Kevan
Gosper, AO
AO
Speaker Profile
Mr Kevan Gosper, AO, combines outstanding records in athletics and business. Born and schooled in Australia, he is a graduate of Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons). He is the recipient of an Honorary DSc (Newcastle) and DAppSc (RMIT).
His athletics career includes being a member of the Silver medal winning Australian Athletics Relay team at the Melbourne Olympic Games and a gold and dual Bronze Medallist in the Commonwealth Games in Vancouver. He was also Captain of the Australian Athletics Team at the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff and the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. He is a former Commonwealth Games and National record holder over 400 metres.
A member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since 1977, he subsequently served as an Executive Board Member and Vice President for 16 years (1986-2003) and is Chief of the IOC Press Commission since 1989. He is a former President of the Oceania National Olympic Committees (1989-2009), Honorary Chairman of the Oceania Foundation since 2007, served as Deputy Chairman of the IOC Co-ordination Commission for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and was also Vice President of the Organising Committee for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. He was Inaugural Chairman of the Australian Institute of Sport (1980-85), President of the Australian Olympic Committee (1985-1990) and continues to serve on its Executive Board.
From 1980 to 1991 he was Chairman and Chief Executive of Shell Australia in Melbourne and from 1992 to 1993 Head of Shell's Asia Pacific operations out of London. He was Chief Commissioner of the City of Melbourne from 1993 to 1996 and a former Chairman of the National Australia Day Council. He is a Director of Crown Limited.
He is a recipient of the Order of Australia and has been similarly honoured by France, The Netherlands, Spain, Monaco, Senegal, Togo, Solomons and Vanuatu. He is the inaugural recipient of the US Olympic Committee's Olive Branch Achievement Award. His autobiography, An Olympic Life, was published in Australia in March 2000 and in China in 2006.
Topics
Speaker Topics
- The Olympic Games as a Major Project
- The Olympic Movement and its Ideals
- Australia's Olympic History
- Leadership in Sport and Business
- The Formula for Attracting Major Events to Australia
Related Categories
Topic Synopses
The Olympic Games as a Major ProjectThe Olympic Games has not only sustained since 1896, but over time has established itself as the number one elite event on the globe. The Games are a project of great complexity involving international politics and national aspirations, entrepreneurial skills, public works infrastructure planning, state of the art technology, media oversight and the broadest range of investment activities. Public support, transparency and good governance are essential. The demands of a seven year lead time required for the delivery of a sixteen day Olympic celebration is a remarkable journey. Nothing is more exciting.
The Olympic Movement and its Ideals
As international sport has moved from the idealistic days of amateurism to the reality of professionalism with the accompanying commercial opportunities, the Olympic movement insists the values of sport must be sustained. The importance of a level playing field, respect for the decision of the umpire, compliance with the rules of the game, behaviour on and off the field of play and role modelling need to be preserved. Not an easy task in today's world of instant and multi faceted communication.
Australia's Olympic History
Australia is one of only four countries to have attended every Olympic Games since its inauguration in 1896. Today athletes from two hundred and five countries and national regions are able to participate in Olympic competition. This is what the Olympic movement calls 'universality'. Australia's participation is rich in history given its remarkable achievement in staging two of the most successful Olympic Games in modern times and the continuing performances of its athletes and teams; Australia continues to punch above its weight in the Olympic medal tally. But what of the future?
Leadership in Sport and Business
Australia's reputation for delivering a wide range of international sporting events at the highest level is equal to the best across the globe. This hasn't come by chance. It takes not only leadership at home but leadership abroad to generate the confidence required to successfully organise an elite sporting event. Many elements of leadership in sport are interchangeable with those required in business. What are these leadership skills?
The Formula for Attracting Major Events to Australia
Australia has an enviable reputation for attracting major sporting events to its shores. The hosting of two Olympic Games, four Commonwealth Games, Cricket tests, football tests, tennis grand slams and other global events don't come by chance. The 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games and the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games were won by the two finest margins in Olympic history. How come? What drives this professional and volunteer effort to win a major event for Australia? Many of the stories behind these achievements are yet to be told.
Related Speakers
"Working with Kris McCartney was fantastic. She was approachable, efficient and always willing to help. Her responsiveness to communications was fantastic. She had an in depth knowledge of the speaker she recommended and understood our needs and made every effort to meet our requirements and help contribute to the success of our function."
Leibler Yavneh College Parents Organisation
Subscribe to our newsletter
"The empires of the future will be the empires of the mind."
Winston Churchill