RUGBYWA ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD DIRECTORS
WESTERN FORCE MEDIA RELEASE
Monday, 28 April 2014
RugbyWA has unveiled its new Board with the appointment of four new Directors following its recent Annual General Meeting.
Following consideration by the Board of other vacancies, Chairman Dr Russel Perry has announced the new Board members are Hans Sauer, Marion Fulker, John Edwards and Kevin Gallagher.
Hans Sauer, an existing member of the Board’s Community Rugby Advisory Committee, has been involved with the Nedlands Rugby Union Football Club as well as schools and junior rugby since 1994, including serving as Club President for three years. He was a Natal Universities U/19 representative prior to migrating to Perth. Mr Sauer is currently Managing Director of Clearguard, an international mining services and engineering company and retains strong South African connections.
Marion Fulker, CEO of the influential Committee for Perth since 2007 and Chair of the Heritage Council, becomes the first female Board Member for RugbyWA having already served the club as a member of its Commercial Services Advisory Committee. Mrs Fulker is also Senior Adjunct Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia and with 15 years experience working in and leading membership organisations, will provide particularly significant guidance and advice regarding the club’s membership and promotional experience.
John Edwards, Regional Director for Asia Pacific of Fugro-TSM, has led a long sponsorship and donor relationship with the Western Force since the club’s inception. He has over 30 years worldwide experience with offshore oil, gas and marine contracting organisations. Mr Edwards has been a rugby player, coach and administrator in several overseas countries as well as Australia. He is a Director of the Force 15 Foundation and will provide a valuable commercial input with particular reference to South-East Asia
Kevin Gallagher, CEO and Managing Director of Clough Limited, an international oil and gas and minerals engineering and project services company with strong linkages throughout Australia and South Africa as part of the South African Murray & Roberts international group of companies. Mr Gallagher is passionate about the Australian resources sector and is an advocate for building high level skills. He sits on the Advisory Board for the Curtin School of Business and is a Non-Executive Director of the Australian Contractors Association. In 2013 he was recognised by Australia’s CEO Magazine as the CEO of the Year and the Energy and Resources Executive of the Year.
Dr Perry said he looked forward to the contribution of all new Directors in building further commercial success in conjunction with the significant improvement of the Western Force.
“We are entering an exciting and very important period for our club and for rugby in Western Australia, and I’m pleased to welcome the new Directors to our Board to help realise the objectives and success we’re looking to achieve,” he said.
“Hans, Marion, John and Kevin all come to us with extensive commercial and professional knowledge and we’re excited not only by what they bring to the table but with their enthusiasm for their roles and the success of the club.”
Dr Perry also acknowledged the significant contributions of retiring Directors – Steve Fink, Brent Stewart, Leon Davies and Ian Cochrane.
“I’d like to thank Steve, Brent, Leon and Ian, who have provided tremendous and unwavering service to the club and have always worked in the best interests of rugby in Western Australia,” he said.
“I’d like to particularly acknowledge Brent Stewart and Steve Fink, who were Foundation Directors from the start of the professional era of RugbyWA eight years ago. In addition, Mr Fink has been involved for over 27 years in a variety of roles including President of the Junior Rugby Union and is a Life Member of RugbyWA.”
Mrs Fulker, Mr Sauer, Mr Edwards and Mr Gallagher join Dr Perry (Chairman), Mr David Redpath (President), Mr Tony Howarth AO CitWA (Deputy Chairman), Mr Charles Fear, Mr Scott Staniforth (Player Representative) and Mr David Vaux in making up the new RugbyWA Board.
