Annabelle Williams appointed to Swimming Australia Board

July 23, 2021

Swimming Australia has appointed Paralympic gold medallist, Annabelle Williams to its Board of Directors. Williams has replaced outgoing Director Greg Hartung.

A five-time world record holder and inspiring Paralympian, Williams’ impressive accomplishments span from professional athlete and corporate law to international speaker and sports broadcaster.

Making her Dolphin debut at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, the freestyle and butterfly specialist achieved six international medals throughout her swimming career, including an individual Paralympic bronze in Beijing (2008) and a relay gold in London (2012).

While training as a professional athlete Williams simultaneously built her law career, holding positions at the Australian Trade Commission in Paris and working for an NFL/NBA player agency in Washington D.C. Post swimming and back home in Australia, Williams worked as legal counsel for the Australian Olympic Committee between 2015 and 2019.

Holding key roles in various organisations in the country, Williams is the Vice President of Paralympics Australia, Chair of the Athletes’ Commission and is also a Director of ChildFund Australia which helps reduce poverty for children in many of the world’s most disadvantaged communities.

Williams’ talents also extend to sports broadcasting. She anchored Seven’s coverage of the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games and was most recently part of Amazon Prime Video’s coverage of the Australian Swimming Trials, providing expert commentary and interviews across the course of swimming’s pinnacle domestic event.

Swimming Australia President, Kieren Perkins advised that with Williams’ wealth of knowledge and experience she will be an incredible asset to the Board.

Perkins notes “I’m delighted to welcome Annabelle to our Board of Directors. Securing the calibre of a person like Annie is an enormous coup for swimming and I’m looking forward to working alongside her as we strategise the future vision of our sport.

“Her experience as an athlete on the Dolphins swim team coupled with her extensive career in law, broadcast and motivational speaking will provide valuable insights across all levels of our organisation – from grassroots swimming, community initiatives and programs, all the way up to elite squads.

“While Annie’s credentials clearly speak for themselves, most importantly, she’s a wonderful person with exceptional character.”

Williams said she was delighted to become a Director and adds “I’m really honoured to join the Board of Swimming Australia, it’s an organisation I feel very close to, and swimming has obviously been a big part of my life.

“It’s a sport that so many Australians love and I will always have its best interest at the core of all decision making – I feel very privileged to be at the forefront of shaping its future.

“Most recently, being part of Amazon Prime’s broadcast of the Australian Swimming Trials was an amazing experience, especially with the exceptional coverage of the para athletes and I look forward to strengthening this partnership.”

Image: Courtesy Women in Innovation

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