Stephen Martin & Darryl Van de Velde appointment

Mr Ron Coote AM, Chairman of the Men of League Foundation, has announced the national board has decided on organisational change designed to support the strategic direction of the Foundation and ensure both its short-term effectiveness in delivering welfare and its long-term vitality.

As previously advised, Frank Barrett has been appointed interim National General Manager. He will now report to the national board through an Executive Director, current director Stephen Martin, who will take responsibility for a thorough review of the organisation while offering the Interim GM a direct line to the national board. Frank will also be responsible for NSW operational matters and will handle all NSW enquiries.

Given the appointment of Frank to the National General Manager role, Darryl Van de Velde will become interim Queensland State Manager reporting to the interim General Manager. In order to observe good governance principles Darryl, currently a national board director, will take leave of absence from the national board for the term of his interim role in Queensland.

“It is critical that an organisation such as ours takes stock at key intervals to ensure we move ahead in a decisive and confident manner. The expectations of a charitable foundation are extremely high, as they should be. The requirement for us to continually improve and refresh to respond to changing need is one that drives us in all we do for the rugby league community,” Mr Coote said.