl Downes’ lengthy tenure with the organisation. Women Onside expresses its gratitude for Downes’ contribution to women’s football.
About Our New Directors
Sarah Druce
Sarah is a legal and governance advisor with expertise across the corporate, technology, and human rights sectors. She is passionate about ethical governance and the sustainable growth of human rights organisations.
Olivia Roney
Olivia is a lawyer at the Justice Equity Centre. She is a Director of Pride by Side, an organisation that builds the organisational capacity of LGBTIQ+ initiatives and has played football for 20+ years.
Patrick Clancy
Patrick has extensive government experience advising Federal and State Ministers including in the sport and major events portfolios. He has more recently been the A-Leagues’ Head of Public Affairs helping to lobby for more investment in the women’s professional game and is currently the Deputy Chair (Strategy) of the Football Supporters Association of Australia.
The meeting papers, including the annual report and financial statement, are available here.
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