Camplin has had a distinguished sporting career at the highest levels including winning a gold medal in the 2002 Winter Olympics, she is also an accomplished business leader in her own right.
Camplin currently works as a senior executive at IBM managing a team of over 300 people. She also contributes to several sporting administrations including the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia and is the Deputy Chair for the Australian Sports Commission.
A Collingwood supporter since the age of five, Camplin captured the hearts of the entire nation with her gold medal skiing performance in the 2002 Winter Olympics. Four years later she defied the odds by overcoming a knee reconstruction to take home the bronze medal in freestyle skiing to become the first Australian to win medals in consecutive Winter Olympics.
“When the opportunity was there to combine somebody of Alisa’s talents as a member of the AOC (Australian Olympic Committee), the Australian Sports Commission and as an Olympic veteran we jumped on it. Throw in the fact that she is a senior executive at IBM and understands the corporate world better than any sportsperson I have ever met,” said club president Eddie McGuire.
“Alisa has been somebody who has been a backroom contributor of the club for a number of years. Not only as a paid up member but also as somebody who has spoken at corporate events for us. She actually trained on the Lexus Centre floor with our players as part of her Olympic preparations.
“She is a recently retired Olympic athlete. We now have somebody who knows how to train here at the highest level and understands the team aspects.”
Camplin concedes she brings a diversity of opinion to the club and believes a female’s perspective is important to be present at board level.
“To understand and work across all levels of an elite sports system gives me a unique insight into what’s going on in sport in Australia and around the world and what is required to win at the highest level.
“Watching our last two grand final campaigns overseas, where we didn’t get over the line, has made me all the more determined to get that premiership within the next two years. I am a very results driven lady.”
Camplin, 35, replaces the recently vacated position left by Sally Capp who will relocate to London at the end of the year to serve as Victoria’s first female Agent-General.
“Sally Capp has been a vital part of Collingwood’s leadership over the last six years. Her passion, corporate knowledge and female perspective has been very important in helping shape what the club is today,” said McGuire.
Capp, who was the first woman to serve on the Collingwood board when she was appointed in 2004, is thrilled with her successor.
“Alisa comes to the board with a unique insight into elite sport, its demands and challenges overlaid with valuable commercial experience all of which makes her a great asset for our club.
“To serve on the Collingwood board has been a hugely satisfying time in my career both personally and professionally. To be close to a club that I love and have the opportunity to make a contribution to its success has been a great privilege.”
