RNSW First Female President

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Rowing NSW has elected Mrs. Norma Perry as its President. Norma fills the casual vacancy left by outgoing RNSW President Andrew Rowley.

Norma becomes the first female in more than 130 years to preside over a state rowing association.

RNSW governs the sport of rowing in NSW. It decides on the rules for racing in NSW, determines boat classes for racing events, sets an annual calendar of regattas, and promotes rowing in this state. RNSW caters for more than 4000 members, including male and female rowers from elite to novice level as well as athletes with a disability.

Norma fulfilled her first public duties as RNSW President at the recent Australian Rowing Championships where the NSW Men’s Eight won the Prestigious King’s Cup.

Norma is not a newcomer to rowing administration, having joined the Board of RNSW as Director of Finance in August 2005 and acting as Deputy President in 2009.

Trained as a Chartered Accountant, Norma has more than 30 years experience in executive roles in both Australia and Hong Kong as well as postgraduate degrees in Information Systems and Systems Agriculture. 

In her time at RNSW, Norma has overseen the establishment and maintenance of support funds which have helped stabilise the organisation. This provision of economic security will be a feature of Norma’s presidency as she hopes to allow RNSW to take risks and systematically review its strategy. 

Norma is also an avid Master Competitor. She started rowing in 1994 for the North Shore ROwing Club and has competed in all classes of boat with varying success, including a memorable performance that earned her the NSW Champion Pair A-H title in 2005.

Norma’s commitment to the not-for-profit sector is extensive, and includes sitting on the Board of RNSW, positions at Odyssey House Drug Rehabilitation and The Garvan Institute of Medical Research, and as Treasurer and Captain of the North Shore Rowing Club (NSRC). She has also held NGO volunteer roles for PRAEDET (an East Timorese NGO assisting victims of trauma) and the Sydney Business Enterprise Centre.

For further information, please contact Emma Schiller at 0419 161 740 or email emma@rowingnsw.asn.au

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