The Netball Australia governing body is seeking a new chief executive after Stacey West announced she is stepping down from the role, ending a tenure that has seen significant growth in the sport.
West, who first joined Netball Australia in 2016, leaves the organization at a key time, having reshaped the sport in the country since taking over as chief executive in December 2023, when Kelly Ryan left following a bitter pay dispute with players.
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West said: “My commitment to the sport, our people, and our athletes has been a lifelong vocation, and the opportunity to contribute to our growth and success has been a privilege.
“I hand over the reins at the dawn of a new era with the sport poised for continued success. Super Netball continues to set crowd, audience, and membership records."
Her tenure has seen a series of landmark achievements, most recently securing a new five-year rights deal with commercial broadcaster Nine Network featuring the largest free-to-air element in the sport’s history.
The deal, announced last week, starts in January 2027 and covers rights to the top-tier Super Netball league, all Australian Diamond matches, and all 64 matches during next year's Netball World Cup in Sydney.
The Australian Diamonds are currently the number one-ranked team in the world.
Nine takes over the rights package from rival pay-TV broadcaster Foxtel, whose current five-year deal with Netball Australia runs through the end of 2026.
News of West’s departure also comes five months after Netball Australia announced it was looking to secure an A$10 million ($6.45 million) loan facility as part of its new 'Made in Netball' growth strategy.
That 10-year plan, which aims to attract two million participants across the country by 2035, hinged upon a new wave of free-to-air distribution for Super Netball, which the governing body is hoping is fulfilled through its agreement with Nine Network.
While Netball Australia has started a formal search for West’s successor, Mark Falvo, the current chief executive of the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney, will serve as interim chief executive from April 27 and manage the leadership of both entities during the transition.
Netball Australia chair Liz Ellis said: “Mark Falvo has accepted responsibility for the leadership of both our entities, and he will deliver strong value to netball based on his personal expertise and deep knowledge of the Australian and global sporting landscape.
“Stacey and Mark already work very closely to discharge their duties and responsibilities, and a positive and collaborative transition plan is already being executed.”
