Swimming boss dives into role

SWIMMING Australia has appointed its first female chief executive, with Leigh Russell to take the helm of Australia’s top Olympic sport.

Russell, who has vast experience with state and national sporting organisations including Netball Victoria, Cricket Australia and AFL clubs Essendon and Gold Coast, will take up the post on April 16, the day after the Commonwealth Games end.

Russell will take over from Chris Forbes, who held the role in an interim capacity after former swimming boss Mark Anderson joined Collingwood.

Swimming Australia president John Bertrand said Russell was the “outstanding candidate in an extremely competitive field”.

“Leigh is an exceptional, values-driven and results-focused leader,” Bertrand said.

Russell takes over at a challenging time as Australian attempts to reassert itself as a world swimming power, with the goal of becoming the No.1 nation in the world by 2020.

“I really look forward to working with our passionate swimming community,” Russell said.