Athlete Commission Sets New Course Following Elections

Paris 2024 representatives Chad Perris, Alexandra Viney and Liam Twomey have been elected to the Paralympics Australia Athlete Commission, bringing fresh ideas and perspectives to help guide the next Games cycle and beyond. 

The Athlete Commission, established in 2017, features 13 Paralympians from 10 sports. 

The new trio joins summer sport representatives Curtis McGrath (canoeing),) Angie Ballard (athletics), Ella Sabljak (wheelchair rugby) and Vice Chair Danni Di Toro (table tennis), who were each re-elected by their peers after a thorough process that drew interest from numerous candidates from a wide range of sports.  

Voting took place during the Paris Paralympic Games. 

“Each of the nominees was of a high calibre, they came from a variety of sporting and representative backgrounds and all received votes, which was fantastic,” the Commission’s Chair Sarah Stewart said. 

“I think it’s great to have those fresh new voices on the Commission, new perspectives and new connections into those sports as well. They bring a lot from their experiences within their sports and beyond.” 

Perris is three-time Paralympian in athletics and won a bronze medal in the 100 metres T13 for visually impaired athletes at Rio 2016. He narrowly missed the podium at Paris 2024. Perris is a member of the 2032+ Sport Strategy Leadership Group. 

Viney competed in the PR3 mixed four rowing crew at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. She works as a strength and conditioning coach and exercise scientist and is an ambassador for an Australian LGBTQIA+ sports organisation.  

The third new face on the Commission, Twomey, made his Paralympic debut in Paris in triathlon. Twomey’s passions are mental health and disability support. 

The Commission grew prior to the Paris Games with the addition of two positions for First Nations Paralympians, a co-design with First Nations Paralympians and Paralympics Australia’s First Nations Advisory Group. The First Nations Commission representatives elected were swimmers Ben Austin, who won 12 Paralympic medals between Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008, and Tracy Barrell, who won two gold medals at Barcelona 1992. 

The Athlete Commission now consists of seven summer sport athletes, three retired athletes, one athlete from winter sport and the two First Nations representatives.  

The three new Commission members were welcomed at an initial meeting and will come together again for a two-day meeting and strategy workshop before Paralympics Australia’s Paris Athlete Debrief and the Paralympian of the Year Awards on the Gold Coast later this month. 

“Post-Paris now, we’ll be getting stuck into forming our strategy, discussing what our priorities should be and where our energies should lie,” Stewart said. 

“Part of that will involve a handover with those stepping off the Commission, who will give an update on what have been our successes and challenges to date. 

“I think one of the most important things we’ve achieved since the AC was established has been the development of a really good relationship with the PA Board, the CEO and staff, in the way we’ve advocated for Para-athlete lived experience to be ‘at the table’. All groups have been available to each other for consultation and feedback on many different issues.” 

The three newly elected representatives replace Prue Watt, Blake Cochrane and Carol Cooke, who each served on the Commission since its inception. Watt subsequently nominated for the retired athlete position vacated by Annabelle Williams and was elected. Williams stepped down shortly before the Paris Games. She was also on the Commission since its inception and was its inaugural Chair until 2022. 

The full Athlete Commission is: 

Sarah Stewart (Chair – retired athlete) 

Danni Di Toro (Vice Chair – summer sport athlete) 

Angie Ballard (summer sport) 

Ben Austin (First Nations) 

Tracy Barrell (First Nations) 

Mitchell Gourley (winter sport) 

Curtis McGrath (summer sport) 

Chad Perris (summer sport) 

Sarah Rose (retired athlete) 

Ella Sabljak (summer sport) 

Liam Twomey (summer sport) 

Alexandra Viney (summer sport) 

Prue Watt (retired athlete) 

By David Sygall, Paralympics Australia.

Published 18 November, 2024.