Disability Sports Australia (DSA) Chair, John Croll AM, today announced that Chief Executive Officer, Jenni Cole, will be leaving the organisation to spend time with family during this unprecedented time and pursue other interests.
Mr Croll commented, “Jenni’s achievements have been numerous, and she leaves behind a legacy with the organisation stronger and more diverse across the national sporting landscape for people with a disability.”
“Her leadership and foresight has seen the organisation expand to provide education, major events, programs, sport development and growth, and include engagement with an increased number of sports for people with a physical disability,” he said.
In 2019, tough economic times saw the closure of DSA member organisations in South Australia and Northern Territory. Jenni was able to lead the establishment of Disability Sports Northern Territory (a branch of DSA) and work to ensure support was still available in South Australia by working with the respective Governments.
Jenni was instrumental in the foundation and development of Wheelchair Aussie Rules, a game now partnered with the AFL, that has been embraced by many and now hosts national championships attracting teams from interstate and the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
She established a strong partnership with the Australian Defence Force’s Adaptive Sports, which saw DSA become a key partner in preparation of the Australian Invictus Games teams in 2017 and 2018, including provision of coaching mentors for team sports and targeted support for the Australian Invictus wheelchair rugby team preparation. She was a strong advocate for the 2018 Invictus Games (IG18), delivering the sport elements of the hard launch for the Games in 2017 and leading to DSA being a delivery partner for IG18 in wheelchair rugby, sitting volleyball and more broadly.
Jenni led the DSA team to successfully bid and then deliver the GIO 2018 IWRF Wheelchair Rugby World Championship in Sydney – the pinnacle event of the sport. In partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation (IWRF) she lead a team to Bangladesh to provide a wheelchair rugby development clinic for severely underprivileged young people and she has helped to establish RaceRunning nationally – another new sport that caters for people with cerebral palsy.
Jenni was instrumental in securing the inaugural 2020 CPISRA Conference on Physical Activity and Health for People with Cerebral Palsy and Acquired Brain Injury, due to be held in December 2020 in Sydney, now postponed to December 2021 due to COVID-19.
Jenni commented, “After 25 years in the disability sport sector, it has been a huge privilege to lead DSA to grow the range of sports for people with a disability and help people with a disability become active and connect with sport. I am incredibly proud of this organisation and the achievements I have been able to make in challenging times and the genuine difference that has been made to the organisation over the past 6 and a half years. The team at DSA will continue to deliver programs that change lives through sport, and I look forward to watching the organisation continue to grow into the future. I am looking forward to next chapter in my professional life and will certainly miss the DSA team.”
About Disability Sports Australia
Disability Sports Australia is Australia’s peak national body representing athletes with a physical disability. Through its members, DSA help’ people with a physical disability to develop and engage with the community through sports participation and recreational opportunities. DSA is “Changing Lives Through Sport”.
