Colm Maguire After 10 years as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Colm Maguire resigned from the Touch Football Australia Board of Management effective 20 July, 2017. Mr Maguire’s resignation comes at a time of renewed direction for the sport, the organisation and during the new strategic cycle to 2020. TFA Chair, Anita Hagarty spoke on behalf of the Board expressing her deep gratitude to Mr Maguire for his leadership and stewardship in the role since 2007. She says he goes with the very best wishes of the Board and the organisation. “On behalf of the Board, it is with regret that we announce the departure of Colm from the Touch Football Australia leadership position after an enduring period,” she said at the time. “The very significant contributions that he has made to the sport, the organisation, and the Board and broader team, is on par with the best sporting administrators across the country. Working closely with the TFA Board, he has overseen and administered significant reforms and a period of sustained success and legacy building. This is all you can ask of a leader and wider team that he has steered with great skill and expertise over time. For this we are truly grateful to him and of course, wish him the very best in the next chapter of his professional life.” For Mr Maguire, he reflected on a decade of achievements with professional and personal satisfaction. “In discussions with the Touch Football Australia Board, it was mutually agreed that the opportunity for a fresh approach was both timely and opportune. Having considered all that has been achieved, the organisation is in a great position to capitalise over the next decade, and beyond,” Maguire said. “A solid foundation has been set over the last 10 years with ambitious targets set for our next cycle and I am certain the sport will go from strength-to- strength. I am incredibly proud to have had the opportunity to lead a sport that has been such an important part of my life. The friendships, achievements and memories will be with me always. One thing canvassed at a time like this is the legacy you leave; and this measure for me is to leave something in a better position than where it was previously. I feel this has been a key success of the period. I thank the current Board and all previous Directors for their support and guidance as well as all staff, commercial and State partners and stakeholders for their contribution to the sport,” he said. Appointment of new Touch Football Australia CEO, Steve Mitchell The Touch Football Australia Board has advised of the appointment of new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Steve Mitchell. TFA Board Chair, Anita Hagarty says Mr Mitchell’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for the organisation and he will help guide the renewed direction for the organisation and the sport as they approach the mid-point of the current strategic cycle to 2020. Steve Mitchell commenced in the position on Monday 11 September 2017. His most immediate roles before joining the TFA were with the Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby franchise and the North Queensland Cowboys, where he led significant growth in all areas of commercial operations for both organisations. “We’re very excited to have someone of Steve’s experience, business acumen and success leading across all facets of the organisation and sport,” TFA Board Chair, Anita Hagarty said. “We have as a Board undertaken a very extensive recruitment search for the right candidate in terms of experience and ability to drive the sport forward.” Mr Mitchell brings a wealth of business and sports administration experience to the role, having worked as a senior executive in both the NRL and ARU club systems following an extensive career in media management. “I’m honoured to be given the opportunity to join such a progressive national organisation and fortunate to have their many achievements of recent years as a platform to work from,” Mitchell said. “I am really impressed with the outcomes achieved by the sport and the organisation through the TFA-NRL strategic alliance to date. I’m looking forward to building on these and the many other relationships fundamental to the delivery of our Strategic Plan over the years ahead,” Mitchell added. TFA also express its gratitude to interim co-CEO’s Garry Foran and Tim Arnold for their leadership and stewardship while the position has been vacant. 24 | Keeping In Touch 2016 IMG002_NSWTouch_Dec17_v3_FILM_R.indd 24 28/11/17 4:21 pm