Sarah Kenny to Chair Sport Integrity Advisory Council

by Michael Martin 7 Jan 2021 22:50 PST

Sarah Kenny © Australian Sailing

Former Australian Sailing Vice President Sarah Kenny has just been announced as Chair of the highly experienced nine-member Sport Integrity Australia Advisory Council.

The Advisory Council includes leaders from a wide cross section of sport, governance, government administration, law enforcement and child protection.

The announcement was made yesterday by Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck, the Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services and Minister for Sport.

"I am pleased to announce the nine-member advisory council," Minister Colbeck said. "Each member brings skills and knowledge to provide advice on all areas of sports integrity.

"It follows the Australian Government's recent investment of $10.1 million to introduce an independent complaints handling process within Sport Integrity Australia."

Kenny's appointment as Chair follows her recent election as Vice President of World Sailing in November last year. This followed eight years on the Board of Australian Sailing, including six as Vice President which concluded in late 2019.

"I am looking forward to working with the other highly respected Advisory Council members to bring together our combined experience and knowledge to advise on all aspects of sport integrity and to assist in safeguarding the integrity of Australian sport," said Kenny at her appointment.

President of Australian Sailing, Daniel Belcher, also noted his pleasure at the announcement. "Sarah is a world-class sports administrator, and as a sport we are proud of the work she is doing across this and many other roles," said Belcher.

"Her work across integrity and governance in her time as Vice President of Australian Sailing now a member of World Sailing's Board of Directors made her the perfect person for this role."

Sport Integrity Australia commenced operations on 1 July 2020, and is the cornerstone of the Government's sport integrity strategy.

The newly appointed Advisory Council will provide Strategic advice to both the CEO of Sport Integrity Australia as well as to the Minister for Sport.

"I am particularly pleased to announce Ms Sarah Kenny as Chair of the Advisory Council," Minister Colbeck said. "Highly regarded for her national and international experience within the administration of Olympic sailing, Ms Kenny is a vice president of World Sailing, and represented Australia at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games in windsurfing."

He said Ms Kenny also boasts an extensive legal career combining corporate law with a sports related practice including integrity matters.

"Experienced in the complex wagering regulatory regime in Australia, anti-money laundering, and complex integrity issues, her leadership will be invaluable to the success of the Advisory Council," Minister Colbeck said.

He also noted that the highly qualified council members will bring enormous value to the consideration of sport integrity issues and the way they are addressed.

"The Government has invested heavily in protecting the integrity of Australian sport.

"By establishing Sport Integrity Australia and the National Sports Tribunal, increasing investment into independent compliant handling and forming the Sport Integrity Australia Advisory Council, Australians can be confident everything possible is being done to keep the sport they love clean, safe and fair."

The inaugural Sport Integrity Australia Advisory Council will consist of the following members: