Basketball Australia have extended the depth of experience with Diversity & Inclusion leader Rana Hussain appointed to the Board of Directors. Along with the addition of Hussain, a level of continuity will be provided with the recent re-election of Damian Armour as Deputy Chair.
John Carey, Chair of Basketball Australia’s Board of Directors spoke to the developments.
“Rana brings a wealth of experience to Basketball Australia in her role as a champion of change, working with many sporting organisations on diversity and inclusion. Her skills will complement Basketball Australia’s strategic plan in that regard, and we look forward to her contributions to the business.” said Carey.
“Damian’s re-election was a great sign of our good relationship with our members. Board stability is really important and Damian’s re-appointment gives us great stability in one of the most important aspects of the business – financial stability and improvement,” said Carey.
With a formative period ahead for girls & women in basketball, Lauren Jackson AO OLY, Opals’ legend and Head of Women at Basketball Australia reacted with enthusiasm to the appointment of Hussain.
“Rana Hussain’s leadership exemplifies the power of diverse voices in shaping inclusive sports environments, inspiring women and girls to see themselves as leaders,” said Jackson.
“Her commitment to equity and cultural understanding will drive transformative change within Basketball Australia. By prioritising representation, fair opportunities, and safe spaces, we can ensure that women and girls in basketball are seen, heard, and empowered.”
Hussain joins Basketball Australia with intersectional experience with social inclusion practice applied in sporting organisations. She founded specialist consultancy firm Good.Human and her practice has made ongoing impact with Cricket Australia, Richmond Football Club, Collingwood Football Club, Nike and Puma.
Basketball Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Matt Scriven spoke to the announcement.
“We’re delighted to have Rana Hussain on at the board level. Hussain’s experience and impact has been profound and we are impressed with her approach & philosophy in applying meaningful change within sports organisations,” said Matt Scriven, Chief Executive Officer.
“The future of basketball will be increasingly inclusive and our goal is to provide all participants with a unique sense of connection regardless of culture, origins, ability and identity. We look forward to Rana’s integration at the board level to advise on actions we can take to enhance our work in this space,”
“I also commend Damian Armour on his deserved and welcomed re-election. Damian has made had a demonstrable impact since joining in 2021 and will undoubtedly continue his role as an advocating leader for the elevation of basketball in Australia."
Hussain’s appointment and Armour’s re-election sit within a broader expansion for Basketball Australia at the leadership level.
Formative additions were actioned in late 2024 with the appointment of Clinton Benjamin and Dr Sarah Gardiner. Benjamin & Gardiner’s specialised skill sets were added to the ranks of Carey, Armour alongside Suzy Batkovic OLY, Sam Charmand, Andrew Major and Greg Sam.
Benjamin, a descendent of the Yawuru, Bardi, Jika peoples from the Kimberly region in Western Australia brings a First Nations lens to the decision-making level. Benjamin is the current Director of Native Title at the National Native Title Council and a former professional athlete in the AFL.
In the same phase, Basketball Australia welcomed Dr Sarah Gardiner, a Professor in Business and Director of the Griffith Institute for Tourism. Sarah specialises in marketing, consumer behaviour & data analytics research with a lifelong connection to basketball in the Gold Coast region in Queensland.
