Posted by Ian FAIRNIE on Aug 23, 2024
President Tom reveals what matters to him: Values Matter
             
President Tom with special guest Sara David AM from Living Child
 
It is not at all unusual for a Club President to speak to members, but Tom’s recent presentation gave members an insight into what he really enjoys about his job at WA Cricket: it puts Values First.  
 
There are lots of pop management books around that promote this, online and as audio tapes.  But at WA Cricket, it’s not just talked about during Strategic Planning workshops, it’s the lived culture - and it works!  
 
Just look at some of the Outcomes that have been earned through this culture in the last few years:
  • 3 Sheffield Shields
  • 3 Marsh Cups
  • 2 Men’s Big Bash League Championships
  • 1 Women’s Big Bash League Championship
  • Drawing 50,000+ people to finals that are played at Optus Oval (Sydney struggles to get 20,000 at its finals)
Fun Fact on this last dot point?  And who determines how many people come to these big games?  Mum does!  Seems like the days when cricket was a game watched by old white blokes, belong in the last century!
 
So what does Tom do at WA Cricket?  Club development.  Helping clubs support their volunteers, and with conflict resolution.  He helps people who want to do things right, listening to their ideas and helps make them better.  He encourages clubs to welcome autistic kids, and to sign up to be a "Good Sports” club.  98% of WA clubs have done this and are thus committed to something bigger than themselves.
 
After the meeting, I asked Tom who was the key to all the recent success of WA Cricket - Christina Matthews was his immediate response.  Christina was CEO from 2011 until March this year.  Apart from being a very successful administrator and inspirational leader, she is Australia's most capped female Test player, and holds the record for the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in Women’s Test Matches.  She also played in the 1988 and 1993 World Cups.  
 
Her mantra for her time leading WA Cricket?: Cricket is for everyone.