BNE 2032 Legacy

CEO of Swimming Australia, Eugenie Buckley, is committed to ensuring that the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics benefits all Australians and is inclusive and representative of Australia’s community.

With swimming the highest participation sport in Australia, it is important that the Games benefit elite swimmers and the local community who use Australia’s pools for recreation and learn to swim lessons. Buckley is dedicated to ensuring swimming facilities are designed to optimise use for both high performance and community use.

Buckley is hoping to see more female coaches and more integrated events, such as the 2022 ‘Duel in the Pool’ relay event which saw able-bodied and Paralympians competing on the same relay team.

Buckley is also hoping to see more elite Indigenous athletes represent Australia at the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics and is dedicated to identifying and removing barriers to provide Indigenous communities access to the sport at a recreational and a high-performance level.

Buckley is on the World Aquatics AQIU Supervisory Council, the international water sports federation recognised by the International Olympic Committee.

Grant joined the Generation Development Group & Generation Life Executive Team in September 2017 and was promoted to CEO in 2018.

Since Grant’s appointment he has driven 29% 5-year CAGR in sales and 43% 5-year CAGR NPAT for the Group. With over 15 years of experience, Grant has held many senior positions across marketing, distribution and wealth management for Westpac and BT Financial Group. Grant’s qualifications include an Executive Master of Business Administration with first class honours, a Diploma of Financial Services and he is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Prior to his corporate career, Grant was a multiple Olympic, Commonwealth and World champion representing Australia in swimming and has held 16 world records. Grant has received the Order of Australia medal, Australian Sports Medal, and Centenary Medal for his achievements and is a member of the Sports Australia Hall of Fame.

Grant has also served on multiple Boards such as Regal Funds Management, Headstrong – National Centre for Mental Health and the Australian Olympic Committee Athletes Commission.

With the Olympics and Paralympics coming to Brisbane in 2032, it’s important to acknowledge Swimming Australia’s legacy.

As Australia’s most decorated female Paralympian, with 17 medals from four Paralympian Games, Ellie Cole is an important part of that legacy. After losing her leg to cancer, Cole’s talent for swimming was quickly discovered in her rehabilitation program when she progressed a lot quicker than anticipated.

In the lead up to the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics, Cole is looking forward to seeing more accessibility in swimming pools for non-able-bodied Australians. Cole was also recently an ambassador at Sydney’s 2023 WorldPride, encouraging inclusivity and acceptance in athletics.

Managing Director of Publicis Worldwide leading breakthrough and effective award-winning marketing communications transformation work across the tourism, sport and entertainment, food services, healthcare and education categories.

Led the Publicis32 communications work as part of the Brisbane 2032 bid to engage the world in Australia’s First Nations heritage and healthcare goals to build a generation of Australians healthier than the last.

Part of the global Publicis Sport and Entertainment global network of Olympic & Paralympic Cities with legacy, research and communications programs of work. Simone believes the health and wellbeing of our nation is a key legacy objective of Swimming Australia – more people swimming every week means we will build a healthier generation than the last.

Simone is also looking forward to leading legacy for First Nations people and the growth of Ocean Swimming.

Kirsten Thomson is the current CEO of Swimming NSW and former Director of NSW Institute of Sport, an organisation dedicated to supporting high performance Australian athletes, and retired Olympian is passionate about ensuring women are supported and swimming is an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

Kirsten competed in the 4 x 200 metres relay at the Sydney 2000 Olympics where she won silver, alongside Susie O’Neill, Giaan Rooney, and Petria Thomas.

With Brisbane hosting the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics, its vital to ensure that First Nations Communities are recognised and provided with adequate swimming opportunities.

Cameron Costello, a Quandamooka man, is a committee member for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympics and is looking forward to providing more learn to swim lessons in Indigenous communities in the lead up to the games.

Costello has dedicated his professional life to working closely with the Quandamooka People and Elders, advocating and supporting the rights of First Nations People, working in local and state governments to deliver First Nations policies and programs.

Costello is also CEO of the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC), which manages the rights and interests of the Quandamooka people.

In 2020, Costello also won both the Indigenous Community Impact Award from UQ and the Griffith Business School’s 2020 Outstanding First Peoples Alumnus award winner. Costello makes a valuable member to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Committee, ensuring that Australia’s Indigenous Community is adequately represented and provided with opportunities ahead of the games.

22-year-old Zarin Hakimi is an Afghan refugee and learn to swim teacher, representing the spirit and culture of Swimming Australia through her determination, dedication, and persistence.

Hakimi fled Afghanistan in 2021 after the Taliban took over, taking the last plan out of Afghanistan. She arrived in Australia in September, 2021, with her mother and four siblings where they were reunited with her father after ten years apart, as he was working in Australia to provide for them.

After arriving, Hakimi attended her first Adult Migration English program lesson in Brisbane and expressed her desire to learn to swim. She was connected with Aqua English and started adult learn to swim classes, before becoming a LTS teacher in only three months at the Aqua English Program. This was Hakimi’s first job in Australia and she now also attends TAFE, working towards a Certificate III in Beauty Service and hopes to attend university one day.

During a speech to Australia’s Treasurer, Jim Chalmers and the Mayor of Logan, Hakimi said, “I was so determined to learn to swim and be a part of the Australian culture”.

As Australia’s largest participation sport, it is vital that local clubs are engaged to ensure that the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics benefit and are representative of all Australians.

Lane Cove Swimming Club Captain, Tom Hayhoe, represents the incredible involvement at a local level. Hayhoe is part of the Swimming NSW Youth Leadership and a member of the Swimming NSW Youth Advisory Panel, working to tackle current issues related to swimming and to develop ideas on improving community involvement in swimming in NSW.

As club captain Hayhoe has assisted in several valuable initiatives, including the ‘Take Your Marks’ program that aimed to introduce swim race skills to junior swimmers and promoted Swimming NSW’s ‘Body Confident’ program that seeks out inclusion in the sport. Hayhoe has swam competitively since 2019, representing his swim club at NSW State Championships since 2020.

Hayhoe is excited for the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics and would love to see improved culture, more participation, and improved facilities to help further develop elite athletes and nurture future prospects.

He’s also hoping to see the continued development of a modern culture that promotes excellence and simultaneously obtains broad inclusion, with programs that will increase and sustain community participation long after the closing ceremony.

CEO of City Venue Management, Reece Rackley operates and manages high-quality, vibrant, and well-maintained aquatic, leisure and sporting facilities.

Previously a swimming and triathlon coach, Rackley took over his parents’ local swim school business, turning one swim school into over twenty-five Rackley Swimming Schools across Southeast Queensland.

Rackley is passionate about ensuring that children and local communities are safe and confident around water. Rackley has spent time on the board of Australian Leisure Facilities Association and the board of the Australian Swim Schools Association.

Rackley is dedicated to ensuring that high performance Australian swimmers are provided with the resources, funding a ground-breaking scheme ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Rackley funded four Rackley Athlete scholarships for Olympic hopeful swimmers that had a shot at representing Australia at the Olympics. This scholarship included all squad and training fees, personal development coaching, social media and marketing support and assistance in finding personal sponsors.

Reece is a Life Member of Swimming Queensland and currently a Board Member and Vice President of the Australian Swim Schools Association (ASSA)

Retired Olympian and director of sports engagement at Griffith University, Duncan Free is passionate about ensuring accessibility and inclusion for all Australians and ensuring representation of Australia’s diverse community at the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Free’s father rowed for Australia, prompting Free’s interest when he began rowing at twelve years old. Free competed at four Olympics, winning two medals, before being forced into retirement after a cycling accident fractured his leg in fifteen places, but he was back in the boat before he could walk.

Free oversees the elite athlete programme and the high-performance programme at Griffith University, including managing sponsorships and partnerships.

Free is looking forward to more accessibility for Australian swimmers, regardless of culture, socioeconomic background, or postcode.

Free is also very passionate about seeing greater First Nations representation on the 2032 Australian swim team and would love a medal to be won by an Indigenous Australian.

Anita was the sport expert for the Brisbane 2032 bid and brings to SwimAus’s Legacy Committee extensive consulting and executive experience in large scale global sports events and sport across a broad range of areas, including Legacy.

She is a well-respected advisor and executive to Olympic bidding cities and Olympic and Paralympic Organising Committees, including Brisbane 2032 Olympic Bid, Rio 2016, London 2012, Beijing 2008, Athens 2004 and Sydney 2000. She is also an Olympian.

Her current work is focussed in Sport Sustainability, leading the development of the FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and FINA Swimming World Championships (25m) sustainability strategies. She is also consulting to Local Government and Sports in the development of their Sport related Strategic Planning.

Anita has a degree in Human Movement Studies from the University of Queensland with academic and alumni awards for excellence. While eventually representing Australia in Softball, Volleyball and Beachvolleyball at their respective World Championships, she started her sporting life as a swimmer in Bundaberg, Queensland.

Anita is passionate about the power of sport being open to everyone as a way to enjoy a healthy and happy life.

As an athlete in the sport of swimming, Matt was a member of the Australian Swim Team for more than 10 years including 3 Olympic Games and 4 World Records.

Matthew is currently Executive Director of ProForm Foods, one of Australia’s leading plant-based meat companies. He has overseen the scale-up of this food tech business from R&D through to the commercial operation it is today.

Currently 2^nd Vice President of World Aquatics, President of Oceania Aquatics and Board Member of Knox Grammar School.