YMCA Australia announces appointment of new National Chief Executive
People
Paralympics Australia names Netball Queensland’s Catherine Clark as new Chief Executive
The YMCA Australia (The Y) has announced the appointment of Tal Karp - lawyer, board director, management consultant, sports administrator, advocate, organisational strategist and former Matilda - as its new National Chief Executive. Karp’s appointment comes after an international recruitment process following the resignation of Melinda Crole, after 17 years of service to the Y, including five as National Chief Executive. Karp’s previous experience includes being an advocate for the rights of young people, especially in the criminal justice system, and building coalitions of support across organisations, sectors and disciplines for strategic solutions to complex legal and policy problems.
Catherine Clark, the current Chief Executive of Netball Queensland, has been announced as the new Chief Executive of Paralympics Australia - joining the body at what is described as a “critical juncture” in its history as it moves to convert the success of its Tokyo 2020 campaign into stronger commercial opportunities and record levels of parasport participation. With an extensive background in sports leadership as both a senior executive and board director, Clark currently serves on the Board of Shooting Australia and previously held a Directorship with Australian University Sport in addition to Chief Executive positions with Gymnastics Australia and Gym Sports New Zealand.
Live Nation announces Asia Pacific appointments
Jim Kotsonis named Regional Vice President at Ticketmaster Asia Pacific
Global live entertainment leader Live Nation has made two key appointments to drive its expansion in Australasia and the Asia-Pacific, with Guy Ngata (pictured left) named Senior Vice President - Venue Development Australia and New Zealand and Richard Tsuchida as Venue Director Japan. Each will lead the company’s venue development efforts in key markets, continuing to grow Live Nation’s worldwide portfolio of 200 venues.
Looking to develop what it calls “immense growth opportunities”, global ticketing business Ticketmaster has appointed Jim Kotsonis to the newly created role of Regional Vice President, Ticketmaster Asia Pacific (APAC). In this role, Kotsonis will have direct oversight of operations across the region including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan. As part of the new APAC leadership structure, Anjelica Devoe will assume the role of General Manager - New Zealand and report to Kotsonis.
Vale
Vale: Bob Romanes OAM Australasian Leisure Management is saddened to learn of the death of Bob Romanes OAM, who died on 18th November at the age of 86. Best known for his work with YMCA Australia, for whom he was National Executive Director from 1985 until his retirement at the end of 2000 - having previously been Assistant National Executive Director from 1976 to 1985 - Bob was a tireless
advocate for the aquatic, recreation and sport industry. Trained as a teacher at Ballarat teachers college in the early 1950s, Bob’s first assignment was at the A1 Mine Settlement School, near Woods Point, 180 kilometres east of Melbourne. Single-handed, he taught 22 students from grades one to seven in a weatherboard hut. Later, he worked in public schools and lectured police trainees for a number of years, then left the public system and taught at Carey Grammar before moving to the YMCA, where he started as a training officer, working his way up to the National Executive Director role over his 23-year career with the organisation. His wider work on behalf of industry unity and improving professionalism saw him become the founding Chair of the Recreation Industry Training Advisory Board (RITAB), the Recreation Industry Council of Australia (founded in April 1996) and the Recreation Industry Training Company, for which he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 1999 Australia Day Honours. Following his retirement he remained engaged with the industry he called ‘recreation’ as a consultant and lecturer. In 2015, Aquatics and Recreation Victoria (ARV) presented Bob with its Award for Most Outstanding Contribution to Aquatic and Recreation Industry, recognising his lifetime contribution to the industry. He remained a Life Member of the YMCA. He is survived by his wife Pam and daughter Jenny, plus four grandchildren and three stepchildren. Australasian Leisure Management Issue 147 67
