The inaugural CEO of the Sunshine Coast Lightning has been appointed to lead a peak professional organisation for exercise and sports science practitioners in Australia.
After an extensive nationwide search, the Sunshine Coast’s Danielle Smith has been named as the new CEO of Exercise and Sports Science Australia.
During her time with the Lightning, part of the Melbourne Storm Group, Ms Smith helped to deliver a strong membership base and corporate structure that launched the team to immediate success.
The club won back-to-back premierships in its first two seasons of 2017 and 2018 and achieved a 40 per cent increase in revenue within three seasons, making it the most successful professional sporting club start-up in Australian history.
With the 2032 Paralympics and Olympics on the horizon, Ms Smith said ESSA played a vital role in integrating health, sport and physical activity both for elite athletes and everyday Aussies.
“Accredited exercise and sports professionals play a crucial role in the development of Paralympians and Olympians, and their expertise can help them reach their full potential and achieve incredible results on the world stage,” she said.
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“These professionals revolutionise how athletes train, compete and recover while promoting physical health and performance optimisation on a wider scale.
“It’s a very exciting time for ESSA and our industry. The field of sports science is dynamic, evolving and invaluable.”
Ms Smith’s career spans more than 25 years across a range of industries including sport, major events, management consulting, accounting and consumer products.
She has also held senior roles with the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games and AFL’s Geelong Cats, and currently serves on the board of Sport Inclusion Australia and Sunshine Coast 2032.
She was awarded QSports’ 2021 Sports Administrator of the Year.
Ms Smith emphasised the broader impact of exercise and sports science professionals in boosting physical activity among the general population, preventing chronic disease and promoting healthy lifestyles for all Aussies.
“Accredited exercise and sports professionals are the most qualified to help everyday Australians kickstart their health journey, fine-tune their current training program or even excel in their chosen sport whether for fun or competition,” she said.
ESSA president and chair Dr Brendan Joss said ESSA was delighted to welcome Ms Smith as the new CEO.
“She is a dynamic, values-driven leader, with exceptional strategic capabilities, proven operational effectiveness and strong experience in national sporting codes and international sporting events,” he said.
Founded in 1991, ESSA represents about 11,000 members, including students. It provides industry leadership through advocacy, research, education and regulation to support exercise and sports science professionals and the Australian community in becoming more active.
Ms Smith will officially commence her role as ESSA CEO on July 22.
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