Gerry Knights Announces Retirement After Decades of Service to Sport

Written on the 3 December 2025

The Regional Academies of Sport (RAS) and South West Sydney Academy of Sport (SWSAS) today announce the retirement of Gerry Knights, a highly respected leader in sports administration whose career has spanned nearly four decades. Gerry’s last day will be Friday, December 5.

Gerry Knights has been a cornerstone of athlete development in New South Wales. Serving as Chief Executive Officer of the SWSAS Sport for close to 20 years, Gerry has guided the Academy through significant growth, supporting over 5 000 talented South West Sydney athletes across multiple sports. His leadership ensured that young athletes in South West Sydney had access to elite coaching, education, and pathways to state and national representation.

Equally important, Gerry’s influence extended beyond athletes - many sports professionals and administrators began their careers under his mentorship at the Academy, shaping the next generation of leaders in Australian sport.

Before stepping into the CEO role, Gerry spent 20 years with Campbelltown City Council as Manager of Healthy Lifestyles, where he championed community health and recreation initiatives. During this time, he played a key role in establishing the steering committee in 1994 that ultimately led to the creation of the SWSAS in 1997.

Following the Academy’s inception, Gerry served as a valued member of its Board of Management before officially taking on the position of Chief Executive Officer in 2006.

His expertise extended beyond local government, as he also served as Deputy Chairperson of Regional Academies of Sport (NSW) Inc., playing a pivotal role in strategic planning and governance for the network of 11 academies servicing over 2 000 athletes annually.

Gerry’s contributions have been widely recognised. In 2023, he received a Sport NSW Community Lifetime Achievement Award for more than 25 years of service to athlete development and community sport. In 2024 Gerry was one of the first two persons awarded with the SWSAS Lifetime Achievement Awards recognising over 20 years of direct service to the Academy.

His passion for sport is not limited to administration - Gerry is an accomplished Masters Hockey player, having represented Australia internationally and NSW at national championships on numerous occasions.

In his most current role as Local Government and Amalgamation Transition Manager for RAS, Gerry has recently overseen critical reforms to strengthen collaboration between academies and local councils, ensuring sustainable athlete development programs for future generations.

Brett O’Farrell, Chief Executive Officer of the RAS said of Gerry’s career;

“Gerry is one of the true pioneers of athlete development in New South Wales. His vision and commitment have shaped the Regional Academies of Sport into what they are today - a network that provides world-class opportunities for young athletes to thrive. Gerry has always put people first, whether it’s athletes, coaches, or staff, and his ability to build strong partnerships across government and community sectors has been second to none. His legacy will be felt for decades to come, and while we will miss his leadership, we know the foundations he has laid will continue to benefit thousands of athletes into the future.”

Gerry Knights’ retirement marks the end of an era, but his legacy will continue through the programs and partnerships he helped build.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Bianca Wellings ? Group Marketing & Communications Manager – Regional Academies of Sport ? bianca@regionalacademies.org.au ?0413 976 707