Nicole Livingstone OAM was announced as the new VIS CEO in September. Photos: VIS Facebook.
Former elite athlete and sports administrator Nicole Livingstone OAM has taken over as the new chief executive officer of the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS).
Ms Livingstone, a former Olympic backstroke swimmer and former head of the Women’s AFL, succeeds Anne Marie Harrison, who stepped down last month after 18 years in the role.
In a LinkedIn post, Ms Harrison congratulated her successor.
“I extend my congratulations and best wishes to incoming CEO Nicole Livingstone OAM OLY,” she said.
“Nicole inherits an organisation blessed with talent at all levels, and she brings an understanding of who we are and how we operate, with an empathy for athletes and the daily challenges they face.
“My hope for Nicole is that her journey will be as wonderful as mine.”
In the VIS’s 34-year history, Ms Livingstone is only the third CEO, and coincidentally was also one of the first athletes to be granted a scholarship from the VIS, back in 1990. She claimed a bronze medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and bronze and silver at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
After she retired from swimming, she had a successful career in sports broadcasting and administration, and has served on several sports boards. She was general manager of women’s football at the AFL from 2016 to 2023.
Also on LinkedIn, Ms Livingstone described her appointment as a “full circle moment for me from an inaugural athlete to CEO”.
“All because the VIS encouraged me to think about more than just the black line and set me on my path into business,” she said.
“With Brisbane 2032 on the horizon, I look forward to continuing Victoria’s strong history of delivering high-performing athletes to our teams, success on the national and international stage and inspiring Victorians. For now – it is a celebration of 18 years at the helm of this incredible Institute for Anne Marie Harrison.”
Nicole Livingstone meets athletes during her first day at the VIS on 11 November.
The VIS receives most of its funding from the State Government through Sport and Recreation Victoria, as well as additional funding from the Federal Government through the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), national sporting organisations, and Paralympics Australia.
The VIS is based in its own facility at Lakeside Stadium in Albert Park, which provides a training environment for athletes, including a gym, sprung floor, pool and recovery facilities, sport science laboratories, treatment rooms and offices.
Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos welcomed Ms Livingstone back to the VIS as its new CEO.
“Nicole is a passionate advocate for up-and-coming athletes, and she knows how the Victorian Institute of Sport works like the back of her hand – from a personal and professional perspective,” he said.
“There is no-one better placed to back and support our next generation of Australian athletes.”
VIS board chair Nataly Matijevic added: “The members of the VIS board are pleased to welcome Nicole to our organisation and very confident that we will be extremely well led as we work towards the Olympics and Paralympics in Brisbane in 2032.
“The VIS is well positioned to continue playing its vital role in the Australian high-performance eco-system and Nicole, as a high-calibre administrator and former athlete, has the pedigree and leadership qualities to see that we do.
“We will continue to honour a rich past, nurture our people and embrace the need to keep evolving and pushing high-performance boundaries. Success in sport and life will continue to be our guiding principle.”
The VIS sent 122 Victorian athletes to the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, and they won a total of 23 medals, including five gold, four silver and 14 bronze.
