Two new highly qualified directors have been appointed and one has returned to the Tennis Australia Board of Directors.
Melbourne, 19 December 2024 | Tennis.com.au
Two new highly qualified directors have been appointed and one has returned to the Board. Tennis Australia Commission At the Annual General Meeting in Melbourne.
Managing Director, Walt Disney Company Australia and New Zealand Kylie Watson-Wheeler (Vic) and former General Manager, Aspen Medical. robin hendry (ACT) is the new face of TA Board, mark da silva (Vic) returned for a third term.
Chairman, looking back on a successful year for the Tennis Australia organization Jane Hrdlika What has stood out to members, he said, is the continued strength in participation numbers and the significant increase in the number of children playing tennis.
Tennis was the most requested sport in the Australian Sports Commission’s Sports Schools program, with more than 530,000 students across 3,000 schools experiencing tennis during the last financial year.
Clubs and venues have raised the bar with improved courts, facilities, smart technology, development pathways and competitive opportunities, while complementary sports including padel, pickleball and POP tennis have soared in popularity at the same time.
Of the many great achievements, perhaps none was greater than Matt Ebden and John Peers’ gold medal win at the Paris Olympics. Their come-from-behind victory in the dramatic final symbolized tennis’ most beloved qualities: teamwork and determination.
Alex de Minaur breaks into the top 10 in singles. Fittingly, Alex de Minaur secured the milestone when he represented Australia at the United Cup in January. Ebden, Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson have lifted Grand Slam doubles trophies all year.
There were also several Australian world nos. Storm Hunter reached the top of women’s doubles in November, Ebden became world number one after winning the Australian Open 2024 doubles title and Queensland teenager Emerson Jones reached the Australian Open and Wimbledon women’s finals. . And after a spirited campaign to win his first ATP Masters 1000 trophy in Montreal, Alexei Popyrin has soared to a new career-high ranking.
The collective passion for tennis is evident with a record 1.4 million fans turning out for summer tennis in Australia and the impact of the Australian Open reverberating throughout the community. AO24 has been confirmed as the biggest economic generator in Australian sport, delivering a record $533.2 million in benefits to the Victorian economy in 2024.
A variety of initiatives, including the launch of the “Tennis for All” campaign featuring Adam Hills and increasing the number of female coaches, have increased the participation of athletes with disabilities, expanded gender equality and expanded opportunities for Indigenous communities in sport. More than 1,100, a 45% increase since 2018.
Ms Hrdlicka also took the opportunity to thank the retiring board members. Diane Grady AO and Greg Hutchinson.
Mr Grady joined the Tennis Australia Board of Directors in 2016 and as Chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, he has applied his extensive experience in corporate governance to the benefit of the entire organization.
Mr Hutchinson has been a staunch advocate and supporter of grassroots tennis since joining the Tennis Australia Board of Directors in 2015. His perspective as a former member association president and club supporter has been invaluable during his tenure, providing guidance during the pandemic: Ensure the continuation of sport and the Australian Open.
Kylie Watson-Wheeler, Bachelor of Arts (Politics and English), Graduate Diploma in Communication (Public Relations)
Huge sports fans, Ms Watson-Wheeler and her family have always been involved in tennis games and are passionate long-term attendees of the AO. She holds a number of executive and non-executive director roles at the intersection of sport and entertainment, including The Walt Disney Company Australia and New Zealand, ESPN, and the Western Bulldogs AFL Club, where she is Chairman.
Robyn Hendry, Bachelor of Business Administration (Tourism), Graduate Certificate (Executive Healthcare Leadership)
A highly respected Executive Director of Tennis ACT since 2016, Robyn has significant tennis governance experience and a deep family history of playing tennis and attending AO. She is a senior executive with 25 years of experience in CEO, general manager and board roles in the private, non-profit and government sectors. Her areas of expertise span health, business, arts and culture, sports, community, tourism and events. She has significant experience in end-to-end commercialization, including as GM of Aspen Medical Advisory Services and CEO of the Canberra Convention Bureau and Canberra Business Chamber.
The Tennis Australia Board consists of:
