Football West chairman Sherif Andrawes has welcomed the appointment of new directors David Buckingham and Ivy Chen.
In addition, this week saw the re-election of Mr Andrawes to his position along with deputy chairman Will Golsby.
With Football West preparing for a set of momentous years ahead, Mr Andrawes acknowledged that the new additions to the Football West board will make the foundations of the East Coast’s footballing governing body stronger.
“It is fantastic for Football West to attract two people of the calibre of David and Ivy, who bring huge experience from their respective fields and a real desire to make a difference,” Mr Andrawes said, who is the Global Head of Natural Resources at accounting giant BDO in addition to his role at Football West.
“They join the board at a really exciting time as we work towards the opening of the $32.5 million State Football Centre in Queens Park, which will coincide with Perth hosting matches at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
“Our two new directors have spoken passionately about WA football and the good it can do, and they are ready to challenge us to keep moving forward and bring a new perspective to the board.”
David Buckingham is the former CEO of iiNet and current chairman of recently floated Perth-based internet service provider Pentanet.
Mr Buckingham is a lifelong football fan and “proud Tractor Boy”; the infamous nickname of his boyhood side Ipswich Town. He became majorly involved with his local side Wembley Downs after moving to Western Australia.
“I’m a qualified coach from my days in England so I was involved as a coaching co-ordinator, but in reality, it was a bit of everything from being on the committee to marking out the lines for the matches,” he said.
“All of my three children have played, including my 20-year-old who is going well at a decent level.
“I want to help Football West grow and do even better things. Perception is reality and a lot of mums and dads don’t see some of the great things the organisation does.”
Ivy Chen is a geologist with a litany of experience in the resource industry, having previously spent six years as a corporate governance specialist working with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
“I have watched football since I was a kid growing up in Malaysia – English football, European, the World Cup and the Malaysian national league, it doesn’t matter. People there cannot get enough,” Ms Chen said.
“Now I am involved with Multicultural Futures, which supports migrants for the first five years they are here. They do not have English as their first language, but so many have football in common, something everyone understands. That is a real connection.
Ms Chen, who is also a director with Horizon Power, added: “I can offer a different approach, a different network, and an opportunity to share the love. The resource sector has a lot of overseas people working in it who are football people from football countries.”
Ms Chen and Mr Buckingham join chairman Mr Andrawes, deputy chairman Mr Golsby and fellow directors Liz Tylich, Jason Petkovic, Richard Marshall and Amy Johnson on the Football West board.
