TSE Consulting is delighted to announce that Brendan Schwab, Executive Director of the World Players Association, has joined The Academy 2017 Programme as a Guest Speaker. A leading voice in the representation of athletes and the protection of athletes’ rights, Brendan provides the ideal fit for The Academy Forum, with its focus on the role of athletes in sports governing bodies.

This Forum makes up the final session of The Academy conference, which is held at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland on June 7-8. The Forum will also feature Kit McConnell, the IOC’s Sports Director, as well as former athletes Didier Cuche and Virginie Faivre, who will give their opinions on whether the role of athletes in sports governing bodies is ‘moving from peripheral influence to true authority.’

Brendan is Executive Director of The World Players Association, which unites 85,000 players across professional sport through more than 100 player associations in over 60 countries. In his role as, Brendan brings expertise in organising, labour and human rights law, collective bargaining and dispute resolution, particularly in professional team sports, after 25 years in leading major player associations and representing elite athletes in Australia and around the world.

Before assuming his current position in July 2015, Brendan played an instrumental role for FIFPro, the world footballers association, in supporting players throughout the world. He served FIFPro as a board member, Vice President and as Chair of FIFPro Asia/Oceania. He has also acted as a judge of the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber and, as a member of the FIFA Players’ Status Committee, helped drive FIFA’s ban of the third-party ownership of players.

Brendan co-founded and led the Australian Athletes’ Alliance, which represents eight player associations and over 3,500 athletes in sports such as Australian rules, basketball, rugby union, rugby league, cricket, netball, horse racing and football. He also co-founded Professional Footballers Australia (PFA), serving as Chief Executive and General Counsel while advancing its profession and the reform of the Australian football industry. This saw the creation of a new professional league, Australia’s engagement with Asia and the creation of programs to support the holistic development of players during and after their athletic careers.

The Academy Forum:

Whilst protecting the rights and interests of the athletes nowadays seems to be at the forefront of every sports organisation. In order to ensure the voice of athletes is heard, a large number of National Olympic Committees and International Federations have active athletes’ commissions, with some even guaranteeing the right of athletes to serve on the Board.

Despite this, questions remain about the role of athletes in sports organisations’ decision-making. After years of the same narrative, how effectively are athletes being represented? Are Athletes Commissions the best way to ensure this happens? With a diverse panel made up athletes and senior officials of sports organisations, The Academy Forum seeks to address these questions and more.

The Academy conference

The Academy is a unique management conference dedicated to sports leaders from around the world and across different sports who are looking to take themselves and their organisations to the next level. For more information on the programme for The Academy conference, including the Forum, please click here.

This year, The Academy is delighted to welcome representatives from a number of high-profile sports organisations, including the International Olympic Committee, FIBA, UEFA, UCI, FINA and the FEI. To join individuals from these organisations – don’t hesitate! Registration for the conference is closing on Thursday 1st June. Click here to register now!

Don’t forget, The Academy is designed for a limited number of participants, so places will be limited!

Click here to ensure your place now and receive your special 10% discount as a Sportcal reader!

For more information on how The Academy 2017 could work best for you and your organisation, please contact:

Cameron Angus

Phone: +41 21 313 23 03

Email: cangus@tseconsulting.con

Website: www.tseconsulting.com