WAIS welcomes Priya Cooper as new Chair among four new Board appointments

The Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) welcomes the appointment of Ms Priya Cooper OAM as Chair among four new appointments to the WAIS Board.

Ms Cooper brings considerable experience to the Board in both sports governance and as an athlete. During a stellar swimming career, she won 16 Paralympic medals including nine gold and is an eight time world champion.

She holds a degree in Health Promotion and Journalism from Curtin University and has extensive experience on Corporate Boards and is a current Board member of VenuesWest, Chair of WA Disabled Sports Association, Deputy Chair of the Disability Services Commission and Board member of Ability WA.

WAIS acknowledges and extends its thanks to outgoing Chair Mr Neil McLean, who has served on the Board for nine years, and as Chair for the last three.

Mr McLean through his extensive sport experience as a sport psychologist as well as clinical psychologist and academic, successfully led the Institute through the COVID-19 pandemic and rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the recent 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

The WAIS contribution to all these Games was the best in the 38-year history of the institute. During this time, he also ensured former athlete complaints of inappropriate treatment were independently reviewed by Sport Integrity Australia and committed the organisation to implementing actions to further improve athlete wellbeing and care.

Mr McLean also played an influential role in the development of Nurturing High Performance, the WAIS 2022-2032 Strategic Plan, which seeks to find and nurture new talent, enable champion performances, and to inspire our community.

Ms Cooper paid tribute to Mr McLean for his service to WAIS.

“I am very much looking forward to leading WAIS and nurturing our elite athletes towards the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024 and beyond.

“I would like to extend my thanks Neil McLean for his service to the WAIS board.”

Mr McLean replied saying, “It has been a privilege to be on the WAIS board for nearly a decade and to lead the organisation for the last three years.

“I would like to thank my fellow Board members for their enthusiasm, commitment and support, and wish Priya Cooper, the Board, CEO Steve Lawrence and WAIS staff and athletes my best wishes as we look forward to what should be an exciting period for elite sport in Australia.”

Joining Ms Cooper are three new Board members, Dr Rishelle Hume, Professor Robert Grove and Mr Stuart Reside.

Dr Hume is a project manager with a track record of introducing strategies that deliver competitive operational, strategic, and positioning objectives.

Professor Grove is a retired tertiary educator and researcher with expertise in sport psychology, exercise psychology, and health psychology.

Mr Reside, a former WAIS scholarship holder and Olympic bronze medallist from the 2004 Athens Games, is an experienced business executive and general manager.

Current Board members Mr Matthew Beevers, Ms Josie Janz-Dawson and Mr Leigh Robinson have been appointed for a further term, with Professor Fiona Pixley and Ms Amanda Cox continuing in their ongoing appointments.

WAIS also thanks outgoing Board members, Ms Fiona Lander, and Ms Linda Hamersley for their service to the Institute.

Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman said, “I am delighted to announce that world champion swimmer Ms Priya Cooper will be taking on the role of Chairperson.

“Ms Cooper’s strong leadership credentials and lived experience as an elite athlete will provide for strong leadership into the future.

“All of our board members bring a wealth of expertise and experience that will be of great value as the Western Australian Institute of Sport continues to strive to provide opportunities for excellence, to support the development of athletes, and encourage participation in sport.

“The Institute is well placed to move into a new era to put us in the best position for success at the Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Paris 2024 and at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria 2026.

“I would like to thank all outgoing members for their service, including Chair Neil McLean who has been on the Board for just over nine years, three of which were served as Chair.”