New additions to the WAIS board revealed

Peta Slocombe and Kaylene Gulich have been appointed to the board of the Western Australian Institute of Sport as the state government commences its cultural and governance review into the sporting body.

Ms Slocombe is a psychologist with 25 years of experience in mental health, human behaviour and culture.

She serves as chief executive of Performance Story, an organisation she founded in early 2022 to optimise leadership performance through digital technology, data and analytics.

Ms Gulich comes from a financial management background and has worked as Western Australian Treasury Corporation chief executive for the past five years.

She also works as Institute of Public Administration Australia WA treasurer and serves on several boards including Australian Financial Markets Association, VenuesWest and Chief Executive Women.

Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman said he strategically selected Ms Slocombe and Ms Gulich to join the WAIS board to strengthen the organisation’s governance.

“I have chosen board members with strong leadership and governance credentials to lead WAIS through a period of renewal and change, and who can promote the safe, professional culture we expect from our premier sporting institution,” Mr Templeman said.

Ms Slocombe and Ms Gulich will serve terms due to end in December 2024.

This board update comes two weeks after long-serving chief executive Steven Lawrence announced his resignation from WAIS.

The sporting institution has commenced a national search for a new boss to replace Mr Lawrence who said his decision to step down emerged from discussions with the new board.

He said he was leaving with confidence that he had served WAIS with loyalty, integrity and commitment.

Mr Templeman overhauled the WAIS board and appointed former WA Football Commission chairman and ex-hospital boss Neale Fong as chairman in September.

Also appointed to the board last month was former deputy police commissioner Gary Dreibergs, former senior public servant Darren Foster and Hockey WA boss Fabian Ross.

The board refresh came after nine out of the 10-person strong board resigned, leaving only Jennifer McGrath, a deputy director general at the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.

In June 2022, federal government agency Sport Integrity Australia conducted a review of WAIS’ gymnastics program, from 1984 to 2016, which unearthed allegations that participants experienced harmful behaviour and practices.

Following the report, the state government announced it would conduct a cultural and governance review which is now underway with KPMG undertaking the process.