With planning underway for a big year ahead, the Minerva Network has added to its fire power by appointing local businesswoman Liesel Wett OAM to the role of Co-Lead for the ACT Chapter.
Chairman Christine McLoughlin AM said the Minerva Network has a number of runs on the board to date from the ACT Chapter and welcomed Liesel Wett’s appointment alongside current Co-Lead Gabrielle Curtin.
“We are delighted to announce that Liesel will be leading the Minerva Network in the nation’s capital, working with Gabrielle where they are both active community members, leaning in to help our Australian sportswomen achieve above and beyond in their sport, and in their careers and ultimately, in the Australian business community,” 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” she said.
The role of our State and Territory Leads at Minerva is absolutely critical as we seek to ensure we have a truly national footprint to meet the demands of our elite women athletes.”
“Minerva is shifting the dial for sportswomen in Australia. The Australian Government has the opportunity to be a gamechanger, leading the way to bridge the gap in creating a socially and culturally safe environment for Australia’s leading sportswomen."
Gabrielle Curtin added “The greater Canberra region is home to the Australian Institute of Sport and a number of teams competing nationally including the Canberra Raiders NRLW, UC Canberra Capitals, ACT Meteors and Canberra United FC. The ACT is also the training ground for many of our aspiring Olympian and Paralympian athletes.”
“Supporting our amazing elite female athletes with inspirational role models for the next generation is already showing us our Minerva leaders are leveraging the drive of our athletes on and off the sporting grounds.”
Liesel said, “Our women in sport continue to achieve and deliver on the world stage and leveraging the extensive business experience of the Minerva Network mentors will ensure our athletes develop skills to be leaders in our community”.
”I can’t wait to see what Minerva delivers for our athletes in the next year and beyond", Liesel said.
Liesel is well connected into the Canberra community, with both her role as CEO of Australian Pathology, the peak body for private pathology in the country, as well as Chair of Goodwin Aged Care, the greater Canberra regions largest Aged Care provider. Liesel has significant experience working with the Federal Government and in business, having negotiated large scale healthcare reforms that support Australians with access to affordable healthcare.
“I am more than thrilled to be joining the Minerva team, adding a leadership role to Minerva in addition to her role as a mentor”, she said.
The Minerva Network has grown exponentially over the past 6 years, with a large increase in the number of supported athletes, and it continues to help shape the future of women’s sport in Australia. All of this could not be achieved without the amazing pro-bono work from Australian businesswomen that mentor our female athletes.
As the new ACT Chapter Co-Lead, Liesel joins Gabrielle Curtin, Ann Sherry AO, Sarah Kelly OAM, Christina Matthews, Romilly Madew AO, Jane Spring AM, Kate Palmer AM, and Sally Macindoe as Minerva Network Chapter Leads in States and territories across Australia.
