Updated: September 30, 2020
Bowls Australia has completed a review to identify the optimal governance and administration models for the Australian Bowls Community.
This is a key project within the Bowls Australia 2018-2022 Strategic Plan under improving Our Business Model.
Note: This review has not been about changing any competitions, events, pennants or regions of play in any way shape or form.
Benefits for Members
This review has looked to explore the future governance options for the sport, and the following is what we are trying to achieve in the longer term:
- Improve revenue opportunities for the sport as a whole
- Allow more resources to be directed to member and club services
- Improve the member/participant experience
- Allow more investment into the marketing the game
- Allow more investment into participation in the game
- Better assist clubs to be more sustainable
The Report
A copy of the 104-page report can be viewed here.
The Process
Bowls Australia, with the financial support of Sport Australia appointed Sport Business Partners (SBP) as the independent consultants to facilitate the process.
A Project Working Group was formed after seeking expressions of interest from each STA, who will provide a series of recommendations to Bowls Australia and the STAs. This will be based on a robust data collection and consultation process undertaken as part of the project.
The timeline for the project was as follows:
- Project Working Group (PWG) appointed – December 2019
- PWG scoping workshop – January 2020
- PWG working session 1 – February
- Consultation with key stakeholders – April & May
- PWG working session 2 – April
- PWG working session 2 – July
- Final report – September
- Update to State Consultative Body – October
- Formation of National Governance Reform Working Group – November
Working Group:
- Bob Boorman – Bowls Australia Director (Chair)
- Chris Wallace – Bowls Australia GM, Participation & Programs
- Ben Haywood – Sport AUS Senior Consultant, Sport Governance & Strategy
- Michael Haarsma – Bowls Australia Better Ageing Program Manager
- Greg Helm – Bowls NSW CEO
- Dilys Kindlesides – Women’s Bowls NSW Director
- Tony Sherwill – Bowls Victoria CEO
- Brett Wilkie – Bowls QLD CEO
- Ken Pride – Bowls WA CEO
- Mark Easton – Bowls SA CEO
- Kate Lyttle – Bowls ACT CEO
- Graham Hay – Bowls Tasmania President
- Col Crossingham – Zone 5 Rep – Bowls NSW Affiliation
- Gerard Robinson – Tweed Heads BC CEO – Bowls QLD Affiliation
Consultants:
- Sport Business Partners
- Martin Hirons – Managing Director
- Ben Manning – Senior Consultant
- Anna Eades – Consultant
Advisory Group:
- Darryl Clout – Bowls Australia President (Chair)
- Bob Boorman – Bowls Australia Director
- Neil Dalrymple – Bowls Australia CEO
- Ben Haywood – Sport AUS Senior Consultant, Sport Governance & Strategy
- Vince Del Prete – Bowls WA Director & Athletics WA CEO
- Matthew Romaine – Bowls SA Director