WATER POLO AUSTRALIA WELCOMES CHARLES TURNER AS NEW NATIONAL PERFORMANCE DIRECTOR

Water Polo Australia is pleased to welcome triple Olympian and former Olympic coach Charles Turner, as the new WPA National Performance Director.

After an extensive international search that attracted more than 70 applications, the WPA Board is pleased to announce Charles to the newly defined National Performance Director role, bringing to the position an extensive water polo background combined with 35 years’ experience working as a sports administrator.

Previously serving as the CEO of NSW Institute of Sport, High Performance Manager of Canoeing Australia and AIS Program Manager for Water Polo, Turner’s understanding of the high performance network both within Australia and internationally, will make him a valued member of the WPA leadership team.

The National Performance Director will oversee the implementation of the national performance framework including management of the national teams’ program in preparation for the Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games, national pathways program, national competitions and referees.

Water Polo Australia CEO, Richard McInnes, said: “We are very fortunate to have someone of Charles’ calibre joining our Water Polo Australia leadership team, with his water polo and professional high performance experience making him the ideal fit.

“After conducting an extensive recruitment process with Sportspeople, that attracted numerous high calibre applications, we are excited to have Charles’ joining the team effective immediately.

“Charles’ water polo experience speaks for itself, representing Australia on more than 500 occasions including three Olympic Games as a player as well as coaching our Aussie Sharks at two Olympic Games.

“The National Performance Director forms a critical part of our leadership team, as the role not only manages our Olympic Games preparations, but ensures our pathways and competitions are well supported to optimise the development of players, coaches and referees to produce sustainable and successful international performances,” he said.

Charles Turner said: “I am delighted to be appointed to the role of National Performance Director. Water polo is a sport I have a great deal of history and passionate for and I look forward to helping tailor their programs to move in the right direction.

“My first role will be to see how the men’s and women’s teams are traveling into Tokyo. I will spend some time talking to people and I hope the experience I bring can help get the States and Clubs on the same page as well,” he said.

While it has been a number of years since he coached and played water polo, Turner admitted there are many elements of the sport that have not changed.

“In many ways water polo hasn’t changed. From an Australian perspective we have good players but there is a resource issue especially in the men's program.

“Having worked across a range of sports over the last 20 years I have been able to see the good parts of what sports have done well and I can bring this collective experience to the water polo programs,” he said.

Charles will commence with Water Polo Australia from Monday 9 November.