Sarah Kenny and John Tierney elected to World Sailing Council

by Jane Gordon and Sail-World on 24 Oct 2016 Australian Sailing Vice-President, Sarah Kenny has been appointed to the World Sailing Council for a four-year term from 2017-2020, representing Group L (Oceania), along with John Tierney, Secretary General of the Oceania Sailing Federation. The 29-member Council is responsible for managing the sport of sailing including the determination of policy for sailing across the world.

Sarah is a Director and Vice-President of Australian Sailing and represents Australia internationally on several Committees for World Sailing including Youth and Development, Windsurfing and Kitesurfing, and Women’s Committees.

Sarah competed internationally in windsurfing, including the windsurfing exhibition event at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, was a member of Australian Sailing’s Olympic Selection Panel in 2008, 2012 and 2016 and is an enthusiastic sailor who has also competed in sailing at a national level.

A former Partner and current Consultant at Herbert Smith Freehills and a member of the Australian and New Zealand Sports Law Association and the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Sarah is also involved in junior sailing through her sons, who are keen 29er sailors.

Matt Allen, President of Australian Sailing congratulated Sarah on her appointment saying, “We are pleased to have received confirmation that Sarah will be joining the World Sailing Council, representing not only Australia, but also the Oceania region.

“Sarah’s vast experience gained as a competitor, lawyer and mother to young boys who sail, along with her role on the Australian Sailing Board, will make her a valuable member of the World Sailing Council, particularly representing the interests of sailing in Oceania and the Southern Hemisphere”, Matt added.

John Tierney (Cook Islands) is the first representative from outside Australia or New Zealand from the 16 nations that make up Oceania Sailing Federation (OSAF) since its inception.

The OSAF website can be accessed by clicking here

The Presidential election for which there are two candidates challenging the incumbent Carlo Croce (ITA) will take place at the Annual General meeting in November, The six Vice Presidents will also be elected in November 2016.

The full member listing of the 2017-2020 Council – Group Representatives is:

Abdur Rehman Arshad (PAK)
Ukfur H Hrobjartsson (ISL)
Mohamed Atib (ALG)
Oleg Ilyin (RUS)
Marco Aurelio de Sa Ribeiro (BRA)
Goetz-Ulf Jungmichel (GER)
Dick Batt (GBR)
Sarah Kenny (AUS)
Philip Baum (RSA)
Jose Manuel Leandro (POR)
Gary Bodie (USA)
Pablo Masseroni (ARG)
Peter van den Bossche (BEL)
Hans Natorp (DEN)
Cary Lee Byerly (ANT)
Takao Otani (JPN)
Walter Cavallucci (ITA)
Cory Sertl (USA)
Tomasz Chamera (POL)
Marcus Spillane (IRL)
Jean-Luc Denecheau (FRA)
Totos Theodosiou (CYP)
Warwick Downes (HKG)
John Tierney (COK)
Hector Duval (DOM)
George Wossala (HUN)
Kamen Fillyov (BUL)
Sheikh Khaled Zayed S Alnehayan (UAE)
Peter Hall (CAN)