The Minerva Network has announced the appointment of business leader Lesley Grant to the new position of Executive Director and as a member of the Minerva Network Council.
Minerva Network Chairman and Co-founder Christine McLoughlin AM said Ms Grant’s role will enable the organisation to accelerate its important work nationally as women in sport continue to soar.
“In addition to having an ambitious target to mentor and support 1,000 Australian athletes by 2025, we have commenced a program to identify a pipeline of well-qualified businesswomen to serve as Directors on significant sporting organisations.
“Lesley is highly-regarded by the Australian business world and her extensive commercial experience, business connections and leadership of the Minerva Network team will bring impetus around this work at a time when it is imperative to have higher representation of women in sport governance,” said Ms McLoughlin.
Lesley Grant joins Minerva Network following a distinguished executive career including roles spanning Loyalty programmes and digital business ventures, customer and marketing, operations delivery, people leadership, transformational change, and innovation, most recently spending 17 years at Qantas and ten years on the Group Management Committee.
Ms Grant’s previous experience also includes roles on Boards such as Venues NSW; Deputy President UNICEF Australia; Australian Brandenburg Orchestra; Qantas Foundation and Chair of actuarial consulting firm Taylor Fry Pty Ltd.
Ms Grant says joining Minerva Network will combine her two passions of sport and business.
“I am absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to support and empower incredible athletes who are amazing role models for the community; work with the business community to encourage more senior businesswomen to become mentors; and interact with government and other stakeholders to progress greater gender equality on and off the sporting field in Australia,” said Ms Grant.
Ms McLoughlin said it is currently intended that this new role of Executive Director will be renewed every two years, “We are delighted that someone of Lesley’s calibre is so committed to shaping and defining this with us.”
