AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan today announced the appointment of Ms Tanya Hosch to the newly created position of General Manager, Inclusion and Social Policy.
Mr McLachlan said the appointment of Ms Hosch is a significant and critical step for the AFL and the AFL Executive.
Ms Hosch has most recently served as Joint Campaign Director and the public face of the RECOGNISE campaign.
“We have been on a long and extensive search for the right person to fill this role, and are delighted that Tanya emerged as the standout candidate for the position,” Mr McLachlan said.
“Tanya’s extensive experience in public policy and advocacy in women and indigenous affairs is a major step for the AFL, and I am delighted that she is bringing her leadership to our Executive.
“Tanya is someone of immense character and strength and under her leadership, RECOGNISE has achieved significant growth and progress towards recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in Australia’s Constitution.
“We look forward to continuing to work with RECOGNISE and supporting the next phase of this campaign.”
The role will set and drive and the AFL strategies and policies that promote inclusion and diversity, including the implementation of AFL’s enhanced Indigenous Strategy, delivering senior support and advice to the AFL Indigenous Advisory Council, reviewing the Respect and Responsibility Policy, and implementing the AFL’s Gender Action Plan.
Along with her work at RECOGNISE, Ms Hosch was also a founding Director of the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre and a driving force in the creation of both the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples (the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elected representative body) and the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute. Tanya is currently a Board Director of the Indigenous Land Corporation. In her earlier career, Tanya was involved in frontline women’s support services.
Ms Hosch said she was excited by the opportunity to work with Australia’s premier sporting body and continuing her commitment to addressing disadvantage and inequality.
“I am a lifelong football supporter, and I am thrilled to be taking on this challenge at the AFL. I am excited about working with the AFL’s Indigenous Advisory Council and in the broader area of inclusion and social policy,” Ms Hosch said.
Chair of the AFL Indigenous Advisory Council, Mr Paul Briggs said Tanya’s appointment was a critical one for the future of the Indigenous strategies and programs at the AFL.
“I am delighted that the AFL Executive will now have senior Indigenous representation, and that someone of Tanya’s experience will be leading the implementation of the AFL’s Indigenous Strategy,”
“This is a very senior appointment, and will make sure the voice of Indigenous people is heard at the AFL Commission and Executive level, and that the advice going to the AFL is at the most senior management level,” Mr Briggs said.
Ms Hosch will commence on August 29.
