Overlaying this is the pressing need to wrap up both the team-participation agreement – which basically governs the relationship between Netball Australia and the clubs competing in Super Netball - and the collective bargaining agreement,which sets out the terms and conditions for players. Both of these agreements are not completed but are time-critical,as clubs and players require certainty as they look to 2022. Given that some clubs will finish their Super Netball season next month,they are looking to plan for next season,and they cannot do that without these agreements being finalised.
I am an optimist so I am falling on the side of this being the best of times to kick off your tenure as CEO of one of Australia’s biggest sports. While there are lots of things to manage,netball’s foundations are secure. Having been tested last year,the sport remained solvent and is well managed at all levels,with a grassroots base that is the envy of every other sport in Australia. Critically,netball has just revamped its national board to reflect more contemporary governance practices,which should give Ryan the time and space to work on the sport,rather than manage board politics. Finally,the state of the game report provides a ready-made road map for her to use as a guide.
By all accounts Ryan is intelligent,focused and energetic,which is terrific,because she will need all of these attributes in spades. She is saying all of the right things as she comes into the role,including a commitment to transparency with fans and commercial partners.
For Ryan to be successful,communication will be critical. As an external appointment,she will need to establish her leadership chops early. While it is an advantage to come to the role with fresh eyes,and without the baggage that an internal appointee would have had,the disadvantage is that she is not well-known within the sport. To this end,getting out in front of all stakeholders to talk about how decisions are made will raise her profile within the sport as well as demystifying the way the sport goes about its business.
It would also signal a welcome change in direction for netball. For too long we have been too humble,with our administrators content to work in the background making decisions that are largely good ones,but which go unexplained. A CEO who is prepared to put herself out the front of the organisation will also give netball better visibility on the national stage.