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Professor to nurture state’s sport stars
A University of the Sunshine Coast sport scientist who has just been appointed to the board of the Queensland Academy of Sport intends to focus on the overall health of our elite athletes as much as their sporting prowess.
Professor Brendan Burkett, a former Paralympic swimmer who is also director of USC’s Centre for Healthy Activities, Sport and Exercise, is one of five new board members to help guide the state’s present and future sporting champions.
“It’s a real honour to be joining such highly-experienced sports people and administrators,” said Professor Burkett, whose three-year role starts on 1 December.
“The QAS is a leader in this country, with the performances it produces across 22 sports and the research it conducts at the Centre of Excellence for Applied Sport Science Research in Brisbane.”
He said there were two key elements he aimed to bring to the board.
“As the only board member based outside Brisbane, I want to fly the flag for fostering excellence and supporting activities in regional areas,” he said.
“As a University academic and former athlete, I want to ensure the research and its applications are athlete-centred, to benefit both their health and sporting performance. I want to ensure that balance remains a priority.
“It will be an exciting challenge to represent USC, the Sunshine Coast region and Queensland while reflecting that athlete-centred approach.”
Queensland Sport Minister Phil Reeves recently announced new members to the board, chaired by former gold-medal Olympic swimmer Tracy Stockwell.
Alongside Professor Burkett will be former Brisbane Broncos CEO Bruno Cullen, recently retired athletes Naomi McCarthy (water polo) and Bronwyn Thompson (track and field), and QAS founding director Wilma Shakespear.
Mr Reeves said: “Queensland has a rich history of producing some of the best athletes in the country and the new board will continue to ensure our elite athletes receive the best facilities, coaching and support.”
Professor Burkett and the University already have strong links with the academy. In 2009 he was seconded as a senior researcher to the Centre of Excellence and current Australian Research Council grants involve collaborations between the two on swimming technology and innovation.
– Julie Gatehouse