GOLF AUSTRALIA NEWS
GA APPOINTS KURDAS
TO KEY FEMALE ROLE
Golf Australia has completed a coup
with the appointment of Chyloe
Kurdas to the position of national
female participation manager.
Kurdas, who began the new role on
Monday 9 April, has had a high-
profile role in helping develop the
thriving AFLW competition.
Bringing with her more than
20 years’ experience in leading
significant cultural change and
building gender equality, Kurdas is
excited by her new challenge.
“It’s a fascinating time for women
and girls in sport and there’s
a real appetite for change and
development, so I think it’s really
important for golf not to get left
behind and get on the front foot,”
Kurdas said.
“I feel like I have unique `IP’ in my
head about growing opportunities
for girls and women in sport and
that it would be a waste not to use
it.
“The role with Golf Australia I’m sure
will make me feel challenged and
that’s what I look forward to.”
Kurdas’ appointment is a key
component of GA’s Vision 2025: The
future of women and girls in golf,
launched during the recent ISPS
Handa Women’s Australian Open.
At 42 and with a keen interest in golf
but not a club membership, Kurdas
said the Vision 2025 documents
“spoke to her”.
“I love to play, but I can also see
some of the aspects of the sport
that are holding it back in
many women’s minds,”
Kurdas said.
“I can empathise with
their thoughts and all golf
facilities need to actively
ask themselves how
they make women feel
included and engaged,
because without that
we’re up against it.
“It’s a really important time with so
many different sports and other
aspects of life competing for women
and girls now – golf has to be part of
that movement.
“We are uniquely placed in that
there’s not just a high-performance
aspect to golf, there’s also a strong
leisure and recreation component
and it’s a lifetime sport.
“We just haven’t maximised golf’s
potential yet – the ability to use the
power and appeal the sport has to
so many people.”
Kurdas lectures at Melbourne
Business School and Melbourne
University and is known to many as
an expert commentator and analyst
on AFLW across several mediums.
Her most recent sport-specific role
was as AFL Victoria female football
development manager where she was
responsible for leading the growth of
female participation that culminated
in the establishment of the ground-
breaking AFLW competition.
She was also one of 17 women
globally chosen to participate
in a five-week mentorship with
the LPGA in Florida, provided
professional development for LPGA
game development staff and was
involved with strategy development
around the Navistar Classic LPGA
tournament.
GA golf development director
Cameron Wade said Kurdas’
appointment capped an exhaustive
three-month process.
“It was extremely important to us
to find the best possible person for
such a vital role for the sport – and
in Chyloe we are confident we’ve
done that from among a list of very
strong candidates,” Wade said.
“Chyloe has the skills and
experience to lead the
implementation of the Vision 2025
whole of sport blueprint with a
focus on cultural change.
“Our collective goal is to transform
the game of golf in Australia into
one that is highly engaging and
fully inclusive for women and
girls across all levels and we are
very appreciative of the R&A’s
leadership through assisting with
the development of Vision 2025 and
also partly funding the role for a
three year period."
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