The AFL Ballarat Commission for the newly-named Goldfields Region is delighted to announce the appointment of Rod Ward as its inaugural Regional General Manager (RGM).
Mr Ward is well known in the Region as the current CEO of the Ballarat Football Netball League and the Ballarat Leagues Club, the General Manager of the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League and General Manager of the Riddell District Football Netball League.
Mr Ward is also a four-time winner of the VCFL's Administrator of the Year and has held senior management positions at Telstra.
AFL VIctoria Goldfields Commission Chairman Mr Tim Bunning said Mr Ward has been appointed after a thorough and extensive interview process.
"The Commission was very impressed with the quality of candidates for the role" Mr Bunning said.
"In the end, we found that Rod's professional experience in the industry and proven track record of growing football and netball in the area made him the outstanding candidate".
The position of Regional General Manager was created after the AFL's 2012 review into football in Country Victoria found that football needs a change of governance structures to provide greater strategic focus, more effective decision making at a regional level and an investment in resources directly in regions.
The Commission which was set up for this region in late 2012 has now decided that this area will adopt the name "AFL Victoria Goldfields". It is felt that the Goldfields moniker best represented the participating organisations including the Ballarat Football Netball League, the Central Highlands Football League, the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League and the Ballarat Football Umpires Association.
Mr Bunning said that as the new RGM, Mr Ward's new role will be quite different to his current position.
"Under the new governance structure for football in this region, each of the local leagues will maintain their current Boards and operations teams" Mr Bunning said.
"Rod's role will be very strategic in nature. He will be responsible for the implementation and management of the direction of football in this region as established by the Commission".
Mr Ward said he was delighted to be appointed to the role and looked forward to the challenges ahead.
"I am very excited to be given the opportunity. I am really looking forward to working with the various stakeholders in the Goldfields Region to grow the game".
Mr Ward will commence his role as the new RGM for the Goldfields Region early next month.
Last Modified on 04/03/2013 16:37