Eight members of independent Queensland Academy of Sport board revealed

Ben Ikin, Cate Campbell and Ella Sabljak lead an eight-person board charged with steering an independent QAS towards a medal landslide in Los Angeles and Brisbane.

Ella Sabljak, Cate Campbell and Ben Ikin are included on the eight-person board.

The eight-person board charged with steering an independent Queensland Academy of Sport towards a medal landslide in Los Angeles and Brisbane has been chosen.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the board will be chaired by businessman and former Australian diver David Lyons.

It will also include Queensland Rugby League boss Ben Ikin, champion Olympic swimmer Cate Campbell and champion Paralympic wheelchair rugby athlete Ella Sabljak.

Dual Olympic gold medallist and former Swimming Australia chief executive officer Alex Baumann, who worked for the Queensland Academy of Sport in the 1900s, is also on the board alongside businesspeople Mark James and Susan Rix.

Townsville Hockey Association former chair and president Annette Maidment joins the board as a representative of regional Queensland.

Ms Maidment is credited with stabilising and rebuilding the association’s financial position and facilities following the devastating 2019 floods.

Queensland Academy of Sport will formally transfer from the bureaucracy to a stand-alone agency on July 1.

The board will work with the government and a soon-to-be-announced academy chief executive officer to ensure elite athletes are supported in the lead up to the 2028 and 2032 Games, Sport Minister Tim Mander said.

“The Crisafulli Government is committed to delivering the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games that Queenslanders deserve – and make no mistake this must include outstanding performances from our athletes,” he said.

“Transitioning the QAS to a statutory body gives the organisation greater independence and the ability to streamline its administration and operation, which is why the Crisafulli Government is delivering it 12 months earlier than the former Labor government’s plan.”

“The new Advisory Board will work closely with QAS management and staff to meet the goal of more medals in more sports at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in LA2028, Brisbane 2032 and beyond.”

Transitioning the academy from the state government to a stand-alone agency was a commitment of the former government following advocacy from The Courier-Mail.

Originally published as Eight members of independent Queensland Academy of Sport board revealed