Ellen Randell

Ellen Randell is one of Australia’s most accomplished rowing coaches, with a career spanning more than three decades and over 30 national team appointments at junior, under 23, and senior levels, including multiple Olympic Games and World Championships. Her coaching legacy is defined not only by international success but by a deep commitment to mentoring, ethical leadership, and the advancement of women in high-performance sport.

Ellen began her coaching journey in the 1980s at Canberra Rowing Club and quickly established herself as a rising force within the Australian rowing landscape. She played a formative role at the AIS in talent identification and development, then led the UTS Rowing Club’s women’s program to remarkable success over two decades. Her career has seen gold medal results at the World Junior, Under 23, and Senior World Championships, including a standout win in the Women’s Lightweight Quad Scull at the 2007 World Championships.

She is currently serving as a Senior Women’s Coach at the Hancock Prospecting National Training Centre, where she leads Australia’s top women’s scullers through the Olympic and international racing cycle. Her technical expertise, calm authority, and athlete-first approach have made her one of the most respected figures in the sport—both at home and on the world stage.

Beyond the boat park, Ellen has been a champion of gender equity and coach development. She co-founded the Women’s Coaching Network (Women in Rowing), contributed to the AIS Women in High Performance Coaching Project, and continues to mentor the next generation of coaches through formal and informal pathways.

Ellen Randell’s enduring contribution to Australian rowing, on the water, in the coaching ranks, and throughout the broader sporting community, makes her a most deserving recipient of Life Membership with Rowing Australia.