WAIS ends months-long wait as Matt Fulton appointed permanent CEO following acting stint

The West Australian Institute of Sport has appointed Matt Fulton as its new CEO, ending months of speculation and a period of mass change and unrest. Fulton beat a field of 71 other candidates from around Australia to become the institute’s third full-time chief executive. He had been acting CEO since last October after previously running the State’s peak sporting body, SportWest, and replaces Steve Lawrence, who had held the head role at WAIS since 2001. It follows sweeping changes to the WAIS board after nine of 10 directors stepped aside in September after a 20-month hold-up to a restorative process for gymnasts who were abused by demanding coaches between 1987 and 2016. WAIS chair Dr Neale Fong announced the appointment on Thursday after an extensive search carried out by recruitment agency Lester Blades and said the board could now support Fulton in addressing the “valid criticisms” over the handling of athlete safety and culture. “Matt has shown during his time as acting CEO that he is a talented and dedicated leader willing to take on the many challenges that exist at WAIS and drive our next chapter,” Dr Fong said. “Matt is committed to providing a healthy workplace for staff and a safe and nurturing environment for athletes to reach their full potential. “Winning is very important in sport, but it is even more important to win well and take care of the athletes as they pursue their dreams. “WAIS enters a new era of ensuring athletes in high-performance sports continue to achieve on the world-stage and inspire our children and communities.” Fulton has been handed the reins full-time following an unusually high staff turnover and in an Olympic year. “After spending the last six months in the acting position, it is evident that WAIS has an incredibly strong board, a passionate and dedicated team of staff and an inspirational group of athletes – it is an absolute honour to have been appointed as the permanent CEO of such an amazing organisation as we embark upon a period of transformation,” Fulton said. “I look forward to WAIS being a source of inspiration to the entire Western Australian community for generations to come, and I feel privileged to be able to play my part in helping athletes realise their sporting dreams.” Under Dr Fong’s leadership, the WAIS has replaced virtually the entire board after the State Government had intervened over the hold up in the restorative process with gymnasts. The WA Government, which provides 90 per cent of WAIS’s $11 million annual funding, appointed audit and business management specialists KPMG to conduct a review of governance and culture at the institution. The 10-person WAIS board led by Dr Fong comprises WA Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Dreibergs, author and journalist Colleen Egan, public policy consultant Darren Foster, WA Treasury Corporation CEO Kayleen Gulich, Curtin University professor Cheryl Kickett-Tucker, Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries deputy director of capability and performance Jennifer McGrath, Paralympics Australia head of performance strategy and Olympic sailing gold medallist Elise Rechichi, Hockey WA CEO Fabian Ross and mining, health tech and mental health global executive Peta Slocombe. Dr Fong said since the new board was appointed in September 2023, they had begun the restorative justice program for ex-gymnasts, appointed an integrity and safeguarding manager and become the first organisation to adopt Sport Integrity Australia’s National Integrity Framework.