Athletics Australia heralds a new President, with the Hon. Mark Arbib today unanimously appointed to the role at a meeting of the Board of Directors.

A former Australian Senator who served as the Minister for Sport (2010-2012), Mr Arbib is an active recreational runner and is currently employed as the Director of Strategy and Business Development for Consolidated Press Holdings Pty. Ltd.

“Athletics is a sport and way of life that I am deeply committed to. Running has helped me reach my personal and professional goals and I want to help give other Australians the opportunity to do the same. Athletics continues to be an important part of my family’s life, through my own training and my daughter’s participation in Little Athletics and our local athletics club,” Mr Arbib said.

“For me, the nexus between Athletics Australia and Little Athletics Australia is the most important pathway and relationship for the sport and I will work tirelessly to ensure that both organisations have a strong partnership and grow strongly as one family, committed to common goals and shared ideals.”

“Athletics Australia has undertaken many positive steps in recent times and with careful management and a visionary Board of Directors, the sport is on a pathway to even greater success. I am committed to a long term association with athletics and look forward to assisting in delivering upon the sport’s worthy goals of increasing participation and high performance success.”

Mr Arbib was one of three new Directors of Athletics Australia confirmed at the Annual General Meeting, held in Melbourne (Vic), this afternoon. He will be joined by Ben Sellenger and Geoff Nicholson.

Mr Sellenger is the Chief Operating Officer of Bastion EBA, a commercial strategy agency with a significant focus on sports and stadia.

“I am extremely excited to have been appointed as a Director of Athletics Australia. The opportunity for the sport to enjoy continued growth and development across Australia is substantial and I am confident that I can contribute to ensuring that the sport remains a central pillar of the national sporting landscape,” Mr Sellenger said.

Mr Nicholson is a Non-Executive Director and Consultant currently contributing to the efforts of the United Energy Distribution Group, Marchment Hill Consulting and Hanover Welfare Services.

“I am thrilled and humbled to be appointed to the Board of Athletics Australia.  Athletics is a vital part of Australia both at a grass roots level through the strength of our athletic clubs and through our elite athletes on the world stage. Athletics Australia has the privilege of leading that into the future,” Mr Nicholson added.

The Board of Directors also includes Anne Lord and Peter Bromley, the former Presidents of Athletics Victoria and Athletics New South Wales respectively, Nathan Deakes, a former world champion race walker and four-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Brenda LaPorte, who most recently served as the General Manager for Strategy, Planning and Workforce at the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup and Jan Swinhoe, a former senior executive of the banking sector who now sits on the Board of Directors of five organisations.

David Grace QC, the President, Matthew Mahon and Nick Moore, the Vice Presidents, and Melissa Babbage have today retired from the Board of Directors of Athletics Australia.

“The sound financial position of the organisation and the continuing development of the sport across the nation is a testament to the hard work and commitment of, amongst others, David, Matt, Nick and Melissa. Athletics in Australia thanks them wholeheartedly for their remarkable contribution to the sport and together with my fellow Directors I look forward to continuing down the path that they embarked upon,” Mr Arbib said.

To read an open letter to the Australian athletics family from Mr Grace, the outgoing President of Athletics Australia, please click here.