Diana Taylor (businesswoman)

Diana Taylor is an Australian lawyer, business owner, and company director from Geelong, Victoria. She occupies various positions on the boards of charity and community organisations. Taylor became the first woman to be appointed as the president of the Western Region Football League (WRFL), as well as the first woman to join the VFL tribunal. In 2019, she made history once again by becoming the first woman to be appointed Vice President of the Geelong Football Club[1] after serving as a director and chair governance committee.

On March 1, 2023, Diana Taylor launched her debut book, titled The Playbook.

Law career

Taylor was one of the first graduates from Deakin University Law School. After graduating, she worked as a workplace relations and corporate lawyer at Clayton Utz.[2][3]

Politics

In 2016, Taylor was in contention to be parachuted into the Australian Senate to fill Labor’s six-year casual vacancy, but she lost out to former Melbourne city councillor Kimberley Kitching. Taylor was strongly backed by MP Richard Marles and some members of the Victorian Right’s federal parliamentary caucus.[2]

Football administration

Geelong Football Club

After being a lifetime long Geelong supporter Taylor was appointed to the Geelong Football board in 2010, taking over for Doug Wade.[4] "As a lifelong Geelong supporter, I am excited about the opportunity to apply my football, commercial and legal skills to the challenge of ensuring that the club continues to achieve both on-field and off-field success."[5]

After her director appointment Taylor was appointed chair of Nine Lives Geelong, an organisation designed to support and create experiences for the women supporters of the Geelong Football Club. Because of her work within the AFL community she was nominated for the AFL Women of the Year Award in 2012.

  • 2019–present: Vice President of Geelong Football Club [6]
  • 2010–present: Director of Geelong Football Club[6]
  • 2013–present: Chair Governance Committee
  • 2011–2015: Chair Nine Lives Geelong [7]

AFL
  • 2020–present: AFLW Competition Commission
  • 2013–2014: Community Football Board
  • 2012: AFL Women of the Year Finalist 2012[8]
  • 2008–2014: Chair Fair Game Respect Matters Board
  • 2008–2012: Advisory Board
  • 2005–2010: VFL Tribunal Member
  • 2004: VFL Appeal Board Member

Community

In 2008, Taylor became the first female president of a Senior Men's Metropolitan Melbourne Football Competition. After being appointed she commented "The WRFL (Western Region Football League) is a major community sporting organisation which not only provides people with the opportunity to be involved in our great game, but also serves to strengthen community participation and enhance the health and wellbeing of everyone involved. I am grateful for the opportunity to guide the WRFL and its competition over the next 3 years and to represent the WRFL's interests in the western region of Melbourne."[9] During her time as president, Taylor started the 'Light Alcohol' campaign. The 2009 finals were established for the first time as a light alcohol event and the game was conducted without incident.[10] The campaign was a huge success and was later adopted by VicHealth and AFL Victoria.[11] Taylor has done charitable work with the Alli Murphy Scholarship alongside the late Frank Costa.[12]

  • 2008–2009: Western Region Football President (7,200 players)
  • 2007: (WRFL) Vice-President
  • 2005–2009: WRFL Board Member
  • 2001–2004: WRFL Tribunal Member
  • 2007–2010: WRFL Chair/Founder Women’s Football Foundation

Board appointments

Since 2007, Taylor has been appointed to and become a board member of several organisations outside of the AFL. After obtaining a Graduate Diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Taylor has since worked with numerous organisations in the Geelong area and the Victorian Government.

  • 2018–present: Board Member, Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Trust
  • 2021–present: Chair, Geelong Authority
  • 2017–present: Board Member, Geelong Authority
  • 2016–present: Chair, Anam Cara House Geelong. The Anam Cara House in Geelong provides respite and end of life care for people with life-limiting illness. Anam Cara House Geelong has received a pledge of support from the Australian Federal government in 2016.[13] It also has a foundation which relies on the generosity of the community in order to help the house operate.[14] The Sovereign Order of St John of Jerusalem has been a key financial supporter of Anam Cara with the Board and Foundation consisting of several Knights and Dames.[15] When Taylor became the chair of the Foundation in 2014 she expressed how honoured she was to be appointed and praised the work of Anam Cara House.[16]
  • 2021-present: Board Member, Deakin University Law Advisory Board
  • 2021-present: Trustee, Doutta Galla Aged Services

Previous board appointments
  • 2019–2022: Chair and Director: GOTAFE Archived 24 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine
  • 2015–2016: Board member for Victoria Government WorkHealth. WorkHealth is a Victorian Government program aimed at improving the health of Victorian workers, by raising awareness and preventing chronic diseases. Taylor was added to the advisory group in April 2015 to help identify how WorkHealth can be improved and expanded.[17]
  • 2014-2016: Chair, Anam Cara House Foundation
  • 2009–2016: Board member, Chair - Risk & Clinical Governance Committee: Doutta Galla Aged Services [18] Doutta Galla is a not-for-profit organisation that provides aged care services. Taylor joined as a board member in 2009, then when Doutta Galla decided to create two new roles in order to focus more on strategy, finance, governance, risk management and reporting, she was appointed Chair of Risk & Clinical Governance committee in 2012.[19]
  • 2015–2018: Barwon Sports Academy [20] The academy have the board involved in their strategic planning for the next 5 years, they are allocated to areas of support for the CEO and staff.[21] A board member since 2015, Taylor uses her background in law to cover legal issues, and is a partner sport advisory for the golf athletes.
  • 2014–2016: Geelong Gallery Taylor is heavily involved with the Geelong Gallery, a major regional art gallery with over 6,000 works. Starting as a member of the marketing committee in 2012, then later took on the role of Director in 2014.[22]
  • 2008–2009: NULIS Nominees Pty Ltd Director Aviva Australia Super Trustee
  • 2007–2009: NULIS Nominees Pty Ltd Company Secretary
  • 2008–2010: VicHealth Alcohol Advisory Group

Recognition

In 2016, Taylor won the Victorian Telstra Business Woman of the Year (Category - Corporate & Private).[23]

References
  1. "The Board & Executive - GEELONGCATS.com.au/". www.geelongcats.com.au. Archived from the original on 24 December 2012.
  2. "Geelong Football Club director Diana Taylor misses out on Senate bid". Geelong Advertiser. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  3. "Diana Taylor". Geelong Football Club. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  4. "Geelong appoint pioneering administrator Diana Taylor to board". Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  5. "Cats appoint pioneering administrator to board".
  6. "The Board and Executives". Archived from the original on 24 December 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  7. "Women barging through mostly male footy throng". 9 July 2014.
  8. "Duarte is football woman of the year". 27 September 2012.
  9. "The new WRFL President is Diana Taylor - Western Region Football League".
  10. "Season 2009 ANNUAL REPORT". websites.mygameday.app. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  11. "Success wears a skirt". Archived from the original on 21 March 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  12. "Alli leaves legacy in learning". 22 May 2015.
  13. "PM pledges black spot fix on local visit". 24 May 2016.
  14. "Anam Cara Geelong Foundation". Archived from the original on 27 February 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  15. "Anam Cara & Sovereign Order of St John of Jerusalem". 8 November 2017.
  16. "DIANA TAYLOR APPOINTED CHAIR OF ANAM CARA GEELONG FOUNDATION" (PDF).
  17. "Minister Announces New WorkHealth Advisory Group | Premier of Victoria". www.premier.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  18. "Board of Directors". Archived from the original on 27 February 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  19. "Doutta Galla Aged Services". www.dgas.org.au. Archived from the original on 27 February 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  20. "Diana Taylor". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  21. "Barwon Sports Academy - Board". www.barwonsportsacademy.org.au. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  22. "About Geelong Gallery". www.geelonggallery.org.au. Archived from the original on 27 February 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  23. "2016 Telstra Victorian Corporate and Private Award Winner - Diana Taylor". Telstra Business. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
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