Davey’s need for Tweed
A LIGHTHEARTED joke laid the groundwork for Brigid Davey to become the first female board member in the 110-year history of the Tweed Heads Seagulls Rugby League Club.
Through her position as Chempro marketing manager, Ms Davey attended Tweed’s season launch in March where she was introduced to their male-dominated hierarchy.
“I just made a joke saying ‘wow, all male board members, no females around?’” Davey recalled.
“I was literally only suggesting it as a joke and they took it seriously and went ‘no actually, we should talk’.”
After a protracted process, Ms Davey joined Darryn Staff, Jamie McDonald, Jim Wilson and chairman Rex Paton on the five-person board midseason, and admitted there was a sense of culture shock upon her arrival.
But the 34-year-old, who grew up in Tweed Heads and attended Seagulls matches in her youth, says the timing is perfect as the club strives to introduce a women’s side in 2019.
“To have a female voice and a female decisionmaker with a different approach is exactly them embracing the change and innovation that the club needs,” Ms Davey said.
“A board position in a male-dominated sport and a male arena appealed to me as a new challenge because there are things that I can learn from them and there’s things they can learn from me.
“I am not going to add to the football discussion that goes around in circles. I am the one to go ‘all right, back to the strategic plan’. I guess every male needs a female to put them in line.”
The execution of the strategic plan plus the development of a marketing strategy are among primary focus areas for Ms Davey.
Mr Paton said Ms Davey’s presence reflected the game’s evolution.
“For all my time women weren’t really that keen to be involved but times have changed no doubt with women’s rugby league so we’re just plugging along like everyone else, broadening our horizons and opening our mind,” Mr Paton said.
Seagulls chief executive Paul Stephenson said the board’s direction had taken a positive turn.
“She is young and she is motivated and obviously has a really great skill set in that marketing arena so I think her expertise will really help us take the club to another level,” he said.
I JUST MADE A JOKE SAYING ‘WOW, ALL MALE BOARD MEMBERS, NO FEMALES AROUND?’ BRIGID DAVEY