Wests Tigers is proud to announce the successful recruitment of four Independent Directors to the Club’s Board. This milestone marks the completion of an extensive governance and cultural review, reinforcing the Club's commitment to excellence both on and off the field.
Elevate Talent undertook an Independent Search as set-down by the Holman Barnes Review, with the guidance of Managing Partner Jonathan Harris and invaluable support of Jill Davies, a distinguished Sport Business & Governance expert serving as an Independent Advisor. The selection process adhered strictly to the review's criteria, that were endorsed by all stakeholders.
Wests Tigers are delighted to announce that Barry O’Farrell has been officially appointed as one of the four Independent Directors following a successful 12-month period as Interim Chair. Barry’s leadership and dedication during this time have been instrumental in guiding the Club forward to this stage. Barry has already demonstrated exceptional governance skills, in a complex stakeholder environment.
Additionally, we are excited to welcome three new Independent Directors to the Board:
- Charlie Viola, Executive Chair of Viola Private Wealth, and former Partner at Pitcher Partners. Charlie is a prominent Financial Advisor and Industry leader, with exceptional financial management, commercial and strategy skills. Charlie grew up in Campbelltown and now lives in the Inner West;
- Michelle McDowell, former Managing Director of Allied Express, bringing a wealth of experience in commercial, operations and logistics. Michelle has significant business acumen and is passionate about community. Michelle has deep commercial insights into the Western suburbs of Sydney;
- Annabelle Williams OAM PLY, Former Chair of the Athlete’s Commission for Paralympics Australia, and former Board member of the Paralympics Australia and Swimming Australia. Annabelle is a Lawyer and a decorated athlete, with deep insights in High-Performance, and is an advocate for inclusion and excellence in sport. Annabelle grew up in Balmain.
These appointments mark an exciting new chapter for the Wests Tigers as we continue to strengthen our leadership and vision for the future. The Chair will be elected by the Board at their first meeting on Tuesday 28th January 2025.
This successful recruitment is the culmination of the dedicated efforts by the Club and Holman Barnes Group over the past 12 months to implement the recommendations from the independent review into Wests Tigers Governance and Culture. The review was led and supported by Holman Barnes Group and conducted independently by Tony Crawford and Gary Barnier.
Chair of the Holman Barnes Group, Julie Romero, reaffirmed the support of the Holman Barnes Group in the appointment of the new Directors:
“Holman Barnes Group is extremely pleased with the appointment of the four accomplished Independent Directors. Each person brings a strong and diverse skill set, valuable experience, energy and independent thought. All essential to create a thriving Boardroom dynamic. This is an exciting opportunity to ensure Wests Tigers can operate with true corporate governance.”
Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson said the appointment of the new Independent Directors signals a significant step forward in the Club's development:
"The addition of these Independent Directors is a pivotal moment for Wests Tigers. Their expertise and fresh perspectives will play a crucial role in guiding the Club as we embark on the next phase of our journey to success."
The appointments represent the final piece of this transformation, which has also included:
- Football Operations: A complete revamp of operations.
- True Governance: Establishing effective operational structures for staff management.
- Strategic Vision: Launching the strategic plan ‘Roaring Ahead’ to shape our direction for 2025 and 2026.
- Community Presence: Opening the first office in Campbelltown, strengthening ties with local government, sponsors, and members.
- Stadium Development: Conducting a full stadium review and unveiling a stadia plan for 2025, 2026, and 2027.
- South-West Expansion: Expanding the Club’s presence in the South-West catchment to support our push towards achieving 10,000 local juniors, making Wests Tigers the #1 Club in the NRL.
- Community Impact: Launching ‘Wests Tigers Empower’, a program addressing critical issues such as the transition from school to work and the domestic violence education.
- Fan Engagement: Establishing and facilitating the Fans Representative Group (FRG) to foster closer connections with our supporters.
The new Independent Directors coupled with Interim Representatives from Balmain Tigers (Danny Stapleton), Western Suburbs Magpies (Stephen Montgomery) and Holman Barnes Group (Dennis Burgess), will play a key role in shaping the Club’s governance, strategy, and engagement with stakeholders as Wests Tigers look toward a bright future.
For more information, please refer to the selection criteria and behavioural requirements that guided the appointment for these roles.
