02 Nothing stands still and change is a constant. Vicsport has continued its work to support its members and promote sport, in all its meanings, implications and applications, amidst relentless, challenging and exciting change. The most significant change was at the top. Mark McAllion, who was CEO for some seven and a half years, decided to leave to pursue another opportunity close to his heart – and closer to his home. Who can blame him with Melbourne’s traffic! Mark announced his departure in September 2016 and left some two months later to take up a position with Maribyrnong Sports College. In the interregnum, during which his replacement was selected and then started, Meghan Mayman was appointed acting CEO. Steven Potts commenced his tenure as CEO on 16th January 2017. His second day on the job was spent at the tennis in pleasant company in a box at Hisense courtesy of Tennis Victoria. Steven comes to Vicsport with considerable experience in member organisations having held CEO roles with Skiing Australia, the Golf Course Superintendent’s Association and most recently the Boating Industry Association. He informed the selection panel that he does much of his business over a coffee. Vicsport welcomed a new board member at its 2016 AGM. Ron Gauci was the successful candidate at the election and has brought his myriad business and sport skills and experience to the Board. Ron has held numerous roles including CEO of Melbourne Storm during an infamous period, CEO of NMIT and CEO of Federation Square amongst others. He has been involved in a variety of boards as board member or chairman. Thanks go to David Lamb for his significant contribution, enthusiasm and energy during his tenure on the Board to October 2016. We wish him well in his endeavors whether for work or pleasure the latter of which usually involves competing in triathlons somewhere in the world. The 2016 AGM was preceded by acclaimed journalist and author Gideon Haigh at the Sports Talk Forum talking about his experiences of community sport at his local cricket club and the myriad roles such clubs can play to benefit a diverse range of members and participants. The highlight of the AGM itself was the release of Vicsport’s 2017-2020 strategic plan. This plan builds on that for 2013- 2016 which set the course for Vicsport’s reinvigoration and refreshment. To recap, that plan oriented Vicsport away from simply being the organisation that delivered SRV and VicHealth programmes to one that had skin in the game and made decisions in the best interests of its members and the sport industry as a whole. That plan was tweaked in early 2015 and the latest iteration takes it that step further. The result is that Vicsport is now in a partnership of equals with SRV and VicHealth which can only benefit all who play and enjoy sport in this state, the sporting capital of the world. The focus of Vicsport remains on services for and advocacy on behalf of its members. A new direction is to engage more directly with Members of Parliament alerting them to issues facing sport generally as it is sometimes too easy for those not involved on a daily basis to assume that it is business as usual and that sport will continue as it always has: people will play, volunteers will be available, facilities will be provided and that the experience will be a welcoming and satisfying one. Sport as an industry should not allow itself to be taken for granted and in addition to building relationships with those who govern the state Vicsport has developed a media plan to bring to the public’s attention the same issues which affect their ability to play and pay. The highlight early in 2017 was getting significant coverage on the pressing issue of power prices affecting the costs of running sport facilities and therefore affordability of access. That advocacy continues to be a work in progress for sport and Vicsport, just as it is for the whole community. Other media coverage included a focus on women’s sport in light of the successful launch of AFLW. Another initiative, of which I am personally proud, was the Vicsport postcard which simply conveys the strength and heft of the sports industry in Victoria and the role of Vicsport within that industry. In short Vicsport represents and advocates for and on behalf of 3.9m participants, 580,000 volunteers, 100 SSAs and 16,000 clubs. During the year, I continued to host regular President’s Breakfasts. These are occasions on which four or five Presidents of State Sport Associations gather for a conversation over breakfast for an hour and a half to meet each other and discuss issues affecting them and their sports. The conversation also serves as another way Vicsport can glean information which then informs Vicsport policy and thinking. It is always remarkable to see Presidents who think their sport’s problems are peculiar to them learn that they are not alone and that every sport, regardless of size, has a common experience with respect to money, membership and facilities. Invitations are now being extended to Victorian based presidents of NSOs which is adding another dimension to the broad discussion of issues in sport. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT