Long-serving director Paul Fitzpatrick was today endorsed as the 11^th Chair of the West Coast Eagles, with Elizabeth Gaines selected as Deputy Chair. 

Both were unanimously selected by their fellow Directors.  They will step into their respective roles on 1 November, coinciding with the end of current Chairman Russell Gibbs’ tenure in accordance with the Club’s constitution, with Russell having served the maximum 11 years following an extension approved by the WA Football Commission.

“While it is with a tinge of sadness that I hand over the reins later this year, I do so in the knowledge that I leave the Club in the best possible hands,” Mr Gibbs said.

“We went through a thorough and extensive process in reaching this outcome after engaging respected recruitment search firm Gerard Daniels.  Until the end of my term it will be business as usual, and we will continue to work as a united club to turn around the results of 2022.

“As a club we are very fortunate to have the calibre of Directors on the Board which will ensure a seamless transition to the strong leadership team of Paul and Elizabeth later this year. I congratulate them both on their selection.”

Mr Fitzpatrick, a West Coast Director for the last six years and Deputy Chair since 2020, was a partner of Clayton Utz between July 1,1985 and September 30,2019 and practiced in the areas of commercial litigation, competition law, national competition policy, international and domestic arbitration and sports law.

He was a legal advisor to the Western Australian Football Commission and the West Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS), is a former director of WAIS, and a current director of the Wally Foreman Foundation and the WA Country Health Service. 

Mr Fitzpatrick said he was honoured to be selected as Chair Elect after working with and for the Club for the past 18 years.

“2022 was a difficult season for our Club and I will be working with Chairman Russell Gibbs, CEO Trevor Nisbett, the Board and wider club to ensure our focus is on starting the season with a fit and healthy playing squad,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.

“Our immediate priority is the club’s list management and drafting exciting new talent with the strong hand the Eagles hold going into the pre-season draft.”

Ms Gaines, who joined the Eagles Board this year, led Fortescue Metals Group Ltd as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director from February 2018 to August 2022 after joining the Executive Team as Chief Financial Officer in February 2017 and serving on the Fortescue Board as a Non-Executive Director since 2013.

A highly experienced business leader with extensive international experience as a Chief Executive Officer, Ms Gaines has a proven track record in delivering financial and operational excellence. 

Ms Gaines was ranked second in the 2019 Fortune Magazine’s Businessperson of the Year and in 2020 the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia awarded her the ‘Women in Resources Champion’ at the annual Women in Resources Awards.

In 2020, Ms Gaines was awarded Joint Australian Business Person of the Year by the Australian Financial Review. She is the first woman to appointed as Deputy Chair of the Club, recognising her commitment to diversity and inclusiveness.

Please direct any media enquiries to the current Chairman Russell Gibbs and the Chief Executive Trevor Nisbett.