Directors
President
Brett has had a lifetime family involvement with bowls. Over more than 50 years this has included roles as a high level competitor, coach, journalist, broadcaster, administrator, supporter, sponsor and selector. Brett has been World Chair of the PBA and on the board of World Bowls Tour, a board member of Bowls New Zealand, and played in two national finals. His current club Takapuna, where he is involved in various roles, was NZ Club of the Year in 2021. In parallel Brett spent 20 years in senior roles globally in the technology sector, before returning to New Zealand in 2009. Since then he has held senior executive and governance roles in the public and private sectors. Brett is currently Chief Executive of the Employers & Manufacturers Association and on several boards. Brett is committed to sustainably developing the game at all levels, particularly in his Oceania region. Brett has held CEO roles for the past 17 years and is now an Advisor or Board member to private and public organisations in the areas of technology, infrastructure and and the environment. Brett represents New Zealand on the APEC Business Advisory Council.
Brett has held CEO roles for the past 17 years and is now an Advisor or Board member to private and public organisations in the areas of technology, infrastructure and and the environment. Brett represents New Zealand on the APEC Business Advisory Council. Brett is committed to growing the game of bowls globally, taking advantage of new commercial, technology, and profile opportunities to make the game and its organisations more successful and sustainable.
Darryl has had a long involvement at both professional and volunteer levels with sport and sporting administration. He is the former Head of NSW Sport and Recreation and a former NSW Institute of Sport Director. He formerly held roles as a Board member and President of Softball Australia as well as Vice President of the International Softball Federation. He was appointed to the Bowls Australia Board in 2012 and was elected President in 2017. Darryl has previously been a Board Member of Commonwealth Games Australia and was Chair of the Heritage and Awards Committee. Darryl was World Bowls President from 2021 – 2024.
Since he started bowling in 1996, Claudius Lam has been actively involved in the development of bowls in Hong Kong. Over the years he established the umpire and coach training and accreditation system, liaising with the government on the provision of new greens and actively promoting the sports through the media.
He has been actively helping with the development of the sport in China and Macau, involving the building of greens and training of umpires and coaches. He also held positions on the umpiring and coaching committees of Macau Lawn Bowls Association and China Multi Bowls Association during their start up period.
On a regional level, Claudius assumed the duty to assist the World Bowls Regional Director in Asia and Oceana in 2016 to help the Asian countries to develop the sport. He is now a Vice President with Bowls Asia.
Hazel managed the Welsh Women’s Bowling Team from 2008 until 2022. Commonwealth Games Team Leader for Welsh Lawn Bowls in Glasgow, 2014 and Gold Coast 2018. Former international player winning a British Isles Singles title and many national titles. Welsh Women’s Bowling Association Secretary 2018-2021.
She has worked in Further Education for 22 years in various areas including Project Management, Change Management, Quality and Student Support Manager. She has also taught IT and Business. Project Manager for Implementation of the Additional Learning Needs Education and Training Act, ensuring students can access the support they need.
She has experience of many administration roles within community and welsh organisations, including management of various websites and development of social media sites. She is a partner in The Long Mountain Flower Company, a flower farm and florist and is currently an appointed Director of Bowls Europe.
Michael is an Asian Pacific based Management Consultant, who has previously held executive leadership roles in countries including Germany, China, Africa, Philippines, UK, and Australia and New Zealand (ANZ). Michael has provided direct insight into social, political, business, and cultural conventions and expectations needed for a global workforce including leadership development with organisations in the industrial, resources, consumer, technology, retail, sports & leisure and not for profit sectors.
Professional career began with Michael operating in locations including India, China, Brazil, and Australia. In the mid 90’s Michael accepted a pivotal international commercial role with the Swiss Industrial group, Benninger AG, living in Germany for 4 years and working predominately across the APAC region.
Returning to Australia in the late 90’s, Michael joined the executive search industry, spearheading thrusts into new markets culminating in providing executive search to the sport, events, and recreation sectors. In 2007, Boyden World Corporation (BWC), Michael was appointed Managing Director of BWC, a tier one global executive search firm, leading significant growth activities across the APAC region, chairing both the organisations global compliance committee and their mining and resources industries practice group.
In recent years, Michael has represented various levels of government on trade missions to India, UK, Brazil, UAE, and China & currently serves as a non-Executive Director on local education, sports industry, and community Boards. Michael is a Director of the Deakin University School of Sports Management and the ONEMDA organisation. In more recent times, Michael has assisted World Bowls with strategic initiatives including meetings with the IOC & WADA in Lausanne and Lawn Bowls in Switzerland and the UK.
Fluent in both English & German and now semi-retired, Michael enjoys focusing on his hobby and passion for wine, producing and marketing premium dry climate Australian wines from the Heathcote region.
Sue is now retired but has over 30 years experience in HR and Learning and Development, having owned and run two training and consultancy businesses, one of which operated globally. She has been a club bowler for over 20 years. In 2014 she joined the Board of Bowls Scotland and in 2016 she was appointed as the first ever female Chair, a position she held until November 2022. In this position, she has helped the Board become fully skills-based. Sue is Chair of the Scottish Sports Association, a membership organisation which represents and champions Scottish Governing Bodies of Sports.
Staff
Chief Executive Officer
While at the helm of BA, Neil oversaw the ongoing professionalization of the organisation. He has been deeply engaged in strengthening the relationships between BA and each of the Australian State and Territory Associations, as well as relationships with other key partners, such as the Australian Sports Commission and World Bowls. Under Neil’s leadership, BA expertly managed the continued improvement of Australia’s elite bowler squads, culminating in Australia’s Jackeroos’ most successful performance to date at the 2012 World Championships and the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and the best performance abroad at the 2016 World Bowls Championships and 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Among Neil’s many innovations as CEO, a stand out is undoubtedly the creation of the very successful Australian Premier League – a biannual competition for professional teams, now known as the Bowls Premier League (BPL), which has attracted a wealth of new spectators and fans to a short form and highly exciting version of Bowls.
With an eye to broadening the reach and appeal of Bowls for participants and spectators alike, Neil and BA secured weekly coverage of the sport via The Bowls Show screening on free-to-air and pay-tv platforms.
Neil and the BA Team also masterminded the relocation of BA’s flagship annual competition, the Australian Open, to the Gold Coast in partnership with Tourism Events Queensland and the Major Events Gold Coast.
Recognising the central role Bowls clubs and players play in the viability of the sport, Neil has also worked actively to ensure club sustainability, creating a nationwide network of Regional Bowls Managers. Neil has previously held roles with NT Cricket (CEO) and Softball Australia (CEO), as well as two separate periods working for Cricket Australia, and has an excellent understanding of and strong commitment to the myriad health and wellbeing benefits engagement with sport has for all Australians, regardless of gender, background or ability.
Neil has an inclusive and pragmatic approach to sports administration; he is strongly committed to organisational transparency and good corporate governance and has been highly successful in his endeavours within Australian sport for nearly three decades.
Committees
Laws Advisory Group
Allan Thornhill (England) (Chair)
Mark Cowan(Australia)
Roger Black (Scotland)
Michael Johnson (New Zealand)
Jeanette Williams (South Africa)
Coaching Advisory Group
Graeme Rees (New Zealand) (Chair)
Karen Murphy (Australia)
Derek Dillon (Canada)
Allen Harvey (Cyprus)
Mal Evans (England)
Adam Martin (Scotland)
Rita Shek (Hong Kong)
Simon Botha (South Africa)
Life Members
Eleanor Allan (Scotland)
John Armstrong (Scotland)
Kerry Clark CNZM, OBE (New Zealand)
Betty Collins OAM (Australia)
David Johnson (England)
John McArdle (South Africa)
John Bell (England)