How We're Governed

In 2007 Rowing Australia completed a governance review which resulted in the establishment of a suitable governance framework, including the conversion of the organisation into a Company Limited by Guarantee.

In March 2013, as part of the implementation of its Australia’s Winning Edge program, the Australian Sports Commission (now known as Sport Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport respectively) adopted an enhanced focus on the governance of sporting organisations, headlined by the release of a set of Mandatory Governance Principles with which the leading sports, including rowing, were required to comply.

In response to this announcement the RA Board, with the assistance of the ASC, engaged well-credentialed and experienced consultants to conduct a whole of sport governance development project to ensure that the governance arrangements of RA and its Member Associations were compliant with the Mandatory Governance Principles and continued to provide the underpinning framework from which Australian rowing can grow and achieve sustainable success. This governance development project built on the sound governance platform that RA had put in place following its earlier 2007 governance review.

The governance development project featured extensive consultation and considered the governance arrangements of RA and each of its Member Associations. An updated RA Constitution to achieve full compliance with the Mandatory Governance Principles was unanimously passed at the 2013 Annual General Meeting.

RA’s Member Associations have also each accepted the recommendations of the governance development project and, through updating their own Constitutions, have adopted the relevant required governance changes to comply with both Sport Australia’s requirements and good governance principles.

The successful implementation of the governance development project has ensured that rowing’s governance, at all levels, is aligned to best practice principles and will provide the platform for the continued growth and success of Australian rowing.

Who Leads Us

The Board is responsible for setting the strategic direction of Rowing Australia and for having oversight of its activities.

The Council is comprised of an appointed representative of each of RA’s Member Associations and is responsible for electing the Board and contributing to both the development and achievement of the sport’s strategic plan.

The Staff of RA, led by the CEO, are responsible for the day-to-day management and operation of RA in achieving the strategic direction set by the Board.

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Stephen Donnelley PresidentRead full bio

Stephen Donnelley President

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Malcolm Batten OAM DirectorRead full bio

Malcolm Batten OAM Director

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Georgia Beattie DirectorRead full bio

Georgia Beattie Director

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Brigadier Alison Creagh AM CSC (Retd) DirectorRead full bio

Brigadier Alison Creagh AM CSC (Retd) Director

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Ben Dodwell DirectorRead full bio

Ben Dodwell Director

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Rachael Kininmonth DirectorRead full bio

Rachael Kininmonth Director

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Sally Leake DirectorRead full bio

Sally Leake Director

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Richard Finlayson DirectorRead full bio

Richard Finlayson Director

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Luke Letcher Director, Athlete RepresentativeRead full bio

Luke Letcher Director, Athlete Representative

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Alice Arch Rowing Australian Capital Territory

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Stephen Handley Rowing New South Wales

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Sally Kehoe Rowing Queensland

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Fearnley Szuster Rowing South Australia

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Mick Casey Rowing Tasmania

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David Pincus Rowing Victoria

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Craig James Rowing Western Australia

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Sarah Davoren Rowing Australian Capital Territory

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Melissa Ashton-Gerard Rowing New South Wales

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Matt Bialkowski Rowing Queensland

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Andrew Swift Rowing South Australia

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Rob Prescott Rowing Tasmania

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Adam Harrison Rowing Victoria

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Dan Tackenberg Rowing Western Australia

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Sarah Cook Chief Executive Officer

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Georgia Nemes Office Manager/Executive Assistant

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Mitchell Collins Vera General Manager of Operations

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Keaton Guymer Integrity Manager

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Emily Ekert Commercial Manager

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Alice Evans Event and Competition Manager

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Ron Batt Sport Development Manager

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Tufi Sele Digital Engagement and Indoor Rowing Manager

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Nick Jones Media, Digital and Communications Coordinator

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Bianca Chiera Events and Competition Coordinator

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Aaron Lane Chief Financial Officer

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Phil Lutton Media and Communications Manager

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Paul Thompson MBE Performance Director

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Duncan Free OAM General Manager - High Performance

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Wayne Diplock High Performance Operations Manager

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Jason Lane Head of Pathways

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Chris O'Brien Men's Head Coach

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James Harris Women's Head Coach

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James Loveday Para Head Coach

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Laryssa Biesenthal OLY Beach Sprint Lead Coach

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John Bowes Pathway Transitions Manager

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Ellen Randell Women’s Senior Coach

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Hally Chapman National Talent Identification and US-Based Women’s Lead Coach

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Xavier Dorfman Women’s Senior Coach

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David Fraumano Gen32 Coach (RBNTC)

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Nicolo Maurogiovanni Men’s Senior Coach

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Christine MacLaren Para Lead Coach

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John Hukins High-Performance Administrator

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Nadine Morrison High Performance Operations Co-ordinator

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Dr Tony Rice Rowing Science Lead

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Dr Nathan Versey Physiologist (RBNTC)

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Erin McCleave Physiologist (HPNTC)

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Josh Sebbens Sport Psychologist (RBNTC)

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Bronwen Lundy National Teams’ Dietitian and Nutrition Lead

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Alex Munt Dietitian (HPNTC)

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Sarah Hammond Senior sports Physiotherapist (RBNTC)

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Tristan Shipsides Senior Sports Physiotherapist (HPNTC)

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Nick Lumley Strength and Conditioning Coach (HPNTC)

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Jan Legg Strength and Conditioning Coach (RBNTC)

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Dr Andrew Griffin Doctor (RBNTC)

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Margaret Hamley Athlete Wellbeing & Engagement Manager (HPNTC)

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TBA Athlete Wellbeing & Engagement Manager (RBNTC)

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Tom Westgarth ACT State Talent Pathway Contact

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Vicki Linton NSW State Talent Pathway Contact

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Don McLachlan QLD State Talent Pathway Contact

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Christine MacLaren SA State Talent Pathway Contact

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Vacant TAS State Talent Pathway Contact

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Vacant VIC State Talent Pathway Contact

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Jamie Hewlett WA State Talent Pathway Contact

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Vacant VIS

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Don McLachlan QAS

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Nick Mitchell SASI

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Jamie Hewlett WAIS

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Brett Crow TIS

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Tom Westgarth ACTAS

Athletes Commission

The purpose of the RA Athletes’ Commission is to represent the views of athletes to the RA board and relevant committees of RA. We report to the athlete body the outcomes of relevant decisions made by RA on issues identified by the athlete body through the Athletes’ Commission.

We will advise the board on all matters relating to athletes within the rowing community. We may offer or give advice; offer or give counsel; offer an opinion; make a recommendation; consult; or, give information or notice to the RA Board.

The Athletes’ Commission will endeavour to look after the athletes of RA in the following ways:

Be available to provide advice and support to athletes where appropriate;
To communicate relevant material from RA to the athletes;
Keep the athlete body informed;
Provide the athlete body with a structure for having communication with
the RA board; and
To provide guidance in the form of advice to athletes involved in an appeals process.

Chair
Luke Letcher OLY

Athlete Members
Nikki Ayers PLY
Thomas Birtwhistle PLY
Lucy Stephan OAM
Kate Rowan
Sarah Hawe OLY
Alex Purnell OAM
Josh Hicks OLY
Tim Masters OLY

Appointed Members
Alice Arch
Cameron Girdlestone OLY (Ex Officio – Member of AOC Athletes’ Commission)
Josh Booth OLY (Ex Officio – Member of ASC Athlete Advisory Commission)

High-Performance Commission

The High Performance Commission oversees the implementation of our High Performance Plan. It considers and advises the RA Board and Management on strategic issues relevant to High Performance rowing. The focus of the Commission is maximizing medal outcomes at the Olympic and Paralympic Games and to achieve this requires the achievement of our agreed performance drivers in the following important areas; Leadership and Governance, Athlete performance and Pathways, Coaching, the Daily Training Environment, Competition, Performance services, Culture and Personal Excellence, and Research and Innovation.

The HP Commission is chaired by Rowing Australia Director, Rachael Kininmonth and she is joined by Luke Letcher, (RA Athletes' Commission Chair), Sarah Cook (RA CEO), Paul Thompson (Performance Director), Jason Lane (Head of Pathways), David Crawshay (an independent person with significant international high-performance sport background), Alison Cambell (an independent person with significant high-performance background). The commission regularly reports to the Board and involves key stakeholders in deliberations. A brief Bio of the members is below:

Rachel Kininmonth (Chair)

Rachael Kininmonth is a current Rowing Australia Board Member and former Australian representative rower. She competed in the Women’s Eight at the 1998 World Rowing Championships in Cologne, Germany, the 1999 World Rowing Championships in St. Catharines, Canada, and the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

Following her athletic career, Rachael transitioned into sports administration and event management, at the Amy Gillett Foundation in mass participation and boutique cycling events. She moved to Brisbane in 2015, and was actively involved in the rowing community, serving as the Executive Officer of the Brisbane Schoolgirls’ Rowing Association (BSRA), a Board Member of the University of Queensland Boat Club (UQBC), a Committee Member for the Queensland RowUnion event and a masters rower.

In 2024 Rachael moved to Hong Kong and commenced with the 2036 Working Group, this group have created a proposal for China to bid for the 2036 Olympic Games Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. It is aligned with stated goals for the region and is a cost neutral concept that has compelling geopolitical ramifications.

More recently Rachael Chairs the Sports and Entertainment Committee for the Australian Chamber of Commerce HK, to advocate and promote the government stated aims of a mega event economy.

Luke Letcher

Luke is a former Australian Rowing Team member, first representing Australia in 2012 in the U19 team. He was selected on the U21 team in 2013, and the U23 team from 2014-2016. In 2016, he raced in the Men’s Quad Sculls that won the Gold Medal at the U23 World Championships. He was then selected for three-consecutive Australian World Championships teams from 2017 to 2019, leading to his selection into the Tokyo Olympic team, where he won a bronze medal in the Men’s Quad Sculls. He is a former director on the board of Rowing ACT and a current member of the World Rowing Athletes' Commission.

Luke is the current Chair of the RA Athlete’s Commission and sits on the High Performance Commission, a role he assumed in 2022.

Sarah Cook OLY

Sarah Cook is the current CEO of Rowing Australia and a former Australian representative rower, competing at multiple World Championships and Olympic Games. With extensive experience in high-performance sport, she has held several leadership positions across different sports, driving strategic growth and athlete development. Sarah’s deep understanding of high-performance pathways and commitment to excellence continue to shape the future of Australian rowing.

Paul Thompson MBE

The current Performance Director of Rowing Australia, Thompson is a rowing coach of World and Olympic Champions. With over 30 years of international coaching and leadership experience, Thompson provides the leadership and high performance experience required to oversee RA’s high performance program.

Jason Lane

Jason Lane is an experienced high performance rowing coach with a proven track record of developing athletes for success on the international stage. As Rowing Australia’s Head of Pathways, he plays a pivotal role in identifying and nurturing emerging talent, ensuring a strong pipeline for Australia’s future rowing success.

David Crawshay

David is an Olympic gold medallist, winning gold in the Men's Double Sculls at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He competed at three Olympic Games (2004, 2008, 2012) and 10 World Rowing Championships, winning silver medals in 2009 and 2015 and bronze in 2010, along with silver and bronze medals at the Nations' Cup (U23 World Championships) in 2000 and 2001 respectively. David began his rowing at Melbourne Grammar School and has represented Mercantile and Victoria over a career of almost two decades.

David has served in several leadership roles within Rowing Australia, including being an athlete member of the Rowing Australia Athletes' Commission while competing, and more recently chairing the Commission while sitting on the Rowing Australia board from 2020 to 2022.

David has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and a Bachelor of Laws, as well as a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice. He works for JRT Partnership in Melbourne as a senior associate.

Alison Campbell

Alison Campbell is a highly respected Australian high performance sport consultant, currently serving as the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Skate Australia. She has previously worked with the Australian Institute of Sport on projects including Australia’s Win Well 2032+ High Performance Strategy and the Paralympic Uplift. With experience across organisations such as Athletics Australia, the Australian Institute of Sport, and Paralympics Australia, Alison brings a wealth of strategic sport knowledge to the HPC.

RiAAG

The Rowing in Australia Advisory Group (RiAAG) is a representative advisory committee established by Rowing Australia to enhance and develop grassroots rowing across the country. RiAAG provides strategic advice, shares ideas, and makes recommendations to Rowing Australia’s management and Board on matters affecting rowing at all levels, including club, university, school, junior, recreational, masters, and para-rowing.

The group also advises on the Australian Rowing Championships and the Australian Masters Rowing Championships. Comprised of key representatives from Rowing Australia, State Associations, and the broader rowing community, RiAAG plays a vital role in fostering collaboration and strengthening the sport’s foundation nationwide.

Chair
Stephen Handley

RA Members
Sarah Cook OLY
Alice Evans

Appointed Members

Richard Finlayson (RA Board Member)

Bryan Weir

Paul McGann

Chloe Schauble

Noel Donaldson

Sally Kehoe

Ray Ebert

Peggy McBride (Master’s Commission Rep)

Peter Holliday

Nick Hunter

Masters Commission

The RA Masters’ Commission was created in 2013 to provide advice, leadership and guidance for the Australian Masters rowing community. The Commission meets via teleconference on a monthly basis.

Mission

To provide leadership for an active inclusive community of Masters rowers at all levels of participation and competition.

Strategies

Development of guidelines for the efficient and effective management of Masters rowing regattas.

To review opportunities at all regattas for the Masters community to compete, achieve and enjoy fun, fitness and social interaction regardless of age, gender and skill.
To communicate all relevant information to support members and Clubs, and provide a forum to address concerns, and to share and consider new ideas.
To be a link to developments in Masters rowing internationally.

The Terms of Reference for the RA Masters Commission

Members

Neil Smith (ACT)
Phil Titterton (NSW)
Michelle Loveday (QLD)
Greg Keene (SA)
Jason Dolbel - Chair (Tas)
Suzan Andrews (Vic)
Tamsin Keevill (WA)
Alice Evans (Rowing Australia)

Sub-Committees

Alternate Events (headed by Nikki McAllen)
Handicaps (headed by Mark Mussared)

Umpires Commission

Umpires play a vital part in Australian rowing, providing safe and controlled environments that are enjoyed by athletes and spectators alike.

The General Areas of Responsibility of the Umpires’ Commission are:

• To support the RA Vision “To be the number one rowing nation in the world and Australia’s leading Olympic Sport”
• To promote umpiring throughout Australia;
• To standardise umpiring and to maintain and improve the quality of umpiring in general, in particular at the Australian Rowing Championships, the Australian Masters Rowing Championships and the Australian Coastal Rowing and Beach Sprints Championships and at other national events; and
• To monitor the qualifications and quality of RA umpires.

Objectives and Activities

• To maintain and develop selection criteria for juries at RA Events;
• To supervise the work of the juries at National Rowing Championships;
• To coordinate Australian umpires’ nominations to World Rowing and international juries;
• To conduct umpires’ seminars using the most modern educational techniques and methods;
• To conduct examinations for RA umpires licences;
• To attend jury meetings at RA regattas.

Members

The Rowing Australia Umpires’ Commission is represented by the following:

Grant Ford (Chair)
Tina Maher
Caroline Schomberg
Brett Ralph
Greg Smith
David Grubits
Geoff Northam
Nick Hunter (ex-officio)

Cognitive Diversity	Through an annual skills and diversity matrix review, Rowing Australia board ensures that future board member recruitment continues to target the mix of skills and experience required to position the organisation well, in order to maintain cognitive diversity and deliver against forward strategy.
Gender	Aim for 40 per cent female, 40 per cent male and 20 per cent of either and/or other genders, on Rowing Australia Board.
LGBTQIA+	The Rowing Australia Board will continue to ensure a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for all current and emerging Board Directors, measured through Board assessment processes.
Disability	Ensure Rowing Australia’s board platform has features which enable Rowing Australia to accommodate individuals attending board meetings with a range of impairments, including but not limited to visual or hearing impairment, and if not, to explore other solutions in the event such solutions may be required.
Age	Ensure the Rowing Australia board continues to benefit from age diversity, reflecting the community it represents, thereby maintaining its relevance to and benefiting from diverse perspectives.
Culturally And Linguistically Diverse (CALD)	To ensure the demographics within the Rowing Australia Board reflect the community it represents.
Indigenous/First Nations	To ensure the demographics within the Rowing Australia Board reflect the community it represents.

Cognitive Diversity	Continue the annual skills and diversity matrix review, ensuring skills and expertise gaps are identified and Directors with requisite skills and expertise are sought.
Gender	Ensure we continue to maintain 40 per cent female, 40 per cent male and 20 per cent of either and/or other genders, on Rowing Australia Board.
LGBTQIA+	Future education and policy making will be further enhanced by Rowing Australia's membership of Pride in Sport.
Disability	Rowing Australia will consider, investigate and address any potential barriers to accessibility for current and future Board Directors in relation to a range of impairments enabling full attendance and engagement at Board meetings.
Age	Ongoing collection of age data and ensuring an appropriate mix of Directors through the annual skills and diversity matrix review.
Culturally And Linguistically Diverse (CALD)	Through the emergence of new and growth of existing disciplines, Rowing Australia will investigate the potential for data collection relating to CALD and enable pathways to leadership through these disciplines.
Indigenous/First Nations	Through the emergence of new and growth of existing disciplines, Rowing Australia will investigate the potential for data collection relating to Indigenous and First Nations and enable pathways to leadership through these disciplines.