Kitty Chiller and Tracey Gaudry to bolster Athletics Australia Executive Management Team

The Chief Executive Officer, Phil Jones, is delighted to confirm the appointment of Kitty Chiller and Tracey Gaudry to two newly created General Manager positions at Athletics Australia.

Gaudry becomes the General Manager, Commercial & Growth whilst Chiller takes on the role of General Manager, People & Culture, on a part-time basis, complementing her existing commitments as the Chef de Mission of the Australian Olympic Team.

“Athletics is embarking on a period of significant change, beginning with the engagement of the community in the development of a long-term vision and plan for our sport,” Jones explained.

“We all need to work together if we are to deliver the best possible outcomes for athletics in Australia, ensuring that the products and services that we offer are both attractive and sustainable. Having the right people in the right places is essential. Kitty and Tracey, both leading sports administrators with great knowledge and experience, have exactly the skills we need in our team to lead the development and execution of the plan.”

Chiller will become the General Manager, People & Culture, commencing 22 June.

Chiller competed in the modern pentathlon at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and is the Chef de Mission for the Australian Olympic Team for Rio in 2016. She is a member of the Executive Board of the Australian Olympic Committee and she has previously worked as the General Manager of Surf Life Saving Australia and as a Deputy General Manager of the Australian Sports Commission.

Responsible for the development and driving of core values and behaviours within the sport, Chiller will work as a change agent across the entire athletics community, with the further development of relationships with key stakeholders including Member Associations, Little Athletics Australia, Australian Masters Athletics, the Oceania Athletics Association and the Australian Track & Field Coaches’ Association. She will lead the sport’s people and culture strategy and create an environment where people are supported to excel and perform in whatever role they play in athletics in Australia.

“I am very excited to be joining the executive management team at Athletics Australia. There is a clear mandate for change and I very much look forward to contributing to the sport, to help ensure a sustainable and successful future, where all stakeholders and contributors feel both valued and valuable,” Chiller said.

“The role will complement the work I am doing as Chef de Mission of the Australian Olympic Team, where my focus is on creating an environment to enhance and promote excellent performance on and off the field.”

Gaudry will become General Manager, Commercial & Growth, commencing 6 July.

A dual Olympian and former professional cyclist, Gaudry has served as the CEO of the Amy Gillett Foundation for the past five years. She is the President of the Oceania Cycling Confederation and a Vice President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). Gaudry brings20 years’ experience in influential sport, corporate and community roles, both executive and non-executive, including with the Australian Institute of Sport, Cycling Australia, Jacobs Australia and Ernst & Young.

This position will see Gaudry focus on building greater brand recognition and appeal, driving the growth of athletics with targeted, increased investment through commercial programs in participation, high performance and competition. She will build organisational performance ensuring that the systems, processes and people are in place to deliver identified business priorities.

“I look forward to contributing to the growth and prosperity of athletics in Australia with a refreshed, high calibre team,” Gaudry said.

“We are embarking upon a mission to deepen the relationship between the sport, business and the community to bring about greater financial investment in athletics and autonomy for Athletics Australia and its stakeholders. We plan to build the athletics movement in Australia across elite performance, recreational sport and active participation throughout communities nationally.”

Simon Hollingsworth, the Australian Sports Commission Chief Executive, reflected on the importance of the new appointments.

“The Australian Sports Commission welcomes the recruitment of both Kitty and Tracey by Athletics Australia. We have been vocal in our call for change within athletics given the recent reviews into the sport. To see such comprehensive action being taken is very positive,” Hollingsworth said.

“Athletics in Australia needs to find new ways of competing in the crowded Australian sporting landscape and we will continue to support them in their efforts to change and grow.”

“These new positions follow a thorough assessment of the needs of the organisation by the CEO and the Board, taking into account the recommendations of the Glasgow Review and the recent Independent Review of Athletics in Australia,” David Grace QC, the Athletics Australia President, added.

“I am delighted to welcome Tracey and Kitty to our Executive Management Team. I know that athletics in Australia will benefit enormously from the vast experience that they bring.”

The Athletics Australia Executive Management Team now includes Jones as Chief Executive Officer, Gaudry and Chiller, together with High Performance Director, Simon Nathan, the General Manager, Participation & Community Sport, Tim Klar, and the General Manager, Finance, IT & Compliance, Rob Ewart.