Blind Sports Australia is delighted to welcome four new Directors to its Board, bringing a diverse mix of experience across sport, governance, education, finance, marketing and the disability sector.
Joining the Board are Melissa Fanshawe, Cathryn Baker, Tamara Leizer and Marie Breuget, whose combined skills, diverse backgrounds and experience with vision impairment will help guide the organisation as it continues to create more opportunities for people who are blind or vision impaired to participate in sport and physical activity.
Blind Sports Australia Chair Sam Theodore said:
“The appointment of four new Directors reflects an exciting period of growth for Blind Sports Australia, including a significant step forward as we build our high-performance programs across two Paralympic sports.
“As BSA continues to mature, it is vital that our Board has the diversity, experience and capability to provide strong governance and strategic guidance. Melissa, Cathryn, Tamara and Marie bring an exceptional breadth of expertise that will help us build on our momentum and create even more opportunities for people who are blind or vision impaired to participate and excel in sport.”
The new appointments also reflect Blind Sports Australia’s ongoing commitment to strong and inclusive governance. With these appointments, the Board meets the Australian Sports Commission’s Gender Equity Principles, ensuring balanced representation and a diversity of perspectives around the board table.
Melissa Fanshawe
Melissa Fanshawe is an Associate Professor with more than 25 years’ experience across education, disability and sport. She has served on a number of boards, including Link Vision, SPEVI and the Australian Braille Authority, and is widely recognised for her work in inclusive education.
Melissa brings extensive knowledge of the blindness and low vision sector, along with experience in research, participation, partnerships and securing grant funding. She has also led successful fundraising initiatives and has firsthand experience in high-performance sport as Manager of the Australian Men’s Goalball Team. As a parent, she also brings valuable insight into the participant and family experience.
Cathryn Baker
Cathryn Baker is a senior executive and former Chief Executive Officer with more than 20 years’ experience in the health, sport and not-for-profit sectors.
An Australian Institute of Company Directors graduate, Cathryn has significant expertise in governance, strategy, financial management and organisational leadership. Her career includes CEO roles with Optometry Queensland/Northern Territory and the Macular Disease Foundation Australia, along with senior leadership positions at The Fred Hollows Foundation and Netball NSW.
Her experience working with boards, government and key stakeholders will be a valuable asset to Blind Sports Australia.
Tamara Leizer
Tamara Leizer is an experienced executive with a strong background in governance, finance and risk management.
A Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and CPA Australia, Tamara has held senior leadership roles with NSW Treasury, Transport for NSW and the NSW Reconstruction Authority. She also brings previous board and committee experience within the not-for-profit sector.
Her expertise in financial oversight, strategy and governance will strengthen the Board as Blind Sports Australia continues to grow.
Marie Breuget
Marie Breuget is Chief Executive Officer of Feed Digital and has built an impressive career in marketing, communications and digital strategy.
She has worked with a range of organisations to improve engagement, grow audiences and support fundraising initiatives. Marie also brings governance experience through her current public school board role and is passionate about creating more inclusive communities through sport.
Her experience in marketing, stakeholder engagement and strategic communications will support Blind Sports Australia’s continued growth and visibility.
Blind Sports Australia looks forward to the knowledge, leadership and fresh perspectives Melissa, Cathryn, Tamara and Marie will bring to the Board.
Together, they strengthen the organisation’s capacity to deliver on its strategic priorities and continue building a more inclusive sporting landscape for Australians who are blind or vision impaired.
