Expertise, Strong Governance For Paralympics Australia’s Exciting Future  

Paralympics Australia (PA) continues to strengthen its governance to ensure it remains a model of best practice within Australian sport.  

The latest advancement is the establishment of a Sports Performance Committee which will play a crucial role in optimising PA’s collaboration with the Australian sport system in the lead up to Brisbane 2032 and beyond. 

The Sports Performance Committee brings together Paralympic and Olympic medallists and individuals with decades of high-performance expertise and experience in building world-leading programs and teams.   

The Sports Performance Committee will report to the PA Board, along with Governance and Nominations; Finance, Audit and Risk Management; People and Culture; Commercial; and Tech and Cyber Committees. PA President Alison Creagh said the work of the Committees is vital to consolidating and growing PA’s organisational, reputational and financial strength.  

PA’s Committees draw on the knowledge of its Board, Senior Staff and Independent Members, whose contributions continue to shape and strengthen the organisation. 

“As an organisation, we are pursuing every opportunity to ensure our athletes, members, sports and the broader disability community are central to the future of Australian sport at all levels,” Ms Creagh said.  

“The insights and lived experiences of our Committee members, including athletes who have progressed from the grassroots all the way to the top of the Paralympic podium, are crucial to this work.” 

Ms Creagh said the Sports Performance Committee, chaired by PA Vice-President and Paralympic gold medallist Grant Mizens, will focus on supporting the exciting rollout of the Para System Uplift initiative in partnership with the Australian Sports Commission, National Sporting Organisations and State Institutes and Academies of Sport. 

“Strong governance means planning for the short, medium, and long-term future and empowering people. Strong athlete voices and lived experience as well as leadership opportunities and succession planning, remain central themes in all that we do,” Ms Creagh said. 

“With four Paralympians serving on our Board and also contributing to our Committees, their voices, alongside other key contributors such as Paralympians Michael Dobbie-Bridges, Mitch Gourley, Brad Thomas and Jono Goerlach, ensure that the Paralympic community is being heard loud and clear when decisions are being considered and made.” 

Ms Creagh said the varied and extensive breadth of expertise and experience on the PA Board and its Committees positions the organisation well to capitalise on the once-in-a-generation opportunity being presented by a Paralympic Games on home soil, in Brisbane in 2032. 

The PA Board also recently appointed PA Director Michael Bushell as a Vice President to support Mr Mizens and Ms Creagh. Mr Bushell has 40 years of sports marketing experience in navigating the complexities of the Paralympic, Olympic and Commonwealth Games across multiple functional areas. Mr Bushell joined the PA Board last April, alongside Paralympians Ellie Cole and Matthew Nicholls. 

“Michael’s extensive experience and commercial acumen makes him a fantastic addition to our team,” Ms Creagh said. “His deep understanding of the sports industry and his ability to drive meaningful partnerships will greatly enhance our ability to support athletes and strengthen the Para-sport ecosystem in Australia. 

“With Michael and Grant in Vice-President roles, and the passion and commitment from our Board and Staff, the potential for Paralympics Australia to drive lasting change and elevate Para-sport in Australia has never been greater.” 

PA Board Committees

Governance and Nominations 

• Alison Creagh AM CSC (Chair) 

• Tim Carmody AM KC

• Matthew Nicholls PLY 

• Michael Bushell AM 

• Mitchell Gourley PLY (*) 

• Darren Kane (*) 

Finance, Audit & Risk Management 

• Matthew Nicholls PLY (Chair) 

• Alison Creagh AM CSC 

• Grant Mizens OAM PLY 

• Michael Bushell AM 

• Joseph Yeung (*) 

People & Culture

• Rebecca Frizelle OAM (Chair) 

• Alison Creagh AM CSC 

• Grant Mizens OAM PLY 

• Jonathan Goerlach PLY (*) 

Commercial

• Michael Bushell AM (Chair) 

• Rebecca Frizelle OAM 

• Ellie Cole AM PLY 

• Kate Jones 

• Kurt Burnette (*) 

Tech and Cyber

• Kate Jones (Chair) 

• Alison Creagh AM CSC 

• Brad Thomas OAM PLY

Sport Performance

• Grant Mizens OAM PLY (Chair) 

• Ellie Cole AM PLY 

• Curtis McGrath OAM PLY 

• Michael Dobbie-Bridges PLY (*) 

(*) denotes independent members  

By: Tim Mannion, Paralympics Australia

Published: 19 February 2025