BASKETBALL AUSTRALIA WELCOME LAUREN JACKSON AND TAL KARP

June 18, 2019 | WNBL news

Basketball Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of Lauren Jackson AO as the new Head of Women in Basketball.

Olympian, lawyer and corporate consultant, Tal Karp, has also been engaged as Principal Advisor to Women in Basketball to support Ms. Jackson and Basketball Australia in developing a whole of sport strategy focusing on women and girls.

A recent Basketball Australia Hall of Fame inductee, Ms. Jackson brings a lifetime of basketball experience to the role, which includes time with the Deakin Melbourne Boomers as the Assistant General Manager and with the ACT Government as a Senior Project Officer.

Ms. Jackson is also currently the Managing Director of Empowered Athletes Transition Program and is completing a Master of Business Administration.

Her role will provide leadership across the Chemist Warehouse WNBL operations, promotions and marketing, and stakeholder engagement.

In an advisory role to Basketball Australia, Ms. Karp will work with Ms. Jackson and key stakeholders to create a whole of sport strategy for women and girls, aligning both the WNBL and broader women and girls in sport action plans.

Basketball Australia Chief Executive Officer Jerril Rechter said she was thrilled to have women with outstanding credentials both on and off the field of play taking on key roles with Basketball Australia.

“There is an opportunity for Basketball Australia to build upon its strong foundations and its leadership role of women in sport. Both Lauren and Tal will work on a new strategy for women and girls in basketball, from grassroots participation to community programs and leagues, the elite level, coaching, officiating, administration and governance,” she said.

“We are committed to increasing the number of women and girls playing basketball and following the Chemist Warehouse Opals’ recent success at the FIBA World Cup we want to maintain our place in international basketball by providing the best competitions and high-performance pathways.

“Our Australian Opals and the WNBL competition are very strong, but we know there is so much more we can do to support women in our game. Women in sport both here in Australia and indeed globally have enjoyed a wave of recognition in recent years and we want to ensure women in basketball continue to lead the way.

“I welcome Lauren and Tal and look forward to the exciting period ahead.”

Ms. Jackson said she was looking forward to starting the role.

“After playing for two decades I’m so pleased to be able to continue to play a part in basketball as an administrator,” Ms Jackson said.

“We have outstanding players in this country and I want to ensure our place on the world stage remains strong while giving all young players the opportunity to play and love basketball.”

Tal Karp said the opportunity to support Basketball Australia was too good to refuse.

“Basketball is an exciting, global game with more than one million participants in Australia. I’m passionate about providing opportunities for women and girls to participate – as players, but also as coaches, referees and administrators,” she said.

“I’m looking forward to working with both Jerril and Lauren and key stakeholders in developing a strategy that will create strong foundations for the coming years.”

Both Lauren Jackson and Tal Karp will commence with Basketball Australia in July.

The 2019-20 Chemist Warehouse WNBL season will commence in October.

Profiles

Lauren Jackson AO

Professional

Appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2015

President Women’s Basketball, Australian Basketballers’ Association (ABA) 2015-16

Champion for Gender Equality, the Australian National Committee for United Nations Women

Women’s Sport Australia Ambassador

WorkSafe Victoria Ambassador 2018

Senior Project Officer – ACT Government Sport and Recreation 2018

Commercial Operations Manager / Assistant General Manager Melbourne Boomers 2015-2019

Managing Director of Empowered Athletes Transition Program 2018-current

Bachelor of Gender and Diversity

Graduate Certificate in business administration

Currently completing a Master of Business Administration

Sporting

Australia’s most decorated basketballer

All-time leading points scorer in Olympic women’s basketball history

Played in four Olympic Games, winning three silver medals and one bronze medal

Played in four Senior World Championships, winning one gold medal and two bronze medals

Won two championships with the Seattle Storm

Named in the WNBA All Decade team (2006)

Named in the All-WNBA First Team seven times and the All-WNBA Second Team once

Named in the WNBA Top 15 team (2011)

Seven-time WNBA All-Star

Three-time WNBA MVP

WNBA Finals MVP (2010).

WNBA Rebounding Champion (2007)

Four-time WNBL MVP

Five-time WNBL All Star

Four-time WNBL Grand Final MVP

Commonwealth Games gold medal (2006)

Six WNBL Championships

Three EuroLeague Championships

Played 220 games for Australia

Basketball Australia Hall of Fame inductee

Tal Karp

Professional

Founder and Director of Sixfold Consulting Group

Senior Fellow of Sports Law (Melbourne Law Masters) at the University of Melbourne

Victorian Government, Change Our Game Ambassador

Member of the Sport Australia and Australian Institute of Sport ‘Sports Executive Talent Program’ Graduate

Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors

Appointed Director of YMCA Australia

Former elected Director of Football Federation Victoria

Former Football Federation of Victoria Tribunal Member

Optus Sport Broadcast Team, FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019

Former Senior Advisor to the Victorian Minister for Women and the Prevention of Family Violence

Former Civil Advocate in Victoria Legal Aid Chambers

Former Associate to Justice Hayne of the High Court of Australia

Holds a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours and the Australian National University Blackburn Medal for Research in Law); and a Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University

Sporting

Former Matilda (Australian Women’s Soccer Team), representing Australia at the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup and 2004 Olympic Games

Inaugural captain of the Melbourne Victory W-League Team.