Chris Noel OAM

Christopher G Noel OAM is a highly effective sports leader whose record of achievement in sports administration is outstanding.

His contributions to rowing have been instrumental in creating an environment where athletes can succeed at the highest levels.

Over nearly 40 years, he has been a significant contributor to the University of Sydney, supporting the Sydney University Boat Club (SUBC) including roles as President, Vice President , Secretary and Head of Fundraising and supporting Sydney University Sport where he was involved in its reorganisation, introducing athlete support scholarships, setting up the Elite Athlete Department  and the professionalization of coaching at flagship clubs and the contracting out of non-sports related functions.

Chris's involvement with rowing began at St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill, and continued at Sydney University Boat Club.

His competitive achievements include two  second place finishes in the Intervarsity Oxford and Cambridge Cup and a close second in the 1969  Men’s Elite Champion Eights of New South Wales. After a break overseas in 1973 and 74 Chris returned to competitive rowing stroking the Sydney University Eight to victory in the 1976 Riverview Gold Cup and to wins in the then Senior B eight and four at the 1976 Australian Rowing Championships

His leadership roles at SUBC began in the late 1980s when he found the club struggling with less than a dozen active rowers and obsolete equipment. Under his guidance, the club was rebuilt and transformed into Australia's leading rowing club.

Chris's ability to find solutions where others fail is evident in several key projects. He was pivotal in the creation of the new world-class SUBC boatshed, the initiation of the Australian Boat Race, and the overhaul of the selection and support process for NSW state crews, leading to multiple King's Cup victories.

His fundraising efforts are remarkable; he established the Sydney University Rowing Foundation in 2005 and has raised $4.0 million for Boats and Equipment and  $1.6 million towards the $8 million cost of the new SUBC shed, which opened in 2017.

Chris's administrative roles extend beyond SUBC. He served as President of Rowing NSW, Vice-President and University Senate Representative on the Board of  Sydney University Sport for 20 years. Chris’s initial time on the Sydney University Sport Bard saw a new CEO hired and in the following years a complete reorganisation of this body resulting in a large increase in the number of students playing sport and a huge improvement in the performance of their flagship sporting teams. Chris served as Chair of The Noel Martin Recreation Centre Pty Ltd , a company formed in 1995 to develop and expand the main on campus sports centre at that time.

His tenure as President of Rowing Australia saw the establishment of a European base for Australian sport at Varese, Italy, which has been a game-changer for Australian elite sport.

His contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Order of Australia Medal in 2012 for services to rowing in New South Wales, life membership of Rowing NSW, and an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Sydney in 2007.

The citation for his Honorary Fellowship highlights his extraordinary capability and focus in rebuilding the club, mentoring athletes and coaches, and making significant financial contributions to the university's facilities.

Chris Noel's legacy in rowing is characterized by his ability to get things done for the right reasons and his dedication to creating opportunities for athletes to excel.

His influence extends to various levels of the sport, making him a key figure in the development and success of rowing in Australia.