Justine Kirkjian new CYCA Sailing Manager

by Peter Campbell on 9 Apr 2002 Cruising Yacht Club of Australia history has been made with the appointment of
Justine Kirkjian as Sailing Manager, the first woman to hold such a position in the Club's 58 year history.

Justine takes over this senior management role at the CYCA following the resignation of Mark Robinson who has taken up a coaching role overseas.

Aged 27, Justine joined the Club staff as Sailing Administrator just a year ago after three years in a similar position with the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron.

After graduating as a Bachelor of Health Science (Fitness and Sports Management) from Griffith University and a Graduate Certificate in Sports Nutrition at Deakin University, Justine joined the Yachting Association of NSW as Membership Services Officer, a position she held for a year before going to the RSYS.

In her positions with the RSYS and the CYCA, Justine has made a significant contribution to upgrading inshore and offshore yacht racing services, in particular, the efficiency with which race results are calculated and distributed to competitors.

She played a key role in the heavy volume of administrative work associated with the 57th Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and, more recently, assisted Mark Robinson in the conduct of the Forrester Properties Sydney - Mooloolaba Race.

Justine comes from a wellknown Sydney sailing family, her father being the chief safety officer for NSW and an international jurist, her mother and brother also active sailors. She herself has been sailing since she was five years old, starting in Manly Juniors, moving into Flyings 11s, Lasers, Ynglings and then large keelboats.

'The new job is a great challenge, to be involved in the planning and running of the many events the CYCA conducts, including the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race,' Justine told Onshore. 'I have been in sailing administration for four years now and this is a great step-up; I'm really looking forward to it.'