Elizabeth Gaines is first woman elected West Coast Eagles chair

Elizabeth Gaines becomes first woman elected as West Coast Eagles chair

gaines

Business leader Elizabeth Gaines has become the first woman elected West Coast Eagles board chair.

Her appointment to the top job was made at a board meeting on Tuesday, and she will commence as chair beginning January 1 2025. Gaines will take over from Paul Fitzpartick whose tenure is set to finish after serving the maximum nine years as a director. 

Gaines has a long career international business and financial leadership across a number of industries, including travel and hospitality, media, property (real and intellectual), financial services, construction, infrastructure, agribusiness, mining & resources as well as digital business and models.

Gaines is best known in the business world for her roles as a senior executive with Fortescue Metals Group, where she was CEO and COO. She joined the Eagles’ board in 2022 and has served as deputy chair for the past two years. 

Stepping into the role of chair on the Western Australian football team’s board, Gaines has made clear that she’s looking to make improvements after three consecutive years of poor on-field results from the Eagles. 

“I am delighted to have received the support of my fellow directors and being endorsed as the next Chair of the football club,” Gaines said.

“We are acutely aware that we have not performed on the field as we would have liked in the last three years and we are committed to improving in all areas.”

As Fitzpatrick hands over the chair position to Gaines, he has said this is the start of an exciting new era for the club. 

“Elizabeth was elected unopposed and we look forward to her continuing to build on the foundations that have been laid,” Fitzpatrick said.

“To have someone of Elizabeth’s calibre stepping into the position of Chair is another exciting step in the evolution of our club.     

“Elizabeth has wide ranging respect, not just within the mining industry, but across the business community more broadly. A passionate supporter of our club before joining the Board, she has developed an even stronger connection through her involvement on the Board.”

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