NEW ATHLETES COMMISSION CHAIR
Published Fri 28 Jan 2022
Water Polo Australia (WPA) is pleased to announce four time Olympian Bron Knox has been appointed Chair of the Athletes’ Commission. The Athlete’s Commission have also nominated Knox as their representative on the WPA Board and so fills the final place on the WPA Board following the November 2021 Annual General Meeting.
Knox takes over at the helm from 2012 Olympian Jane Waldburger (nee Moran) who has been on the Athletes’ Commission for nine years, and held the position of Chair for five.
On reflection of her tenure, Waldburger said she is grateful for the people who have been part of her journey.
“As an athlete, I benefited from the many dedicated volunteers who continue to give to our sport. The Athletes’ Commission was an opportunity for me to be able to give back,” Waldburger said.
“I’m extremely grateful to all those involved in the Water Polo Australia office, and my fellow Directors, for the support they have given me during my time on the Athletes’ Commission.
“The people I got to work with along the way made my time really enjoyable, and it was great to be able to ride the highs and lows together.
“On a personal level, the learnings I have taken from my time here will only continue to help me in the future and in my career,” she said.
Waldburger offered her congratulations and best wishes to the incoming Chair Bronwen Knox, and said she looks forward to seeing her flourish in the role.
“Bron and I are very close, having played together in Queensland and for Australia for almost a decade,” Waldburger said.
“I’m always here to help, and very happy to lend a hand, but I know the Commission is in good hands with Bron,” she said.
Knox thanked Waldburger for the position she has left the Commission in, and said she looks forward to jumping right into the role.
“I have always been passionate about athletes understanding their rights and responsibilities, and having retired following the Tokyo Olympics I thought I’d like to be able to assist the athletes that are looking to pursue their own Olympic dreams,” Knox said.
“I’m pretty excited about the Commission that we’ve assembled and there's a few initiatives we are looking at implementing in the near future.
“One we’ve started talking a bit about is helping to reduce our waste as a sport - we want to do our part to provide a sustainable future and so are working through some plans around that at the moment.
“Also having Rowie Webster as an ex-officio member is a great opportunity for us, as Rowie is also on the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) Athletes' Commission.
“It’s a great opportunity to really align with their movements, and implement some of their initiatives where they fit within our sport.
“Being able to have that direct line of feedback from our sport into the (AOC) is something that we are looking to really capitalise on,” she said.
Water Polo Australia would like to thank outgoing Athletes’ Commission Chair Jane Waldburger for her service to the sport, and welcome Bronwen Knox to the role.
Athletes’ Commission
Chair - Bronwen Knox
Secretary - Keesja Gofers
Ex Officio - Rowie Webster
Bronte Halligan
Zoe Arancini
Nathan Power