Netball Australia appoints global search firm to appoint new CEO after departure of Kelly Ryan

Netball’s next boss faces a huge set of challenges — starting with repairing the governing body’s relationship with players. EMMA GREENWOOD assesses the biggest problems that need fixing.

Netball Australia has launched a worldwide search for its next leader following the exit of former boss Kelly Ryan late last year.

NA has appointed global executive search firm SRI to head the recruitment of its next chief executive after Ryan resigned in the wake of the bitter pay dispute that dominated the headlines for the sport last year despite the Diamonds winning the World Cup.

Chair Wendy Archer, who last year said Ryan’s role had become untenable, spoke of the “exciting time” ahead for the sport in the lead-up to Sydney hosting the 2027 World Cup.

Former Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan resigned last year in the wake of the bitter pay dispute. Photo: Getty Images

“We are always looking to improve on and off the court to build our relationships, support our players, our clubs and grow our commercial partnerships,” Archer said.

It’s a simplistic view of what will be a complex and challenging role for the person appointed though, with netball digging its way out of debt that continues to threaten the sport and its flagship Super Netball competition, desperate repair needed on the relationship between players and head office and the ever-increasing threat from a number of professional women’s leagues that are challenging netball’s position as Australia’s no.1 sport for women and girls.

SRI’s Jonathan Harris will lead a recruitment process that will hunt for an experienced executive with the skills needed to lead a “major professional and participation sport of national significance”.

“It is critical we identify a leader with exceptional stakeholder and relationship management skills who can succeed across the federated structure of the sport,” Harris said.

High performance boss Stacey West (back row, second from left), celebrating the World Cup win with the Diamonds last year, stepped in to act as CEO following the resignation of Ryan. Photo: Gallo Images

“Excellent strategic and commercial leadership skills are also required to deliver growth across the whole netball ecosystem.”

High performance boss Stacey West stepped into the role in an interim capacity following Ryan’s resignation and will continue to act in the position during the recruitment period.

It is not known whether she will be a candidate for the full-time job.

Originally published as Netball Australia appoints global search firm to appoint new CEO after departure of Kelly Ryan