Balancing the seats at the table – ASC supports sport boards path to gender equity
Paralympian Ellie Cole has received an accolade of a different kind after graduating with a Diploma of Governance from the Institute of Community Directors Australia (ICDA).
25 June 2025
Paralympian and Paralympics Australia board member Ellie Cole says the knowledge she has gained from the ICDA course will be invaluable. Paralympian Ellie Cole has received an accolade of a different kind after graduating with a Diploma of Governance from the Institute of Community Directors Australia (ICDA).
The decorated swimmer who won 17 medals at four Paralympic Games and joined Paralympics Australia’s board last year, took up the opportunity offered by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) to expand her skillset and help accelerate her career in the boardroom.
As a first-time Director, Cole wanted to develop a strong foundation so she could apply her experiences as effectively as possible.
“While I knew I had something very unique to offer to the board, I wasn’t confident in the areas of board responsibilities, financial oversight and strategic planning,” she said.
“The knowledge and skills that I have gained will be invaluable as I apply my experience as an athlete, particularly one with a disability in sports governance.”
Cole is among a group of women from across the sector graduating after completing the year-long course. Another 17 women who are also in their first board roles and who haven’t had any previous formal governance training started their study in April.
Supporting women through further education is one way the ASC is helping the sport sector achieve gender equity.
Despite almost equal sport participation rates between men and women, women are still under-represented in governance and leadership positions across Australian sport.
The National Gender Equity in Sport Governance Policy seeks to address that imbalance and requires national and state-level sport bodies to ensure half of all board directors, board chairs and specified board subcommittee members are women by July 2027.
ASC CEO Kieren Perkins OAM said gender equity is crucial to the long-term success of Australian sport.
"Boards are stronger and make better more effective decisions when there is a mix of skills, perspectives and experiences at the table,” he said.
“Investing in the education of first-time directors and supporting diverse representation on our sporting boards will help ensure everyone has a place in sport."
Each participant’s sporting organisation also participated in a board diversity workshop.
Cole says being encouraged to think in an entirely different way was exciting for the Paralympics Australia board.
“It facilitated some interesting discussion as to the different ways we can strengthen our board and what we do moving forward to ensure we have a more inclusive environment at every level.”
Chair of Lacrosse Australia, Abbie Burgess-Brice has recently started her Diploma, and hopes to gain a deeper understanding of best practice governance, network with other leaders, and refine her strategic thinking.
“I'm very much looking forward to it. I believe it will be a valuable learning experience and provide me with tools to improve my board contribution,” Burgess-Brice said.
2025 Diploma of Governance cohort:
Joanne Banning, Skate Australia Suzy Batkovic, Basketball Australia Linda Benny, AusCycling Abbie Burgess-Brice, Lacrosse Australia Karen Doyle, Skate Australia Brooke Farris, Surfing Australia Victoria Hamilton Wilson, Snow Australia Sandra Hodges, Pony Club Sally Irwin, Touch Football Australia Bridie Kean, Australian Sports Commission Rachael Kininmonth, Rowing Australia Judith MacGowan, Australian Taekwondo Jacqueline Mengler-Mohr, AusCycling Lauren Moran, Touch Football Australia Kathryn Periac, Boccia Australia Lisa Potter, Motorcycling Lydia Williams, Australian Sports Commission
2024 Diploma of Governance cohort:
Sam Auty, Fencing Australia Alana Baratto, Motorcycling Australia Catherine Beachley, Baseball Australia Adithi Biswas, Badminton Australia Ellie Cole, Paralympics Australia Jodie Cross, Water Polo Australia Genevieve Delves, Bowls Australia Paula Devenny, QLD Government Sarah-Jane Dunford, Motorcycling Australia Julia Felton, Boxing Australia Cara Honeychurch, Australian Sports Commission Lorraine Hughes, Shooting Australia Jacqui Jashari, WA Government Deanna Kyriazopoulos, Taekwondo Australia Anna Mezger, Special Olympics Australia Crystal Miao, Fencing Australia Catriona Nicholls, Polocrosse Australia Jaime Roberts, Paddle Australia Jutta Schortmann, Fencing Australia Kathryn Schultz, Australian Sports Commission Melinda Vernon, Deaf Sports Australia