Sport Australia Hall of Fame announces changes to the Board.
The Sport Australia Hall of Fame Chair, John Bertrand AO, today welcomed two new Board Members, Sport Australia Hall of Fame Member and Olympian, Steve Hooker OAM, and the Hon. Martin Pakula former State Parliamentarian.
Mr Bertrand said, “It is our great pleasure to welcome both Steve Hooker and Martin Pakula to join our board. Both new directors will bring a wealth of knowledge to the Hall of Fame.
The Sport Australia Hall of Fame continues to manage the highly successful Scholarship and Mentoring Program and the Induction and Awards Program that are broadcast on the 7 Network and funded by the Australian Sports Commission and Australian Institute of Sport.
To be inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame is the ultimate accolade for any athlete, one can go no higher.”
Steve Hooker OAM was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2017 as an Athlete Member for his contribution to the sport of Athletics and was the first Pole Vaulter to be inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
He remains one of only a handful of athletes to hold Olympic, World Championship, IAAF World Indoor Championship and IAAF Continental Cup titles simultaneously, after completing the winning set in 2010, and was also the first Australian man to hold both the Olympic and World titles concurrently.
Steve also served for five years on the board of the Australian Olympic Committee, including Chairman of the Australian Olympic Committee Athletes Commission. Steve recently finished up a 5-year period as Chief Executive Officer of Resimax Group and is now the director of his own Property Development Business iHi Projects.
Steve said, “It’s been an honour to be a member of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, I pinch myself every time I realise that I occasionally get to share a room with the other members. Over the past couple of years, I have taken part in the mentoring program, it’s been an incredibly rewarding experience and has given me an insight into the broader impact that SAHOF has. With this experience in mind, I’m excited to join the board and to contribute to the future direction of the organisation in any way that I am able.”
Whilst in State Parliament, Hon. Martin Pakula held a range of ministerial portfolios including Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Public Transport, Attorney General, Minister for Racing, Minster for Tourism, Sport and Major Events and Minister for Jobs and Innovation.
Mr Paluka is a Major Projects Advisor at the Australian Football League and a Non-Executive Director of Helloworld Travel Limited.
Martin said, “It’s a great honour to be asked to join the Board of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. The achievements of our revered sporting men and women help tell our national story and provide enormous joy to millions of Australians. Properly recognising those achievements is a heavy responsibility, and one I look forward to participating in.”
Sport Australia Hall of Fame Board Member, The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Melbourne Sally Capp has resigned from the board after serving in her position since November 2015. Chair John Bertrand AO said, “The entire board, staff, and Members have been extremely appreciative of her enthusiasm and her work supporting the organisation. Sally is a passionate warm and positive board member, who tirelessly contributed her time and support to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.”
These changes are effective from 1st March 2023. The new board members join Chair Mr John Bertrand and other esteemed Australian sport stars and business leaders Dawn Fraser AC MBE, Andrew Plympton AM, Alisa Camplin AM, Belinda Clark AO and Perry Crosswhite AM.
View the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Board here.
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