AUS - Former New South Wales Premier appointed Chair of Basketball Australia Board

ALEXANDRIA - Basketball in Australia has received a massive boost following the appointment of former New South Wales Premier Kristina Keneally to the position of new Chair of Basketball Australia's Board.

Keneally served as the 42nd Premier of New South Wales from 2009 to 2011, becoming the first woman to head the state's government.

She is to assume her new role immediately and set about keeping the excellent growth basketball has enjoyed lately in Australia going for as long as possible.

“I am passionate about sports in general and basketball in particular,” said Keneally.
 
“As a sport, basketball in Australia has some unique advantages that we are only just starting to capitalise on.

“Our incredible strength in terms of mass participation numbers, with over one million people regularly playing basketball, is largely untapped thus far. The continued excellence of our national teams and competitions in what is a truly global sport is not just a source of immense pride, but also a source of significant potential corporate opportunities."

“I look forward to working with the rest of the Board to build further upon all the good work already done over the past few years. I am genuinely excited to have been entrusted with this role.”

Keneally takes over from outgoing Acting Basketball Australia Chair Justin Milne, who had filled the role temporarily after former Chair Diane Smith-Gander elected not to renominate for the position.

Milne believes his successor's addition to the BA Board is of great value to the sport.

"The Board is extremely pleased to have Kristina as part of the basketball family,” he said.

“She is one of the standout politicians of the last decade, demonstrating great values and fierce determination. As basketball continues to grow in this country she will become a great leader of our sport."

Keneally is the current Member for Heffron in the New South Wales Parliament and has served as a NSW Minister in the portfolios of Planning, Infrastructure, Disability Services, Ageing, World Youth Day and Redfern Waterloo.
 
FIBA