‘Breaking down barriers’ World Hearing Day Seminar

Christina Matthews is the 2022 Sports Administrator of the Year, Chief Executive Officer of the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) and a former Australian cricketer. She is Australia’s most capped female Test player and holds the record for the most dismissals in Test cricket by an Australian wicketkeeper. Christina is the only woman in Australia to hold the position of CEO of a State Cricket Association.

Christina has proven herself to be an effective and courageous leader since taking on the role of CEO at the WACA in 2012.  She has redefined the way the WACA approaches its business, introducing a strong strategic focus, commitment to community engagement, restructuring to ensure resourcing aligns with the Associations’ strategic objectives. Her focus has also included increasing philanthropic endeavours to drive greater diversity and inclusion within the game and partnership development, both within the sports industry and in other complementary businesses, to expand the WACA’s reach. In the face of a largely male-dominated cricketing world both on and off the field, Christina’s strategic focus on creating a genuinely gender-equal sport has proved overwhelmingly successful. During her seven-year tenure, female cricket participation numbers have increased by a staggering 550% across the state.

Bronwyn Doak: A mum of six children, Ms Doak was devastated when her two youngest boys were diagnosed with Usher syndrome. They were born deaf and could lose their sight. From having gone through the diagnosis to getting cochlear implants fitted, to getting support with speech, sight, balance and more, the Doaks’ journey has been well supported by their ‘tribe’. But after investigating the clinical treatments available for her boys, she was disheartened to learn that Western Australia lacked some of the specialised research equipment available in other states in Australia. She has since raised significant funds to ensure that Western Australia is at the forefront of leading research into supporting those with Usher syndrome. 

George Jones was chair of PCF Capital Group, Gindalbie Metals and Sundance Resources. Mr Jones initially stepped down as chair of Gindalbie in 2009 due to health issues, but resumed the chair in 2010 after its then-chairman Geoff Wedlock died in a plane crash in West Africa. Mr Jones also resumed the chairmanship of Sundance at the same time, following the death or Mr Wedlock and the other Sundance directors. He was non-executive chair of Minera Gold and Portman Mining. In September 2010 he was appointed as strategic consultant to Centaurus Metals. 

Mr Jones has made substantial financial contributions to the Ear Science Institute of Australia, and the ESIA’s new Subiaco centre was named the George Jones Family Centre in 2011. He is a board member of the Parkerville Children’s Home and a supporter of the George Jones Child Advocacy Centre. Mr Jones was named Western Australia’s Senior Australian of the Year for his work with charities and the non-profit sector, and was awarded the 2011 Gold Medal for WA by the Australian Institute of Company Directors in recognition of his role as a corporate leader, notably at a time of the Sundance Resources disaster.