After 35 years as the Sport Inclusion Australia Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Robyn Smith OAM will step down from the role on January 7 2026.
Recognised as the longest serving CEO of a National Sporting Organisation, Smith has decided that it is time to hand over the reigns to the next generation. “I will continue to work for Sport Inclusion Australia, but it is time for someone else to take control of the organisation. I look forward to continuing my role with Sport Inclusion Australia and supporting the new team while focussing on International engagement.” Smith said.
Smith started her career with Sport Inclusion Australia, then AUSRAPID in 1991 when employed by founding President Marie Little OAM. “Marie showed me that being a female did not need to be a barrier to being a good sport administrator and leader. Marie was an incredible mentor and showed me the power of sport to improve the lives of people with an intellectual disability. She believed and highlighted – if we focus on a person’s strength and ability then anything is possible. She also taught me that people do not need labels and that we need to focus on the person first. Smith said.
Sport Inclusion Australia has worked with National Sporting Organisations to assist them in being inclusive and providing pathways for people with an intellectual impairment. Over the years Smith has seen many staff and CEOs come and go. “We have worked closely with many organisations, quietly sitting in the background and as sporting administrators move on we have had to rebuild those relationships and pathways.”
Sport Inclusion Australia President Helen Croxford acknowledged the contribution that Smith has made to the Australian sporting landscape and for people with an intellectual impairment.
“Robyn’s contribution to Sport Inclusion Australia and the lives of athletes with an intellectual impairment has been enormous, over 35 years she has led with the organisation with passion and desire and an unwielding commitment. They will be big shoes to fill but Robyn isn’t leaving us just yet, she will be around to support the team in the year ahead and ensure a successful transition.” Croxford said.
While Smith values all of the relationships she has developed with sporting organisations there is one which she recalls fondly. Sport Inclusion Australia has worked closely with Tennis Australia supported them as needed to run the Australian Tennis Championships since 1996. In those early years there was one key staff member who was the Tournament Referee for the both the Wheelchair event and ATC and is still around today. “When I first met Craig Tiley he was the tournament referee for the Australian Tennis Championships for players with an intellectual impairment. He was a great supporter of inclusion back then and remains so today.” Smith said.
Intellectual impairment hasn’t always been the flavour of the month but Smith continued to push for inclusion and support of the athletes.
In 2000 when the movement was banned from the Paralympics, Smith convinced the Australian Sports Commission that they needed to continue to support athletes with intellectual impairment. “We will be back” she said and “when we are we need to be ready”. Smith was successful in maintaining funding for the sports of Athletics, Basketball and Swimming.
When offered the $180,000 by the ASC, Smith insisted the funding should go to the sports to maintain the athlete’s inclusion in the sport high performance programs. This paid off at the 2012 London Paralympics with Australia securing 1 Gold and 3 Silver medals in athletics and swimming by athletes with an intellectual impairment.
Smith was elected as Vice President of Virtus (formerly INAS) at the 2013 INAS General Assembly in Brazil, she maintained this role for 10 years.
In 2019 under Smith’s leadership Sport Inclusion Australia hosted the Virtus Global Games in Brisbane. This was a landmark event for Virtus changing perceptions and raised the profile of Virtus and the athletes within the community. Smith had successfully obtained significant funding from all three levels of Government again raising the profile and recognition of the athletes.
In 2021 Smith was elected to the International Paralympic Committee Governing Board, a position which also sees Smith with a seat on the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Organising Committee.
In 2023 Smith was invited to conduct a review of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) with Erin Flaherty, a review that resulted in the AIS receiving $254 million in funding.
Over the years Smith has received recognition for her service to Sport. In 2000 she received the Australian Sports Medal, 2019 the Australian Sports Commission Service to Sport Award and in 2021 the Order of Australia medal.
At the Virtus General Assembly in Cairo last month Smith was elected as President of Virtus. “I was encouraged to stand for the Presidency many years ago but the time was not right, but now stepping down as CEO and with the support of the Board of Sport Inclusion Australia I am extremely excited to lead the International Organisation for the next 4 years.
With her re-election to the International Paralympic Governing Board and her role as President of Virtus, Smith finds herself in a unique position that will enable her to continue to drive change and improve the lives of athletes with a disability.
As President of Virtus, Smith has set significant goals for the next 4 years:
- building stronger relationships with International Sporting Federations
- seeing the re-inclusion in the Winter Paralympics and increased participation in the Summer Paralympics
- increasing access to eligibility allowing pathways to be developed across all five regions
Over the years there have been many highlights for Smith, too many to highlight all of them, but it has always been about the athletes, sharing the athletes’ journeys watching them grow, developing friendships and more importantly being valued and respected in their communities.
Earlier this year Smith joined the Australian Boomerangs for a 25 year reunion in Sydney. “It was an honour to be warmly welcomed by everyone and to see the incredible contribution the players are now making in their own lives and the community, because of their positive experience in sport.
Under Smith’s leadership Sport Inclusion Australia hasn’t waivered from its initial core purpose, we have developed relationships building pathways with National Sporting Organisations and School Sport to grow the opportunities and pathways for people with an intellectual impairment. “Sport owns Sport and we need to assist sport to ensure that they reflect the entire community.”
When she started Smith was given a budget of $35,000, she was told to make it work, it had to cover wages for all staff and all activities. 35 years later Smith leaves Sport Inclusion in a much better position with an annual budget of over $1 million and over 8000 registered athletes.
“We have achieved so much, but we need to keep going till all Australians have a choice.” Smith said
A key component of Smith’s Annual Report has been the acknowledgement of those who have assisted throughout the year, as Smith gives her 35th and final CEO Report at the Sport Inclusion Australia Annual General Meeting on the 12th of December, that list could be a very long one.