Following almost
two decades of service to Australian baseball, Baseball Australia Chief
Executive Officer Brett Pickett has stepped down from his post.
Pickett has
overseen a significant change in the baseball sporting landscape in his 15
years with Baseball Australia and six years as CEO. Under Brett’s leadership, baseball
has experienced unprecedented membership growth in grassroots club baseball,
the unification of baseball – bringing together States and the National
Federation under one brand, sustained commercial growth, the hosting of the MLB
Opening Series (2014) at the Sydney Cricket Ground and 100% ownership of the
Australia Baseball League (ABL) by Baseball Australia, to highlight but a few
achievements.
Baseball
Australia Chairman David Hynes thanked Pickett for his outstanding service and
commitment to the game, acknowledging that Australian baseball is in a far
stronger position following Pickett’s contribution.
“Brett has been a
great servant of our game,” said Hynes.
“In the six years
that I have worked with him in my role as Chairman, Brett’s tireless commitment
to baseball has seen significant advances in the standing of baseball within
the Australian sporting landscape and laid the solid foundation on which our
future success can be built.”
“On a personal
level, I have enjoyed a very close working relationship with Brett. His heart
has always been with our sport and I have always benefitted from his counsel
and support. I wish Brett and his family every future success with their
private business endeavours. He will always be welcome in the baseball family,
which has played such a significant role in his own life as a player and
administrator.”
“Brett has been a
great support to both myself and the Board, and I thank him for helping guide
baseball through the last six years as CEO.”
“This is an
exciting time for Baseball in Australia coming off the back of winning automatic
qualification for the next World Baseball Classic (2021), baseball’s
readmission in to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Games, our U23s recent Silver Medal
success at the U23s World Cup and the significant growth in female baseball and
youth participation.”
“I thank Brett
sincerely for departing his post with baseball in good health, and a bright
future ahead.”
Achievements as Chief Executive Officer: Brett
Pickett (2011-2017)
§ Grew Active membership base from 37,000 to
57,000 (54% increase);
§ Unified the sport under the one branding
structure for the first time in history;
§ Migrated the sport onto the one, fully
integrated technology system that allowed the sport and its stakeholders to
manage their membership, competition, database and commercial needs on the one
platform;
§ Grew commercial revenue by 285%;
§ Secured and oversaw involvement of
Australian Baseball team’s participation in the historic 2014 MLB Opening
Series, played at the Sydney Cricket ground (defeating the Arizona
Diamondbacks);
§ Oversaw (on behalf of BA) delivery of the ABL
since its inception, and managed process of BA assuming 100% control of ABL and
its subsequent integration into the BA / State body structure;
§ Reduced BA’s reliance on government
funding by 22%;
§ Developed the annual Australian Baseball
Summit – a 3 day event including meetings and workshops of all Australian
Baseball administrators designed to foster ideas, cultivate relationships and
develop strategy to grow the game of baseball in Australia;
§ Introduced the first ever national junior
entry point program for baseball – Aussie T-Ball;
§ Undertook comprehensive review of the
National Participant pathway, to ensure decisions regarding the games
membership growth strategies were evidence-based. A major outcome of review was
increased integration of LL program throughout pathway;
§ Oversaw the rapid growth of the Little
League program in Australia, resulting in Australia having direct qualification
to the Little League World Series, the Junior League World Series and the
Senior League World Series, and Australia becoming the 3rd largest
LL program in the world;
§ Led BA’s increased focus on Participation
following baseball’s elimination from the Olympic program. BA one of only a
handful of Australian sports to receive the highest assessment ratings from the
ASC in consecutive years for our Participation performance;
§ Created strategy designed to increase
baseball’s profile and voice within the Australian political landscape;
§ Appointed to the International Baseball
Federation Tournament Commission. Ensured Baseball Australia’s voice and
presence were consistently heard and felt amongst the international baseball
community;
§ Developed / cultivated relationships with
largest professional baseball Leagues in the world (MLB + NPB) resulting in
considerable investment in our player development programs and multiple playing
opportunities for our National Men’s team abroad;
§ Despite government funding cuts, ensured
BA’s support of State bodies remained well resourced;
§ Maintained a national insurance policy for
the sport, its players, volunteers, States and clubs, which consistently grew
in coverage, at a nominal cost; and
§ Cultivated Baseball Australia’s “Down Under
program”; a program designed to commercialise the sports assets, foster
international partnerships and achieve mutual benefits for the sport and its
stakeholders.
LINK TO ARTICLE:
Cam Vale appointed as CEO Baseball Australia
http://baseball.com.au/News/Latest-News/vale-announced-as-baseball-australia-ceo
Cam Vale will
commence his role as CEO Baseball Australia on Monday 3 April 2017.