Welcome Tain Drinkwater

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Tain Drinkwater

National Rugby League Executive General Manager – Performance & Pathways

A highly experienced and respected sports administrator, Tain Drinkwater was the CEO of Netball NSW until March this year, before joining the National Rugby League as the Head of Performance and Pathways.

In her role as Chief Executive at NNSW, Tain oversaw the implementation of ground breaking reform to drive greater inclusivity and participation in Netball, launched the inaugural Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan, and administered the successful completion of both the NSW Swifts and GIANTS Netball’s Suncorp Super Netball seasons culminating in, for the first time in SSN history, Netball NSW’s two professional franchises contesting the 2021 Grand Final with the Swifts claiming a record seventh Premiership. 

Tain joined Netball NSW from the Brisbane Broncos where she was a senior member of the club’s Executive Team as the Chief Executive of the club’s National Rugby League Women’s Program, which delivered three back to back NRLW Premierships, as well as leading the HR, Risk & Compliance portfolio of the only publicly listed sporting franchise on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Prior to the Broncos, Tain held senior and executive management roles in the Australian mining industry for 16 years, leading major operational and business transformation projects in remote and regional communities.

With a vision to continue to build female participation across all levels of business, particularly in non-traditional roles, Tian’s work across industries has ignited a passion to become involved in and support programs focused on health, leadership and women’s protection, with a focus on providing pathways for female empowerment to deliver social change.

We are extremely proud and excited to have Tain who loves Community Sport play a role in supporting our local game.