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People
Kate Palmer has been appointed as Chief Executive of OneAthletics, the unified body that combines Australian athletics bodies Little Athletics Australia and Athletics Australia, on a 12 months contract. Palmer, who was appointed to the board of Athletics Australia in November, will replace Athletics Australia Chief Executive, Darren Gocher.
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Separately, Palmer has also joined the Board of AFL club Richmond.
Vale: John Konrads
Australasian Leisure Management is saddened to learn of the death Olympic Gold medal swimmer John Konrads who passed away at the age of 78.
With his sister, Ilsa, he dominated the Australian swimming scene for a brief but brilliant time in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Both went on to represent Australia at the Olympic Games, John winning gold in the 1500m freestyle at
the 1960 Rome Olympics.
Born in Latvia in 1942, Konrads arrived in Australia with his family in 1949.
After competitive swimming, Konrads was Managing Director of the Australasian operations for personal care products company L’Oreal for more than a decade, was General Marketing Manager for Ansett in the lead up to airline deregulation and, in the first half of the 1990s was Chief Executive of the Melbourne Major Events Company where he was responsible for attracting many high profile events to the city including the F1 Grand Prix.
After 1996, he consulted in marketing, sports venue development and executive coaching and in 1999 he won the tender for managing the Cook+Phillip Park Aquatic and Fitness Centre, before management of the facility passed to the YMCA in 2007. He was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame as an Athlete Member for his contribution to the sport of swimming in 1985.
Ardent Leisure promotes Greg Yong as Theme Park Division Chief Executive
Ardent Leisure Group has announced the appointment of Greg Yong as Chief Executive of its theme parks and attractions division. Yong takes over from John Osborne, who has held the role since late 2018. Ardent advised that Osborne had decided to step down from the role for personal reasons but had agreed to consult to Ardent on several projects considered to be of strategic importance for the company.
Commenting on the change, Ardent Chair Dr Gary Weiss said the company was delighted that Yong, the theme park division’s Chief Operating Officer since May 2019, had accepted the offer to replace Osborne.
He advised “Greg has substantial experience in the theme parks industry in Australia and overseas, and has played a critical role as a key member of the leadership team in restoring the performance of Dreamworld and SkyPoint.”
Greg Oliver, Chief Executive and Managing Director of the Fitness and Lifestyle Group, has been named Executive of the Year at the APAC Fitness and Wellness Awards of Excellence. Presented during World Health, Fitness and Wellness Week in Singapore, the Awards recognise leading companies and executives from across health, fitness, wellness and hospitality in the Asia-Pacific region.
With a career in the fitness industry spanning 40 years, Oliver is regarded as one of the world’s most respected fitness executives.
Phillip Mills, founder and Executive Director of Les Mills International, received the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Awards.
Jerril Rechter departs from Chief Executive role at Basketball Australia
Jerril Rechter, Chief Executive of Basketball Australia since February 2019, left the role as of 1st April. Rechter’s departure from the role comes just months before the Boomers and Opals contest the Tokyo Olympics and follows the release of a review of the sport by the Australian Human Rights Commission, which detailed claims of a “white boys’ club” mentality and casual racism limiting opportunities for players and staff within the organisation.
Marking the departure of another head of a major sport in Australia Rechter’s leaving, reportedly on good terms, is believed to have come about due to a frustration at being able to effect cultural change with the sport.
Commenting on her departure, Rechter stated “I am pleased to have had the opportunity to lead Basketball Australia and to achieve outcomes in the areas of diversity, growth, participation and high performance.”
ASM Global APAC appoints new General Manager at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena
ASM Global APAC has announced that Coca-Cola Arena’s Mark Jan Kar will be promoted to the new role of General Manager as part of a restructure following the recent resignation of current Chief Executive Guy Ngata.
Kar who is currently the Arena’s Director - Commercial & Live, will assume the role on 20th June following the departure of Ngata who is returning to New Zealand.
Vale: Adam Lloyd
Australasian Leisure Management has been advised of the death of Adam Lloyd, Director of International Quadratics.
Our team offers condolences and sympathy to his family, friends and colleagues.
