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The Minerva Network has now spread its wings to the nation’s capital with Australian basketball legend and prominent business leader Lucille Bailie appointed to the role of ACT Chapter Leader.
Chairman Christine McLoughlin AM said the Minerva Network had achieved another significant milestone in establishing an ACT Chapter and welcomed Lucille Bailie’s appointment.
“We are delighted to announce that Lucille will be leading the Minerva Network in the nation’s capital where she is already sharing her vast experience in sport and business with young Australians,” Ms McLoughlin said.
“The Minerva Network has outstanding leadership right around our nation as we continue to connect Australia’s elite stars of women’s sport with some of the nation’s most inspiring business leaders.
“The stunning achievements of our Olympic and Paralympic athletes in Tokyo have again shown that our amazing elite female athletes are inspirational role models for the next generation and we believe we can achieve so much by ensuring we have great Minerva leaders shaping their development on and off the sporting arenas.”
Lucille is the current CEO of the Physical Activity Foundation and General Manager of the University of Canberra Capitals basketball team. She is completing a Master of Business Administration and co-owned and operated an award-winning eco-tourism accommodation business on the NSW South Coast from 2012 to 2018. She has vast experience in event management, advocacy and stakeholder engagement, and strategic business planning.
Lucille’s sporting achievements have been recognised with induction to the Basketball Australia Hall of Fame and included three WNBL Championships, numerous team captaincies, Australian Opals and Junior National team representation and WNBL Life Membership. She represented Australia at the 1990 World Championships and at the 1989 Junior World Championships, with that team winning Australia’s first ever medal in international competition.
The Minerva Network has grown exponentially over the past 12 months, with a 100 per cent increase in the number of supported athletes, and it continues to help shape the future of women’s sport in Australia.
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“Our Minerva mentors connected with so many of the women athletes who were competing at the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, with the recent Minerva Masterclasses providing our athletes with advice that will enable them to further their careers,” Ms McLoughlin added.
Lucille said she was thrilled to be joining the Minerva Network, an organisation for which she holds such great respect.
“Our women in sport continue to shine on the world stage and leveraging the extensive business experience of the Minerva Network will ensure our athletes develop skills to be leaders in our community,” Lucille said.
“The Minerva Network is committed to helping our leading athletes become inspirational role models for the next generation of young Australians, and to identify projects in their respective communities where they can step in as leaders, encourage activity and bring about social cohesion.
“I am a passionate advocate for regular physical activity to combat current overweight and obesity levels, particularly for young children, and our elite women in sport are truly inspirational role models in this area.”
As the new ACT Chapter Lead, Lucille joins Ann Sherry AO, Sarah Kelly OAM, Christina Matthews, Peggy O’Neal AO and Kate Palmer AM as Minerva Network Chapter Leads in States and territories across Australia.
One of the current Minerva Athletes is Marianna Tolo, a key member of the University of Canberra Capitals club and the Australian Opals squad.
Speaking of her Minerva experience, Marianna said: “The Minerva Network helped me to reflect and, importantly, connect me with my mentor, Carmel McGregor (Adjunct Professor at the University of Canberra).
“Carmel supported me and connected me with other contacts, which gave me a support network of people whom I could build relationships with. These connections have been really insightful and helpful in finding a path and course of action for life after sport.
“The ACT community is great and we have many talented athletes and business people, so the combination of the two makes total sense. Canberra is the perfect place to launch a network that supports the development of female leaders.
“It is important that we continue to pave these pathways to enable the successes of future generations. As an athlete, having a place where you know you will feel valued and supported is really important. It is fantastic that this support will now be readily accessible to Canberrans, and pathways will continue to be built in all directions for life during and after sport. I look forward to seeing what the ACT can create.”
