New ClubsNSW Director Ready to Tackle Industry Challenges

It was a weekend, most likely on a Sunday after church, visiting DOOLEYS Lidcombe Catholic Club — a place where happy memories spent with family and friends come flooding back.

“I spent a lot of time growing up around clubs, whether it was on weekends or even as part of school excursions to see a performance, and as soon as I was old enough, I signed up to be a member at my local club,” says Anna.

“My family has always liked to travel around New South Wales, so I was also exposed to smaller, regional clubs when we went out for a meal during family holidays.

“As I’ve gotten older, both my family and husband’s family have continued to be involved with local clubs, particularly through the social activities they offer, such as lawn bowls, golf and tennis.”

Passionate about the role of clubs and the benefit they bring to their local community, over six years ago Anna made the decision to become involved at board level.

Getting to know some of the Club’s directors through the DOOLEYS social golf club committee, and with the knowledge of the skillset she’d bring, Anna was invited to fill a casual vacancy in 2019.

“It really appealed to me because of my professional background and the fondness that I had going there with family, knowing the role that the Club played in the community, the quality of the facilities and the focus on member experiences,” she says.

Holding a Bachelor of Arts (Hons I) and a Bachelor of Law from the University of Sydney, and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Anna was well placed to guide the Club at a time of enormous change.

“I joined the DOOLEYS Board at a really interesting time because the Club was expanding and about to commence its redevelopment for the Lidcombe club site and progress the Masterplan,” she says.

“Then COVID struck and within the first 18 months of my Board role we went from a fully functioning Club, across three sites, to receiving directions from the Federal Government that we were all in lockdown, with two periods of closure.”

“Despite this, we continued to keep most of our staff on and paid, which I thought was a great decision by our Board as a way to support the community and our staff during that time.”

In 2023, Anna completed the Harvard Business School Company Director Certificate — a feat just to be selected through a competitive application process, let alone successfully completing it — alongside global leaders that included CEOs and directors of billion-dollar companies and Nasdaq-listed boards.

“I chose to do the Harvard Business School course as I love learning and it was a way to challenge myself to discover how I could bring different ways of thinking to the boardroom. I was keen to find out how as a director I could be more effective, more innovative and forward thinking,” says Anna.

Anna says now is a very exciting time for the industry.

“There are opportunities for clubs to continue to grow and provide first-in-class facilities for members, which contribute greatly to the local community.

“I attended the Clubs & Community Awards at the ICC Sydney last month. I really enjoy going to this event because you’re reminded of the incredibly important work that clubs do and it’s only ever expanding. There are so many clubs that support fantastic community partners, think outside the box and focus on long-term community engagement and development.

“While it’s a wonderfully exciting time, it’s not without challenges. It really is heartening to see clubs working collaboratively for one goal of seeing our industry thrive.”

Anna’s ready to tackle some of those challenges head-on at an industry level, having been appointed to the ClubsNSW Board this month, filling the casual vacancy created by the retirement of Dr George Peponis OAM.

“We need to maintain our recognition of the social contribution that our industry makes, by focusing on positive and progressive reform,” she says.

“It’s by working closely with our stakeholders, keeping those relationships strong, having the interests of our members front of mind and advocating for our community partners.

“I’m looking forward to working with the ClubsNSW Board and Leadership Team to continue the strategic vision of the Association, and contributing to the industry’s long-term sustainability and growth.”

It’s a role she’ll juggle with other competing demands, including her directorship at DOOLEYS and her day job as Special Counsel at a leading Australian law firm.

Away from work, much of Anna’s time is spent with her family, which includes two young kids, and playing tennis.

Her weekends are usually spent with a coffee in hand — a latte is the drink of choice — and cheering for the Bulldogs in the NRL.

“I try and get to a couple of games, we’ve always got it on the TV on the weekends, my husband also follows the Bulldogs so it’s a whole family affair, stemming from my childhood when they were one of the winnings teams,” she says.

While Anna’s appointment to the ClubsNSW Board is sure to be welcomed by the industry, her culinary choices may leave some disappointed.

“I’m pro pineapple on pizza,” she declares.