Wests Tigers appoint four new independent directors

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Club CEO Shane Richardson at the opening of the Campbelltown office. Photo: South West Voice Photography.

Wests Tigers has announced the appointment of four independent directors to the club’s board.

Former NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell has been officially appointed as one of the four independent directors following a 12-month period as interim chair.

The other new independent directors are Charlie Viola, Michelle McDowell and Annabelle Williams.

Mr Viola is executive hair of Viola Private Wealth, and former partner at Pitcher Partners and offers financial and strategy skills. He grew up in Campbelltown and now lives in the Inner West.

Ms McDowell, former managing director of Allied Express, offers a wealth of experience in commercial, operations and logistics. She has commercial insights into the Western Suburbs of Sydney.

Ms Williams is a former chair of the Athlete’s Commission for Paralympics Australia, and former board member of the Paralympics Australia and Swimming Australia. She grew up in Balmain.

In a media statement, the club said 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’’.

The new Independent directors, along with the 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.
The chair will be elected by the board at its first meeting on January 28.

The appointments of the independent directors is the culmination of 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 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,’’ Ms Romero said.

“Each person brings a strong and diverse skill set, valuable experience, energy and independent thought, all essential to create a thriving board room 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 club said 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 the club’s 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 the 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 domestic violence education.

Fan Engagement: Establishing and facilitating the Fans Representative Group (FRG) to foster closer connections with supporters.

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