By Duncan Mackay
June 9 – Football Federation Australia (FFA) chairman Frank Lowy (pictured) has announced the Board for the 2015 Asian Cup.
The new Board, which is chaired by Lowy, has been agreed between the Federal, Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Victorian Governments, as well as the FFA.
Cheryl Bart, Joseph Carrozzi, John Conde, Geoff Dixon, Chris Nikou and Heather Reid will join Lowy and Brian Schwartz, the deputy chairman of the Organising Committee, and Ben Buckley, the chief executive of the FFA.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will appoint the final three members to the 12-person Board.
The new Board has a mixture of business and sporting backgrounds.
Bart is the chair of several organisations, including ANZ Trustees Ltd, the South Australian Film Corporation, The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE), and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
She is also a non-executive director on the Board of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and has previously been chair of the Australian Sports Foundation, Soccer Australia and Basketball Australia.
Carrozzi is a managing partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, with more than 25 years experience in the professional services sector; Conde is the chairman of Ausgrid – formerly EnergyAustralia – of the Bupa Australia Group; Dixon (pictured) is the chairman of Tourism Australia abd Events Queensland and was the former managing director and chief executive of Qantas Airways Limited; and Nikou is a senior partner and Board member of national law firm Middletons in their Corporate & Commercial Group specialising in mergers and acquisitions, sports law and franchising and has acted as legal advisor to many professional sports clubs.
Reid, meanwhile, is a director of Australian Womensport and Recreation Association and chief executive of Capital Football as well as Canberra United.
“The Board members have a wealth of experience across fields including business, tourism, major events, sport and the charity sector and they are well-placed to help the Local Organising Committee deliver on its objectives,” said Lowy.
“The AFC Asian Cup is about more than just a football tournament.
“Governments have invested in the event because of the great potential it has for making lasting connections with our Asian neighbours.”
Lowy claimed claimed that preparations for the event were now in full swing.
“Our vision is to deliver a world-class event that celebrates Asia’s rich football culture and leaves an enduring legacy for the game in Australia,” he said.
“There is no doubt the new Board members will help us with the aim of strengthening our cultural, social and economic ties with Asia as well as helping us to harness Australia’s reputation for hosting world-class events.”
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