With a landmark broadcast deal now secured, Stacey West has announced she is stepping down as chief executive officer of Netball Australia. Having spent more than two years in the role and 16 years with the governing body, West described the position as a “labour of love”.
West's tenure and achievements
West took over the top job from Kelly Ryan, who resigned following a bitter pay dispute with players. During her tenure, West made significant strides, notably signing a five-year broadcast rights agreement with the Nine Network that begins in 2027. Under the terms of the deal, at least two Super Netball matches per week will be broadcast on free-to-air television.
Interim replacement and future plans
West will be replaced on an interim basis by Mark Falvo, who also serves as CEO of Netball World Cup Sydney 2027. Reflecting on her time in charge, West said: “This role has been a labour of love for me. My commitment to the sport, our people and our athletes has been a lifelong vocation, and the opportunity to contribute to our growth and success has been a privilege.”
West believes the timing is right to move on, with netball in a strong position. “I hand over the reins at the dawn of a new era, with the sport poised for continued success,” she said. “Super Netball continues to set crowd, audience and membership records, and our new long-term free-to-air broadcast partnership defies market trends and is built off the wonderful product and people who make up this sport.”
She added: “We remain the number one sport for women and girls, and the love and respect in the community for both the high performance and participation aspects of our game is the backbone of our culture and dominance.”
