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 11.
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.
END
For media enquiries, please contact:
Bianca Wellings ? Group Marketing &
Communications Manager - Regional Academies of Sport ? bianca@regionalacademies.org.au
?0413 976 707
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