NETBALL AUSTRALIA’S BACKGROUND

Netball holds a unique position in the Australian sporting landscape. It is a sport with significant and long held participation rates that are the envy of many other Australian sports. It is widely held to be the women’s sport in Australia with eight out of ten Australian families having some involvement with netball - either through playing, volunteering, coaching or assisting in the administration of the sport.

Netball Australia (NA) is the national body for Netball in Australia. The organisation was founded in 1927 when the All Australia Women’s Basketball Association was formed. In 1970, the name of the game was changed to “Netball” resulting in a change in name of the Organisation to the All Australia Netball Association (AANA). The AANA was incorporated as a public company limited by guarantee on 18 September 1986 and is governed by the Corporations Act 2001. “Netball Australia” was registered as a Business Name in 1993. NA operates as a company under a constitution that is resolved by the NA State and Territory Organisations, Member Organisations (MOs).

The Board of Directors consists of three Elected Directors elected by the MOs and up to six Appointed Directors who may be appointed by the Board. The Board independently elects the Chair of the Board. The Board is accountable to the MOs for the operation and management of NA, including long term business and financial planning.

NA’s vision for 2025-2035 is for an Australia that is Made in Netball - where netball is not only the choice of women and girls, but a powerful force for connection, excellence, and impact. Made in Netball is more than a tagline. It captures what makes our sport unique: a place where generations of girls and women have found and become their best selves.

Our strategic pillars:

• Grow and Excel Netball - Elevating participation and performance from grassroots to elite
• Deepen Community Connection and Audience Engagement - Strengthening bonds with fans, families, and communities
• Amplify Netball’s Impact and Legacy - Ensuring netball’s influence reaches far beyond the court

BOARD CULTURE

The Board is committed to developing and sustaining an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing Board culture. Directors acknowledge that the way they conduct themselves in delivering our strategic outcomes sets the tone for all levels of the organisation and hold each other accountable for adhering to the key Netball Australia trademark behaviours of:

• Custodianship
• Humanity
• Diversity
• Goodwill
• Respect
• Collective Responsibility; and
• Personal Responsibility

All Board members are required to sign the Board Code of Conduct annually.

DIRECTOR COMMITMENTS

Netball Australia Director Meetings:

• Between six to eight planned Board Meetings annually, with the majority held in-person.

Member Forums:

• Netball Australia holds two Member Forums annually, generally held over a weekend, and all Directors are expected to attend.

Sub-Committees:

• The NA Board is supported by four (4) sub-committees – Finance, Audit & Risk Committee, Governance Committee, Nominations Committee and History & Traditions Committee, with all Directors expected to sit on at least one sub-committee. Sub-committees meet at least four times annually.

Confident Girls Foundation:

• An NA Director sits on the Confident Girls Foundation Board.

Netball Events Pty Ltd:

• A number of NA Directors sit on the Netball Events Pty Ltd Board.

Event Attendance:

• Optional attendance at key Netball Australia events including but not limited to; SSN Season Launch, SSN matches, Diamonds matches in Australia and other events, such as the Australian Netball Awards.

Director Education and Training:

• Directors are required to complete training as directed by NA, including with respect to NA Policies and Integrity frameworks. Directors may also be required to complete the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Company Directors Course or other relevant programs.

BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES

The Board's key responsibilities include ensuring:

• The vision, behaviours, strategies, and measurement systems are established, implementation tracked and reported on
• The policies and Terms of Reference which govern the way we work are maintained and implemented, including the establishment and implementation of sub-committees
• Organisational risks and compliance obligations are identified, mitigated and monitored
• That performance is monitored and responded to through the Netball Australia Chief Executive Officer
• Strong and effective relationships with key stakeholders are maintained

CANDIDATE PROFILE

All Directors must meet the Eligibility Requirements and Selection Criteria set out in the Position Description as well as demonstrate:

Team Player/Collaboration

• The ability to work as part of a team, and commit to acting with respect for management, peer Directors and relevant organisational and Board processes
• Demonstrated passion and time to make a genuine and active contribution to the Board

Constructive Questioning / Probing

• Preparedness to ask questions and challenge management and peer Directors in a constructive and respectful way about key issues
• Ability to demonstrate sound judgement in assessing information and discerning appropriate responses

Integrity / Ethics

• A commitment to put NA’s interests before any personal interests, act in a transparent manner and declare interests/activities or conduct that might be a potential conflict
• Always maintain Board confidentiality and understand and fulfil the duties and responsibilities of a Director

Effective Listening and Communication

• Ability to listen to, and constructively and appropriately debate, other people's viewpoints, develop and deliver clear and concise arguments and points of view

Leadership

• Range of leadership competencies including the ability to make and take responsibility for decisions and actions, set and reinforce appropriate Board and organisational culture and appropriately represent NA
• Act in a manner consistent with a Director's role as custodian of the organisation and the game.

2026 PRIORITIES

NA is particularly interested in receiving applications from nominees who can bring the following expertise and skills to the Board:

• Business, Financial & Commercial Acumen - high regard will be paid to Senior Executive and/or Chief Financial Officer experience and experience in leading investment strategy and capital raising
• Legal, Risk and Compliance Competencies
• Brand, Marketing and Digital Competencies - with focus on Major Event Promotion and Delivery
• Nominees with extensive experience in Sports Administration are also highly desirable.

Applications from nominees who ordinarily reside outside of New South Wales is desirable.

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

There are two (2) Board Director positions - one (1) Appointed Director and one (1) Elected Director.

NETBALL AUSTRALIA BOARD POLICIES

Directors must comply with the Netball Australia Board Code of Conduct, Governance Principles Policy, Delegation of Authority Policy, Director Entitlements Policy, Directors Travel Policy and agree to undertake their Director Duties according to the Board Cultural Charter.

All Directors are bound by NA’s Netball Integrity Policy Framework, and associated policies, including without limitation NA’s Competition Manipulation & Sports Wagering Policy for Elite Netball and prohibitions on betting on any form of netball.

NA is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people and has a zero tolerance towards any form of bullying, harassment, discrimination and abuse within the workplace.

To be successful in this role you must be able to demonstrate an understanding of appropriate behaviours when engaging with children/young people and hold or be willing to obtain a Working with Children Check and a National Police Clearance.