Netball ACT Director, and former President, Louise Bilston has announced her resignation from the Netball ACT Board.
Ms Bilston said “An increase in time commitments to my family have become too great for me to be able to fully, and to the best of my ability, fulfill the requirements of my position at Netball ACT. It has been a pleasure and a privilege being a volunteer of netball within the ACT for 24 years, and more recently as a Director and President of NACT. In the best interest of our sport, I feel it is best for me to make room for someone new with the time and energy to devote fully to the role.”
Ms Bilston went on to say “the timing was right as Netball Australia works with Member Organisations to deliver the recommendations of the State of the Game Review and as NACT prepares to enter the next phase of its own governance renewal”.
While involved in netball since her teens, Ms Bilston has held many roles within the Netball ACT community notably serving as Club President of Maddies Netball Club and Tuggeranong Netball Association, often working beyond the court to strengthen the future of netball in the region. Ms Bilston has represented the ACT at Netball Australia strategic forums and Annual General Meetings for a number of years, with her most recent and notable contributions to the sport coming since elected to the Board in 2016, serving as President of Netball ACT since 2017.
Highlights of achievements at NACT include:
• Navigating the financial, governance and operational challenges of 2017/2018 to build a sustainable financial entity with a stronger commercial position;
• Development and success of Canberra Giants Team in the Australian National League competition 2017-2019;
• Launching the Capital Spirit franchise after winning a license to compete in the Netball New South Wales Premier League;
• Driving increased diversity and inclusion in the sport, enabling the first ACT team to compete in the Marie Little Shield National Championships;
• Increasing the opportunities for players and officials in the ACT;
• $7.5M commitment from government to deliver NACT Facilities and Maintenance Plan for netball at NACT and across all five District Associations; and
• Working tirelessly alongside Netball Australia, District Associations, and local government to ensure a safe and successful return to netball in a COVID-normal environment.
Current Netball ACT Acting President Trish Crossin said “The passion and commitment that Lou has given to the Netball ACT community over a number of years is without question. Netball ACT thanks Louise for this significant contribution and wishes her and her family all the best in the future”.
