Getting to know the sport sector

It is now just over a month since I started in the CEO role at the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and as expected it’s been a whirlwind first few weeks.

When I commenced at the ASC I said that my focus would be listening and learning, and meeting people – both within the Commission and externally. That’s exactly what I’ve been doing and I’ve been overwhelmed by the warm welcome I’ve received so far in my many meetings with sporting and government bodies.

There’s been a fair bit on: a Meeting of Sport and Recreation Ministers in my first week, the successful Captains’ Forum in my second, along with early range of stakeholder meetings.

What are people saying to me? Well the good news for me is that there are very positive messages. Terms such as ‘partnership’ and ‘supportive’ and ‘sports-oriented’ are common comments. That is encouraging and fits well with the ASC’s objective of being both a leader and a supporter to sports. To me getting this balance is very important.

Striving for excellence

My aspirations for the ASC are obviously a work in progress – but there are some clear reference points for what makes a successful organisation.

Excellence: The ASC and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) have to be leading edge not just in terms of high performance sport, but in other aspects of our work. Excellence must permeate everything we do. The programs we deliver, facilities we operate, briefings we give, meetings we facilitate and the after-school sport programs we run.  I think a commitment to organisational excellence matches Australian’s expectations of their athletes.

Integrity: To me there is no more important quality. Without it we will not be able to achieve anything. I have great confidence in the ASC’s commitment to this ideal both as an exemplar to sport but also in the way people support each other and interact.

Strategic thinking: Great organisations are strategic: they do all their core work well, that is a given, but they also have an eye on the future, think  bigger picture and longer term. This creates opportunity for innovation and a way to stay ahead of the pack. This is an exciting challenge for the ASC — through the Australian Government’s vision for sport we have a strong focus on leading and supporting sport — to do this successfully will require first-rate strategic thinking and partnerships.

I’m confident that the ASC already has a sound strategic direction focused on the outcomes of high performance and participation. The challenge is to deliver on it in a way that means we can continue to say we are world class.

But the ASC can’t do this alone. What’s been pleasing to see is a willingness from all sectors of sport to work together in the pursuit of excellence.

I look forward to meeting and working with many more of you in coming weeks and months.

Simon Hollingsworth
CEO
Australian Sports Commission