Netball Australia (NA) chief executive Kelly Ryan has resigned days after a lengthy pay dispute with the players’ union reached a new pay deal for players.
The former AFL executive was appointed to the NA role in mid-2021, and has been in charge during the 10-month long pay dispute. Earlier this year, she cited financial pressures of more than $4m of debt in the wake of community criticism for the sport’s leadership.
Ryan was also in charge during the controversial Hancock sponsorship, the decision to sell the Super Netball grand final to Perth without player consultation, threats of legal action if Diamonds players boycotted their awards night and Collingwood’s withdrawal from the competition ahead of the 2023 season.
Late last month, netball great Liz Ellis called out Netball Australia for its treatment of players, amid the ongoing pay dispute and the awards night that was boycotted by Super Netball players.
“As a former Diamonds captain, I cannot believe that the governing body of the sport I love would treat its Diamonds athletes, who are brilliant role models and ambassadors for netball with such callous disregard,” she said.
Ellis offered her support to players who are in a dispute with the sport’s administration about the next collective player agreement (CPA). Domestic players demand a revenue sharing model have now gone some 10 weeks without pay, remaining essentially unemployed since the previous CPA expired on September 30.
“The timing felt right to hand over the reins to a new leader,” Ryan said in a statement on her resignation.
“During my time as CEO I have delivered on the objectives of the board.”
“We overcame the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic to continue a national competition through border closures, experienced strong growth in the national competition, grew netball’s already strong participation numbers and strengthened the games’ finances,” she said.
“Netball Australia has a wonderful team of people who work tirelessly for the benefit of the sport and I thank them for their continued efforts and for their support.”
NA chair Wendy Archer said she hadn’t anticipated Ryan’s resignation and wasn’t aware of any plans from other board members or executives to resign.
“Kelly Ryan has made an enormous contribution to our sport in her time leading Netball Australia,” Archer said.
“She has shown great resilience and integrity during her leadership over her time as CEO.”
Moving forwards, Archer said NA’s next leader would need to step into a conciliatory role “because we need to heal”.
“I would like to think that we will attract some outstanding candidates,” Archer told reporters.
“The sport has a lot going for it. Yes, we’ve come out of a difficult period, but all parties are working to move forward.”
Stacey West, NA’s executive general manager of performance, will fill Ryan’s role on an interim basis.