Lynne shares her wisdom at AFHA's Impact Beyond event in 2024.
Lynne Anderson joined the Board of Athletes For Hope Australia in February 2024. Having worked in sport at every level from club houses to boardrooms, she has a unique understanding of almost every aspect of the sporting ecosystem in Australia. But beyond her professional expertise and experiences, her personal love of sport and its role in Australian communities runs deep. Lynne lives and breathes sport and all it entails, and has sought ways to leave every sporting role, community and environment she has entered in a better place. For Lynne, it's personal.
With her father, husband, children and now grandchildren all part of the rich tapestry of Australia’s rugby league community, Lynne has made it her life’s mission to create safer, more inclusive and enriching sporting spaces for everyone. She now brings this passion and athlete-centred perspective to her work with Athletes For Hope Australia.
Tell us about yourself.
I’m the eldest of nine, from a family with a strong sport engagement, particularly Rugby League. I am now a proud mother of three and grandmother of 7, so family values of respect, inclusion and care are important to me. My love of sport led me to a career in the business of sport after graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce, major Marketing. I founded my own sport and sponsorship research company, using my interest in data and research to further understand sport and its impact. I was privileged to become the CEO of Paralympics Australia in the next stage of my career, a move that I will forever be grateful for. The opportunity to be at the core of the Paralympic movement in Australia, working with and for our incredible Aussie Paralympians was a career high, one that taught me so much. I’m now in semi working mode and sit on several Boards and Advisory Committees. They all have one common thread – supporting our athletes and sporting community.
When did you realise that you could play a role in contributing to the causes, charities or communities that matter most to you?
My first role in 1993 was as Marketing Manager of the Canterbury Bankstown Rugby League Bulldogs. This was MY dream - marketing MY club, just as I graduated with my Marketing Degree. I was passionate about sharing what I truly believed was the power of sport to do good in our community. Having grown up in the working-class western suburbs of Sydney, I had seen firsthand how it united and uplifted. But, despite several years of major successes in the 80s our crowds and engagement were eroding. It wasn’t hard to see that there had been some significant demographic changes in our own backyard. I developed marketing campaigns to open our club and sport to different cultures and women and girls in particular. We were known as the Family Club so we should be doing more. These were successful, creating a true feeling of belonging that stretched beyond game days. This only reinforced the power of sport to me. Working in research allowed me to study this and authenticate even more. The job at Paralympics Australia was the ultimate reinforcement of this belief.
What causes are you passionate about?
Sport and equity of opportunity for all in sport – this includes choice of sport, access to equipment, accessible facilities. I also am passionate about supporting our athletes, in particular around wellbeing and education.
Lynne talks to AFHA Ambassador Bec Miller and Melbourne Mavericks Captain Amy Parmenter at AFHA's Impact Beyond event. Source: AFHA.
Describe the way/s in which you contribute to these causes, charities or communities, and why you have chosen to contribute in this way?
I currently sit on several Boards and Advisory Committees that I believe all drive improvement and growth in sport at all levels – from grassroots/community to elite sport and high-profile professional sport. I also mentor current practitioners in sport. I have chosen these roles as I believe they allow me to use my experience, knowledge, and network to assist beyond my lived experience and help others on their journey. I also am actively engaged in my local Rugby League Club, providing the usual volunteer roles to support my grandchildren’s club. It’s a beautiful way for me to give back to the sport that has given me and my family so much over many decades.
What have you learnt about the causes, charities and/or communities that you have been supporting?
I’ve learnt that there are so many people willing to put in and support, even when today’s world can be challenging. We moved into the Northern Rivers weeks before the horrific floods wrought so much damage. And yet this beautiful community opened their arms and welcomed us. This was especially important for our grandkids trying to settle in a new unknown area. For this reason I committed to continuing to lean in and help in all my roles, given my situation as semi working affords me a better opportunity than many others. Economically times are tough for all but we can always adapt with different thinking and perseverance.
From left to right: AFHA Directors Matt Butterworth, Lynne Anderson, Lisa Hasker (Chair) and Iain Roy. Source: AFHA.
How have you benefited or developed personally from giving back?
I benefit from seeing sport continue to deliver opportunities for all Australians, including my grandchildren. I have had an amazing life through sport that has taken me around the world and given me so many wonderful opportunities and experiences. I want to enable others to be as fortunate if they choose to. I am also mindful of the incredible opportunity Australia will have in 2032 with both the Paralympic and Olympic Games in Brisbane, our own backyard. By continuing to support the growth of sport for all, I believe we will see and deliver an amazing spectacle for us here at home and globally.
What is your advice to athletes across all levels of sports who are looking to contribute to the causes, charities or communities they are passionate about?
My advice to athletes is to really explore what is important to them and start to think about ways they could activate this. Reach out for support where you need it – there is more available than you know, both in your sport and your communities. The power of sport has never been more evident and widespread, and within that the voice of the athlete is an authentic platform should you wish to use it.
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