Following almost six years in baseball’s top job, Baseball Australia Chief Executive Officer Brett Pickett will step down from his role as CEO in March 2017.
Pickett, who has held a range of roles with Baseball Australia over his 14 years on staff, will continue to guide baseball through its seventh Australian Baseball League (ABL) series and next year’s crucial World Baseball Classic campaign in Tokyo, Japan, before stepping down.
Pickett has overseen significant development and change in the sport including:
· Hosting 2014 MLB Opening Series LA Dodgers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, SCG
· Over 60 per cent growth in club membership
· Rebrand of Australian Baseball Federation (ABF) to Baseball Australia (BA)
· Unification of the sport through national and state branding
· National Team rebrand – Team Australia “Southern Thunder”
· Women’s baseball participation now 13 per cent of total participants
· Single membership database platform across Australia
· Introduction of evidence-based pathways program “Little League”
· Introduction of entry-point program “T-Ball”
In confirming the news Baseball Australia Chairman David Hynes commented on Pickett’s life-long commitment to the game and it’s growth under his leadership.
“Brett has made a substantial contribution to Baseball for over two decades in a range of roles, most notably as a senior administrator with Baseball Australia,” said Hynes.
“He has overseen significant growth in grassroots participation, club membership, advances in our high performance program, significant investment in stadium infrastructure projects, the growth of women’s baseball, increased unification of the game and an increase in baseball’s public profile through the ABL and the hosting of the 2014 MLB Opening Series.”
“Brett’s commitment to the game is without question. In particular the Board of Baseball Australia (BA) would like to thank Brett for his leadership throughout this transitional period where BA has assumed 100 per cent ownership of the ABL, whilst also signing a new 3-year development agreement with Major League Baseball.”
“Baseball in Australia is entering an exciting period with the International Olympic Committee announcing that Baseball will be reinstated to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Brett will remain at the helm for the next six months, which will give myself and the Board time to ensure we secure the right person to strategically lead our sport into the future.”
Pickett has been a life-long servant of the game having played baseball since he was 5 years old. He commenced his sports management career with the Gold Coast Cougars (of the former ABL) in 1998 after completing a Bachelor of Business (Sports Management) at Griffith University. Pickett then went on to become the Operations Manager for the International Baseball League Australia (IBLA) for a further three years.
Joining the ABF staff in 2002, Pickett was as a member of the High Performance (HP) Division in the role of the HP Coordinator, and later the HP Manager. Pickett was a key resource in the development of programs such as the 2004 Athens Olympic Games program Major League Baseball Australian Academy Program (MLBAAP). Prior to being appointed CEO, Pickett served as the ABF's General Manager of Baseball Operations.
In reflecting on his time in baseball, Pickett believes that the sport has a great opportunity to keep moving forward through a solid foundation and growing public interest.
“I consider it an honour to have served this great sport and its members for as long as I have,” said Pickett.
“It has been more than just a job and I will forever treasure the progress we have made, the friendships I have formed and the experience of working with a committed group of people working towards common goals.”
“Baseball has an extremely bright future in Australia. It has experienced excellent growth over the last 8 years and with all that it has to offer, I know that it will continue to enrich the lives for many more players, coaches, officials and volunteers alike.”
Pickett also acknowledged the great support he had experienced from the Baseball Australia Board, his staff and the state associations in his time in charge.
“I would like to thank BA Chairman David Hynes and the BA Board for their years of tireless work, leadership, and counsel as we worked towards growing our great game together, reflected Pickett.
“None of our achievements could have been possible without the dedication and skill of the BA staff and our network of State Bodies also, who have worked with me to expand baseball’s profile and presence within the Australian sporting market, and I thank them all for the hard work and dedication".
Brett Pickett will remain Chief Executive Officer of Baseball Australia until March 2017. The BA Board will formally commence the recruitment process for a new CEO in due course, to ensure the best range of candidates can be considered.
Brett Pickett will remain Chief Executive Officer of Baseball Australia until March 2017. The BA Board will formally commence the recruitment process for a new CEO in due course, to ensure the best range of candidates can be considered.