Analysis: Why Netball Australia board must heal wounds and appoint Liz Ellis as chair

After appointing a new CEO last week, Netball Australia will change chair following this week’s AGM. Here’s why the organisation must look to a former Diamonds captain to steer the ship.

Netball Australia has resolved part one of its leadership restructure last week and already it seems things might be done differently.

Given the speed with which the sport completed a review into Saturday night’s Super Netball scoring fiasco, coming up with a comprehensive statement less than 24 hours later, it seems a new leaf may have been turned over at NA headquarters.

Bigger issues loom on the horizon though with the selection of a new chair this week being described to this masthead by one source as fundamental to the sport’s future.

Following this week’s annual general meeting where incoming board members are ratified, a new chair will be selected.

Wendy Archer, who presided over a testing period during which the sport fought a poisonous war with its own players, as well as losing millions of dollars worth of funding and sponsorship, will step down at the AGM but maintains a place on the board for the next 12 months.

Do you think Gabrielle Upton would be the right fit for NA? Picture: AAP

Three women are emerging as likely candidates for the position: Deputy chair Gabbi Stubbs and new appointments Gabrielle Upton (February) and Liz Ellis (end of April).

Executive strategist and business adviser Stubbs was appointed to the board three years ago and took on the role of deputy chair after the resignation of John O’Sullivan earlier this year.

But as a member of the former board - one which many commentators including former Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander have called on to resign - will Stubbs have the clear air needed to lead a new era for the sport?

Most expect the race to come down to former NSW Attorney-General and Minister for Sport Upton, or ex Diamonds captain and State of the Game review chair Ellis.

The new chair will oversee an organisation under a new chief executive making tentative steps back towards financial freedom - if not yet strength - and takes on the role at a tipping point.

One way lies renewed success and the foundations for a strong future with the backing of stakeholders who can see a light on the horizon and are willing to invest under the right conditions.

The other, is more of the same - an uncertain financial future and potential fiscal stress that could endanger the world’s best competition and a playing and engagement base that is the envy of every other sporting code in the country.

Who do you think should get the role? Picture: Getty Images

Upton brings the type of governance and business experience that is expected of modern board members and as a former sports minister, a range of high-level connections and understanding of government funding that would be invaluable to a sport that lost potential millions with a poorly-executed and detail-light grant application.

But there is a groundswell of support for Ellis, who brings experience at all levels of the sport, as well as leadership and governance experience.

In the 24 hours after her announcement as a board member a fortnight ago, netball was everywhere in the media.

And for the first time in months, the talk about the sport off the court was positive.

Suddenly, the image of netball front of mind was not a players’ association president driven to tears by the ongoing pay war or one of Australia’s biggest businesses axing a proposed sponsorship deal.

It was of a clear direction for the future of one of Australia’s biggest sports.

Stacey West is Netball Australia’s new CEO. Picture: Joanna Margiolis/ Netball Australia

Ellis wants it known she’s no messiah and as chair would likely lean heavily on the experience of her fellow board members but there was a sudden positive buzz around the sport that - rightly or wrongly - hadn’t been there previously.

It’s something netball must capitalise on.

Ellis understands netball at every level, from the grassroots - she currently coaches her daughter’s club side - to the elite level and the complex web of connections in between.

As a sport with more than a million participants, netball should be one of the biggest sports in the country.

Actually, it is one of the biggest sports in the country, it just doesn’t act like it often.

It’s a sport that should be standing shoulder to shoulder with organisations like the AFL and NRL as a sporting powerhouse; leading the way on social issues concerning women and girls; growing its product at the grassroots, senior and elite level and becoming a financial powerhouse.

That’s the vision the former Diamonds captain is painting for her sport.

As one source put it to this masthead last week: “Either they accept the gift horse and allow it to deliver the value that it can deliver, or they reject it and seal their fate. I think it’s as fundamental as that.”

Originally published as Analysis: Why Netball Australia board must heal wounds and appoint Liz Ellis as chair