The new head of the South West Academy of Sport is excited to be taking on the key position after stepping back from the sporting world for some time. Rachel Norman has taken the reins of the region’s leading sports academy as its new executive officer, starting in the position earlier this month.

After two years working in the retail industry, Norman said it was good to be back in the sports world. “You forget how much you miss it when you leave it,” she said. Norman has plenty of experience under her belt, spending eight years with WA Cricket and serving as the organisation’s South West cricket manager. She played an instrumental role in bringing Rebel Sport to Bunbury in 2022, and is maintaining her involvement with the South West Sports Development Federation in her new position.

Norman said when the opportunity came up to lead SWAS, she had to put her hat in the ring.

“The organisation is in a really good position and I’m excited to see how we can grow it,” she said.

Among Norman’s long-term goals are expanding the number of services available to athletes and the number of sports SWAS partners with. Short-term, she is focusing on getting SWAS’ name out into the community more.

“You’ll see me out and about with the cameras, showing our athletes’ journey behind the scenes and on the podiums, as well as who we are, our services, and the people that are doing all the hard work,”
Norman said.

She is just the second person to lead the organisation in its history, taking over from Bernice Butlion, who left in May. Norman paid tribute to her predecessor, saying Butlion’s work during her 17-year tenure with SWAS as amazing. “To be able to have that foundation Bernice has set up is just such a great platform for me to add more value to it,” she said.

“I’m so excited to see where SWAS will go, and I’m just really excited for my journey with SWAS.”

Written by: Sean Van Der Wielen

Picture: Sean Van Der Wielen