Rowing Australia Board

The day-to-day management of Rowing Australia is vested in a Board of up to seven Directors plus the Chief Executive Officer.

The current Company Directors are:

President and Chairman
Colin Smith
Following Colin’s retirement as a Senior Partner of LEK Consulting, a leading international strategy consulting firm, he now undertakes an advisory role as Principal Advisor of L.E.K.’s sports, media and entertainment regionally, and has been a senior member of L.E.K. globally. Through Global Media and Sports, of which Colin is Managing Director, he provides negotiation leadership for the leading professional sports on media rights. Colin was formally a Director of Southern Cross Broadcasting Ltd and former Chairman of MCM Entertainment Ltd. As an athlete, Colin rowed on four occasions for Australia as a lightweight, winning Gold in 1974 in the Coxless Four, together with 1 Silver and 2 Bronze medals. Colin has also been a Coach and National Selector.

Director of Finance
Gavin Rezos
Gavin, who is based in Perth, has an investment banking background and is currently Executive Chairman of ASX listed Alexium International and a Non executive Director of ASX listed Iluka Resources Limited. Gavin has been a director or CEO of public companies listed in Australia, UK, Germany and the US and is principal of Viaticus Capital. Previously Gavin held senior executive positions with HSBC Bank in the UK, Asia and Australia and is a qualified lawyer in NSW, WA and the UK. Gavin represented WA in Youth rowing, won an Australian National title in 1980 and has won a number of WA State Championships in various boats and classes over many years representing the University of WA Boat Club (UWABC) where he was a former Captain. Gavin also competed in intervarsity for UWABC, competed for 4 years in the UK for the Sons of the Thames Rowing Club and currently rows in masters boats for UWABC. Gavin is an active President of the Don Fraser Club, the support club for rowing at Christ Church Grammar School in Perth and has 2 sons currently rowing at school and university.

Director, Deputy Chair
John Boultbee
John is currently the High Performance Director for Football Federation Australia. Formerly Solicitor and Barrister at the Sydney Bar, John was the Secretary General of FISA from 1989 – 1995 when he returned to Australia to take up the position of Director of the Australian Institute of Sport until 2001. John has had a long association with rowing in Australia as a Cox, Coach, National Team Manager, State Councillor and Rowing Australia Director. John is highly regarded around the world in rowing circles and currently holds the prestigious positions of FISA Executive Member and a Steward of the Henley Royal Regatta.

Director
Andrew Rowley
Andrew Rowley has had a long involvement with rowing, having spent the last 24 years in the sport as a participant and administrator. Andrew’s service to the rowing community has included various roles on the Board of Rowing NSW over 11 years, including as a Board member, Deputy President and President. Following the conclusion of his time on the Rowing NSW Board, Andrew representing NSW as a Councilor to Rowing Australia, a role he held until his election to the RA Board. In his professional career, Andrew has held a number of roles, including as CEO of the Steve Waugh Foundation and his current role as the Managing Director of Ability First Australia. A common theme throughout Andrew’s professional life has been his experience and relationships within the not for profit sector of which he has a very good understanding.

Director
Lizzi Chapman
Lizzi Chapman was elected to the Rowing Australia Board following a long and distinguished involvement in rowing at many levels across two continents. For almost 30 years Lizzi has actively contributed to the rowing community in various roles including rower (representing Great Britain), club official, coach (including Australian Junior and Under 23 crews, the latter resulting in a Gold medal) and team manager. In addition to her strong and varied rowing experience, Lizzi will also bring her valuable corporate skills to the Board, including extensive experience as a financial planner and nine years with Ernst & Young working across Oceania to provide analysis to inform leadership and strategy. Lizzi also worked with the Australian Olympic Committee in the lead up to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

Director
Heather Neil
Heather is currently the CEO of RSPCA Australia, a role which has helped her develop a deep and practical understanding of not for profit organisations, a perspective also developed through her previous professional experiences as Executive Director of WSROC (lobby group for the ten Western Sydney local councils), as Policy Manager for the Australia Local Government Association and as the inaugural Executive Director of the QUIT Smoking Campaign in Tasmania. Within rowing Heather has participated as a social and locally competitive rower, has supported a young rower through to Australian Championship level, has contributed significantly to her local club as President and served as a Committee Member of the ACT Rowing Association.

Director
Flavia Gobbo
Flavia Gobbo was appointed Chairman of Q-COMP in June 2012. Q-Comp is the independent statutory authority that oversees and regulates the functions of WorkCover Queensland. Flavia is also the Acting General Counsel for Telstra innovation Products and Marketing at Telstra Corporation Limited where she has had a wide range of both legal and management experience. Flavia has recently acted in the role of Assistant Company Secretary of Telstra, with a focus on the Audit committee, management of the Shareholder Registry and Subsidiary requirements as well as being the Company Secretary for the Telstra Foundation. Flavia has also worked in Finance & Strategy, Legal Services, at Telstra where she was involved in the areas of Corporate Governance and policy, Compliance and the Company Secretariat. She also worked in Treasury, advising on Telstra’s Debt Issue Program and other capital management issues. These positions have given Flavia a valuable practical insight into a Director's regulatory and commercial responsibilities. Previously Flavia was with Telstra Product Management and was responsible for providing commercially focused legal advice covering the product lifecycle from sourcing and vendor negotiations to product design, constructing customers terms and conditions, ongoing product legal compliance issues and product divestments and exits. In this role she was responsible for: providing commercially-focused constructive legal advice with extensive involvement in strategic and operational planning. On the water Flavia was also a successful rower at both State and National level and has recently competed at the World Masters Games as a member of the University of Queensland Boat Club.

Director, Athletes Representative

Cameron McKenzie McHarg

Cameron is highly respected amongst the athlete body, having recently been elected as Team Captain of the Australian Olympic Rowing Team. As an athlete Cameron was a member of the Australian Rowing Team between 2001 and 2012, including representing Australia at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. Cameron achieved great success as an athlete, his career highlighted by a Olympic Silver medal in the Men’s Four in Beijing, and also including Silver and Bronze medals at World Championship level and 2 Gold, 3 Silver and 4 Bronze World Cup medals. Off the water, Cameron has a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Applied Finance from The University of Melbourne and extensive experience in the finance industry. Cameron has a history of involvement with the RA Athletes’ Commission, including in the strategic planning and development of the athlete body.

back to top