Australian Baseball announced today the appointment of Ron Finlay as the new President and Chairman of Directors of the Board of Australian Baseball.

Ron has been a Director of the Australian Baseball Board for the last 18 months and was Chairman of the 1999 Intercontinental Cup Advisory Board. He has had a 40 year involvement in Baseball that includes 20 years with the Sydney University Club, 31 years as a member of that club’s administration (including the last 16 years as President), a member of the 1982-1983 NSW Claxton Shield side and as an active Masters player and coach for the last 10 years.

Ron replaces Mark Peters, who stepped down as President following his recent appointment as the Executive Director for the Australian Sports Commission. Mark Peters will continue to provide support and advice to the Australian Baseball Board on international events and relationships and the growing investment in the sport in Australia from Major League Baseball in the USA.

Ron Finlay said of his appointment: ‘I am very proud to be appointed to this position, especially when baseball in Australia is in such an exciting and challenging period. There are excellent plans for the development of baseball at a grass roots level and for the continued development of elite players for major national and international competitions. I would like to express the thanks and gratitude of all of the baseball community to Mark Peters for his service to the game and I am very pleased that baseball will have his continuing support and involvement in key areas.’

Ron Finlay is the Chief Executive of his own legal and consulting firm, finlay consulting. He is a lawyer and former senior partner and managing partner with a national law firm and has had over 25 years experience in consulting to and project managing large infrastructure projects for governments and the private sector (including with SOCOG for the Sydney 2000 Olympics). He is also an accredited mediator and arbitrator with a significant reputation in the area of alternative dispute resolution.

Ron’s other interests include his family, wine, cricket and golf.

For more details contact:

Mitsie Kent
Australian Baseball Federation
mitsie.kent@ausport.gov.au
website: www.baseball.org.au
TEL: 02 9437 4466
FAX: 02 9437 4155