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
David England
David is the General Manager of Strategy, Architecture and Service Planning for the National Australia Bank and has previously performed similar management roles with Coles Myer and HSBC. As an athlete David achieved the heights of Olympic rowing selection as a coxswain at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games in addition to numerous domestic successes. David has previously served on the RA Board as Director of Finance and this, coupled with his intimate knowledge of the requirements for elite success and his multi-industry business experience will provide the RA Board with an outstanding and constructive contribution.

Director
Barnaby Eaton
Barnaby is an experienced rowing professional having served the rowing community continuously for the past 19 years in a range of capacities including Board Director, Coach, Selector and Administrator as well as supervising school students to the National Championships each year between 1993 and 2004. He has served on the Board of Rowing Queensland and is currently the Director of Sport at Anglican Church Grammar in Brisbane. Additionally, Barnaby has significant and successful coaching experience, having coached two Australian junior crews to medals in 1996 and 1997.

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, Athletes Representative
Jaime Fernandez
Jaime has a long and successful involvement in rowing including representing Australia at the Olympic Games on three occasions, culminating in a Silver Medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Jaime has also won numerous National and International rowing titles, including at Henley Royal Regatta. In addition to his athletic excellence Jaime has coached on the National Team and been a National Junior Team selector. Away from the National Team environment Jaime has also worked as Director of Rowing at Wesley College and Canberra Grammar School and held coaching and selecting roles with the ACT State Team. Jaime has previously been a part of the RA Athletes’ Commission during his active rowing days, as well as representing rowing on the AIS Athletes’ Commission. Jaime is passionate about athlete involvement and welfare and will ensure that the RA Athletes’ Commission is effective and accurately represents the athlete body.

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