Netball: Clarke brings experience to Netball South role

Experienced event director Sue Clarke has been appointed to the helm of Netball South.

Clarke was announced as chief executive for the new entity yesterday,, tasked with the delivery of netball at all levels throughout Otago and Southland, including the Southern Steel franchise.

She replaces David Bannister, who returns to Australia today after nearly a year in the role.

The challenge of guiding netball into an exciting new era following the formation of a zone-based structure proved too hard to resist.

''The challenge was definitely part of the appeal for me,'' Clarke said.

''This is a time of change and I embrace change - I find it invigorating.

''Clarke brings a wealth of experience to the role with an array of successful projects to her credit, including the UCI Junior Track World Championships staged in Invercargill earlier this year.

She is no stranger to the sporting world. She played a key logistics role in the successful delivery of Dunedin's Rugby World Cup games last year and served as executive officer of Squash Southland from 1999 to 2001.

Clarke said she applauded the new direction the Southern Steel franchise had taken in recent years, with a focus on developing younger players through the ranks.

''It has provided a pathway for our development players to travel on and ultimately reach their goal of being an elite netballer,'' she said.

Netball South chairman Paul Buckner said Clarke's credentials had impressed the appointment panel.

''She not only brings valuable experience to the role, but also an incredible amount of passion and enthusiasm for what can be achieved, Buckner said.

''We are thrilled to have Sue leading Netball South and confident she will play a significant part in our future success.''