Following the retirement of Bluearth Chair Pierre Fenech in late 2014, the Board of Bluearth Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of Yvonne Rate AM, as the new Chair commencing in 2015. Yvonne first joined the board as a Director in May of 2013 and is well positioned to take on the role given her extensive experience in the fields of physical activity, education, governance and ethics, and management.
Yvonne Rate has had a long and successful career in education and sport and remains a strong advocate for improving the status of women and girls across all facets of sport. Yvonne was an elite netballer, Captain of the Western Australia (WA) Netball Team for many years, as well as the Captain of the Australian team in 1969. She currently sits on the WA Health Department’s Health Research Ethics Committee and is the President of the Coastal Netball Region. In 1995 she received the Prime Minister’s Award for Women in Sport and in 1999 was named the Western Australian Citizen of the Year in the category of sport.
In 2003, Yvonne was appointed a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia for services to sport as a player and coach, particularly netball, and as an administrator of committees and councils. She has a Master of Education and a Master of Philosophy in Women’s Studies and was the first Executive Director of the Women’s Sports Foundation of Western Australia.
“The challenge of creating physically active communities has been Bluearth’s goal since its foundation in 2000. I am excited to take on the role of Chair of Bluearth as our organisation seeks to extend its reach beyond schools and into the wider community providing increased opportunities for all Australians to increase their participation in physical activities.” She said.